Nature
Tecopa’s Endangered Voles Tell a Water Story Written in DNA
A University of California research team found in 2016 that Tecopa’s California vole—Microtus californicus scirpensis—is one of the most genetically unique animals in the Mojave Desert, and that its survival depends on something deceptively simple: keeping local springs wet. The study, conducted by biologists from UC Berkeley and other institutions, used DNA samples to map how voles…
UNLV Study Puts Tecopa on the Map for Desert Sustainability
A 2022 doctoral study from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has highlighted Tecopa as part of a groundbreaking look at how desert communities can better manage their most limited resources — water, energy, and food — in a changing climate. The dissertation, “Nexuscapes: A Landscape Approach for a Transdisciplinary Water-Energy-Food Nexus Decision-Making Process,” was written by Fortino Acosta for his Ph.D. in…
Riparian Forests Along the Amargosa River Show Signs of Climate-Driven Collapse, UNLV Study Finds
A doctoral dissertation out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas reports clear evidence that the riparian woodlands along the Amargosa River—spanning Ash Meadows, Shoshone, and Tecopa—are undergoing significant climate-driven decline. In her 2024 Ph.D. dissertation “Effects of Climate Change on (Semi)-Arid Ecosystems in the Southwestern United States,” researcher Charlotte van der Nagel analyzed three decades of vegetation and…
How the Desert Was Fed: Tecopa’s Farming Roots in the Mining Frontier
In the late 19th century, when settlers first began to cultivate the Amargosa Basin and the valleys surrounding Tecopa, they were not starting from scratch. The land had already been studied, shaped, and survived by the Southern Paiute and Mojave peoples for centuries. As historian Sherryl Lynn Weber documented in her 1995 University of Nevada, Las Vegas…
House Mice Bring Hidden Parasite Threat to Endangered Amargosa Voles in Tecopa
Welcome to our new science section — a weekly dive into the research shaping our understanding of the Amargosa Basin and the desert communities that call it home. Every Friday we will post a relevant article distilling peer-reviewed studies, field reports, and academic findings into clear, locally relevant stories about Tecopa’s ecology, geology, climate, and history. From…
National Parks in Crisis: Job Cuts, Budget Freezes, and the Fight for Public Lands
A storm is brewing across America’s national parks, but it’s not just the weather causing concern—it’s the deepening crisis of budget cuts, staffing shortages, and the struggle to maintain some of the country’s most cherished landscapes. In the latest wave of terminations, Death Valley National Park, Great Basin National Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation…
Community Rallies to Protect Ash Meadows as Amargosa Conservancy Launches Major Restoration Projects
In a significant show of support for environmental protection, the Amargosa Valley recently hosted a powerful public rally and meeting aimed at securing the future of Ash Meadows. The event, held on February 27 at the Amargosa Valley Community Center, brought together local residents, conservationists, and key stakeholders to voice their unified support for a…
Save the Vole: Borehole Spring BLM Lawsuit Explained
In a legal battle aimed at protecting one of North America’s most endangered mammals, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for failing to take necessary action to protect the Amargosa vole and its critical habitat at Borehole Spring in the Mojave Desert.…
Fire Devastates Borehole Spring, Endangered Amargosa Vole Habitat
A devastating wildfire broke out at Borehole Spring near Tecopa, California, overnight on February 11, inflicting catastrophic damage to the hot spring which is also a delicate wetland habitat of the endangered and endemic Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis). The fire consumed a significant area of critical bulrush habitat surrounding the spring, posing a severe…
Exploring Dumont Dunes: An Off-Road Enthusiast’s Paradise
Nestled just over 20 miles south of Tecopa, the Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area is a sanctuary for thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike. Spanning an impressive 7,620 acres of public land, this Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) offers an unparalleled blend of heart-pounding OHV experiences, breathtaking desert landscapes, and opportunities for primitive camping…
Local Environmentalists Profiled in The New York Times Magazine
Our little corner of the world was covered in the New York Times Magazine recently. The article “Nevada’s Lithium Could Help Save the Earth. But What Happens to Nevada?” was published on January 24, 2025 and written by Meg Bernhard, a writer based in Las Vegas (who also wrote this profile of Wonderhussy). The sub-headline…
Local Communities and Tribal Members Secure Mineral Withdrawal to Protect Ash Meadows and Amargosa Valley
Federal Action to Safeguard Sacred Lands and Water Resources The federal government has initiated the mineral withdrawal process for approximately 308,890 acres of public land in Nevada’s Amargosa Valley. This action temporarily halts new mining claims in the area, allowing for a two-year review of the valley’s ecosystems, groundwater reserves, and culturally significant landscapes. The…
Biden Establishes Two New Monuments in California, Foreshadowing Amargosa Basin
At one of the final White House ceremonies in President Joe Biden’s term, the president highlighted the dedication of the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments as part of his administration’s broader environmental agenda. He underscored the significance of protecting culturally and ecologically valuable land in California, emphasizing its importance for biodiversity, climate resilience, and honoring…
The New Yorker On Death Valley
The article titled “The Queen of the Desert” by Alex Ross, published on January 4, 2022, in The New Yorker, discusses Susan Sorrells and her transformative role in the small village of Shoshone, located in the Mojave Desert. Sorrells, the chief custodian of Shoshone, owns the village and surrounding land, dedicating her efforts to preserving…