Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve is the largest preserve in the United States National Park System, encompassing over 1.5 million acres in California's Mojave Desert. Established through the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, it serves to protect diverse ecosystems and cultural resources, including habitats like Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, Joshua Tree Woodlands, Cactus-Yucca Scrub, and Desert Dunes. The preserve hosts a variety of wildlife and notable landmarks, such as the Cinder Cone Natural Area, Lava Tubes, and Hole-in-the-Wall, attracting visitors for both recreation and education.
The climate within the preserve varies widely, with summer temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and annual precipitation ranging from four to fourteen inches. This variability supports approximately thirty unique animal habitats, each with its own distinct flora and fauna. Despite its ecological and cultural significance, Mojave National Preserve has faced funding challenges, particularly in the 2010s and 2020s, resulting in a reported need for $191 million in maintenance and repairs. These ongoing financial issues threaten the condition of visitor facilities and the overall health of the preserve. The area also acknowledges the importance of Native American cultural access, allowing tribes to conduct ceremonies while offering them privacy.
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Mojave National Preserve
The Mojave National Preserve is the largest preserve managed by the National Park System of the United States. The preserve is in California and preserves a significant portion of the Mojave Desert. It contains thirty unique animal habitats, including the Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, the Joshua Tree Woodlands, the Cactus-Yucca Scrub, and the Desert Dunes. It also includes several notable natural landmarks, such as Hole-in-the-Wall and the Lava Tubes. During the 2010s and 2020s, the site suffered from significant funding problems, leading to the decline of some preserve infrastructure.
Background
The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 is a federal law passed by the United States Congress on October 8, 1994. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton and sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein. In the act, Congress acknowledged that the federally owned desert lands in Southern California constitute a public wildlife resource. They stated that the regions noted in the act contain unique environmental, cultural, scientific, and educational value that should be preserved for future generations. For this reason, the act established three separate National Park System units in California: Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the Mojave National Preserve.
The federal government had previously made dedicated efforts to protect some of these areas. The Joshua Tree National Monument and the Death Valley National Monument had been established in the 1930s. However, Congress found that these measures did not provide the means to create the comprehensive management systems necessary to protect these unique ecosystems. Additionally, they found that the regions protected by the Joshua Tree National Monument and the Death Valley National Monument should be enlarged. For this reason, the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 abolished these national monuments and included their land in the larger National Park System. Both parks were to be managed by advisory commissions that would create comprehensive management plans for their preservation and maintenance as part of the federal Department of the Interior.
Unlike Death Valley and Joshua Tree, the Mojave National Preserve had not been protected under the monument system. Instead, it was protected as the East Mojave National Scenic Area, which was created in 1981. This system was also abolished by the act, adding the East Mojave National Scenic Area’s lands to the National Park System and establishing the Mojave National Preserve Advisory Commission to manage the land.
All three national parks were given new federal protections. These included restrictions on grazing animals and mining claims. Additionally, the act recognized the importance of the California desert ecosystems to local Native American culture. It required that Native Americans be allowed to access the land for cultural and religious purposes and provided provisions to temporarily close portions of the land to the public to provide privacy for Native American tribes when conducting religious or cultural ceremonies.
Overview
The Mojave National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in California. It includes more than 1.5 million acres of land, making it the largest National Preserve and the third largest unit of land managed by the National Park System. The temperature and average precipitation levels vary significantly between the different regions in the Mojave National Preserve. Summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and yearly precipitation levels tend to range between four and fourteen inches. Because of the wide variety of climates and terrain types found within the preserve, scientists have identified roughly thirty different animal habitats protected within its boundaries. Some of the most notable habitats include the Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, the Joshua Tree Woodlands, the Cactus-Yucca Scrub, and the Desert Dunes.
The Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands are located in the higher elevations of the Clark, Granite, New York, and Providence Mountains. This area contains large quantities of sagebrush, wildflowers, and the Mojave prickly pear. It also contains abandoned homesteads and native populations of bighorn sheep.
The Joshua Tree Woodlands are native forests that contain the world’s largest concentration of Joshua trees. These large plants, which grow more than forty feet tall, are not true trees. Instead, they are classified as a subspecies of yucca, which can commonly be found throughout the Mojave National Preserve. In addition to the Joshua trees, these woodlands sustain many notable animal species, including the American kestrel, Soctt’s oriole, and the desert night lizard.
The Cactus-Yucca Scrub is a traditional desert area that is known for its large succulents. The most famous of these, the barrel cacti, can grow up to nine feet tall. The region also contains the famous Mojave rattlesnake and the Gambel’s quail.
The Desert Dunes are formed by prevailing winds that carry sand from the Mojave River Sink and Devil’s Playground to the base of the Granite Mountains. These sand dudes can reach heights of up to seven hundred feet. Though the dunes may appear barren, many plants and animals have adapted to live within the harsh environment.
Mojave National Preserve contains several landmarks that are popular with tourists. The Cinder Cone Natural Area contains large, jagged black and red cones that extend upward from the desert ground. The Lava Tubes, which are located on Aiken Road, feature large, underground tunnels that can be used for hiking. Hole-in-the-Wall is a famous section of the park in which gas bubbles from a volcanic eruption caused large holes to develop in a steep rockface. These holes were enlarged over time by wind and water erosion, giving the site its unique appearance.
During the 2010s and 2020s, Mojave National Preserve faced significant funding concerns. In 2022, preserve administration stated that the site required roughly $191 million in deferred maintenance and repairs. This maintenance was associated with the preserve’s roads, campgrounds, trails, buildings, and water systems. Experts noted that if these funding shortfalls remain unaddressed, the condition of visitor facilities and the preserve itself will continue to deteriorate.
Bibliography
“California Desert Protection Act.” National Park Service, 2023, www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/management/caldesprotect.htm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“Lava Tube.” National Park Service, 2023, www.nps.gov/places/lava-tube.htm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“Mojave National Preserve Infrastructure Fact Sheet.” National Park Service, 2022, www.nps.gov/subjects/infrastructure/upload/Mojave-National-Preserve-Deferred-Maintenance-and-Repairs-Fact-Sheet.pdf. Accessed 18 Oct. 2022.
“Places to Go.” National Park Service, 2023, www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“What to Do in the Mojave National Preserve: Hiking, Camping, Historical Spots.” California Through My Lens, californiathroughmylens.com/mojave-national-preserve-attractions/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.