Warm Springs Natural Area facts for kids
The Warm Springs Natural Area is a very special place in the Mojave Desert in Clark County, Nevada. It's also called the Warm Springs Ranch. This amazing area is like a natural oasis, which means it has water and plants in the middle of a dry desert.
The oasis gets its water from almost 24 natural warm springs. These springs help many California fan palms grow there. These palms are usually found in a different desert area called the "low" Colorado Desert. So, finding them here in the "high" Mojave Desert makes Warm Springs truly unique! The springs are also the start of the Muddy River.
Many people enjoy the Warm Springs area. Some families live there, and others visit for fun. There are places for camping with recreational vehicles. There's also a private area used by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A Look Back in Time
A famous person named Howard Hughes bought this large ranch in 1968. Later, in 1978, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought much of the ranch. They tried to keep it working as a ranch, but it was difficult. They even tried raising cattle, but it didn't work out.
So, the Church sold most of the land. They kept about 75 acres, which they now use as the Warm Springs Recreational Ranch. In the past, there was also a public swimming pool area that was very popular with people from Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s.
In 2007, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) bought large parts of the old ranch. They wanted to protect the start of the Muddy River. They also wanted to protect the home of a special fish called the Moapa dace.
Sadly, on July 1, 2010, a fire accidentally started. It burned many of the palm trees and destroyed several buildings. This included the original ranch house at the Church's Warm Springs ranch. But don't worry, the Church rebuilt their facility, and it reopened in June 2017.
The land bought by the Southern Nevada Water Authority is now known as the Warm Springs Natural Area. It has been turned into a nature preserve. It has trails and exhibits that are open for everyone to enjoy.
Protecting Special Animals
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service created the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge within the Warm Springs area. This refuge is a special place to protect the home of the Moapa dace. This fish is a critically endangered species. This means it's in great danger of disappearing forever.
The Moapa dace only lives in the Muddy River. Its population has become very small because its home has been damaged. Also, other types of fish that don't belong there have been introduced. Many groups and people are working hard to protect this unique fish and its small, 106-acre home.
