17 Apr

Posted at 20:51h in Habitat Restoration, National Conservation Lands, Notes from the Field, OHV, Plants and Wildlife

After a few hectic weeks, the Amargosa Conservancy interns are getting back to their normal routine. We spent most of this week back at Sperry Wash, where we eliminated several incursions (tracks in areas where there should be no off-route travel) and also braved some vicious sandstorms. Since Rhyan and Alison were at the Afton Canyon outreach event last Sunday (see...

15 Apr

Posted at 19:57h in Backroads, Habitat Restoration, National Conservation Lands, Notes from the Field, OHV

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]- By Alison Cercy On a weekend in March, we welcomed the Great Old Broads for Wilderness to our restoration worksites in Sperry Wash. The worksites were planned out, all of our tools were packed and sorted, the temperature had increased a solid ten degrees, and we were eager to meet the Broads and...

15 Mar

Posted at 17:04h in Habitat Restoration, Notes from the Field, OHV

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Rhyan Schicker When I first heard the description of the vertical mulching process, I must admit I was skeptical. A few weeks ago we listened to Celia as she described the process; decompressing the soil, collecting dead parts of live bushes, putting them in a hole, filling the hole with rocks and soil...

07 Apr

Posted at 11:26h in Amargosa Vole, Habitat Restoration, Notes from the Field, Plants and Wildlife

In late November of 2015 our Student Conservation Association AmeriCorps intern Abby Mattson set about planning a greenhouse nursery in which to grow native three square bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus). In the long run, this cultivated bulrush would be used in habitat restoration for the endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis), which absolutely relies on this native plant as its food...

16 Mar

Posted at 13:24h in Habitat Restoration, Notes from the Field, Tamarisk

Some might believe this is just a blown and barren land, but the Amargosa River has created an oasis in the desert. My workdays here in the Mojave Desert revolve around water: I spend every day outside and my work week starts and ends in muck boots. As an AmeriCorps intern through the Student Conservation Association (SCA), my role at...

08 Feb

Posted at 16:25h in Habitat Restoration, Notes from the Field, Tamarisk

By Jayna Sames February 2016 “I didn’t bring my hip waders. I thought I was moving to the desert!” I jokingly responded to the two other interns, Abby and Anne, as I walked through the conservancy doorway soaking wet in short sleeves, shorts, and dripping Keen sandals. I had returned from an excursion to the Shoshone pupfish ponds where I was given...