WEST MOJAVE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS
About the West Mojave Wildlife Management Areas
The Fremont-Kramer and Superior-Cronese Desert Wildlife Management Areas are located in the West Mojave Desert and provide habitat for threatened or endangered species such as the desert tortoise, Mohave ground squirrel, and the Yuma clapper rail. The region is also a popular Limited Use area for Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation. Partnering with the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, THC is responsible for a long-term land management project within these Management Areas.
These areas are part of the California Desert Conservation Area and specifically, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) as well as Critical Habitat Units (CHU) for the desert tortoise. These areas are considered essential for the recovery of a listed species.
THC owns over 4,000 acres of land throughout the region near Fremont Peak, Cuddeback Lake, Harper Lake, and the Gravel Hills north of Highway 58 and east Highway 395. In addition to these lands, we utilize grant funding to help manage and improve nearly an additional 300,000 acres in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management.
Recreate Responsibly
Off Highway Vehicle Resources
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The Fremont-Kramer and Superior-Cronese riding areas are also Critical Habitat Units for Desert Tortoise. This also means that they are Limited Use Riding Areas. These Limited Use areas are open for riding on marked, legal routes only, and no cross country travel (off trail) is permitted.
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We all love our deserts. We love the open space, the sunsets, the beauty, and the family time and experiences we have here. We would also love to keep it open and clean for our future generations. Learn how to keep your desert beautiful for the future using these links below.
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We work closely with the Bureau of Land Management Barstow and Ridgecrest Field Offices to keep the legal routes properly signed, as well as assist them in managing the Fremont-Kramer and Superior-Cronese Critical Habitat Units.
We also work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, AmeriCorps, American Conservation Experience, and non-profit groups like the Desert Tortoise Council, Friends of Jawbone, and the Mojave Desert Land Trust on various projects in this area.
Desert Tortoise Info
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The desert tortoise is a federally threatened and endangered species, placed under the Endangered Species Lists in 1989 and 1990. A highly virulent respiratory disease, along with other human-induced challenges reduced the population sharply in the 1980’s.
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Tortoise conservation is a top priority at THC. We have an entire project area consisting of over 4,000 acres to help contribute to their protection. We work closely with the Bureau of Land Management to protect an additional 250,000 acres in the West Mojave by restoring illegal routes and trails that cut through their habitat. We also hold education and outreach events for the public and teach people how they can protect these iconic Mojave Desert denizens.
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In 2023, the Wildlife Conservation Board awarded THC $1.9 million in grant funding to pursue active conservation of the desert tortoise with our partner, Hardshell Labs. Their ingenuity and technology will be implemented during this grant work in order to prevent the predation of baby tortoises by ravens, as well as identify and fortify the dense population islands that still persist in the Western Mojave Desert.
Our generous grants from Edison International, and the Desert Tortoise Council have enabled us to collect the necessary data to pursue the recently awarded WCB grant.
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We work closely with Hardshell Labs and tortoise biologist and expert Tim Shields.
We also work closely with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), as well as US Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. We work with other NGO’s and conservation groups, and with all of this combined experience pursue land acquisitions, land stewardship, and recovery of the species.
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The combined efforts of THC and Hardshell Labs have led to a significant drop both in unauthorized OHV usage and in raven populations near our project area, as well as a large amount of data related to tortoise numbers on our lands. This data is reported to our other government partners so that holistic management decisions can be made. Our current WCB grant will continue to provide additional data in the years to come.
In addition, our restoration and education efforts on illegal OHV routes has given us some of the highest success rates regarding habitat restoration of any organization conducting restoration in the Western Mojave Desert.
Desert Springs and Precious Water
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The Mojave Desert within California, which spans four counties, exists as one of the most important ecological regions in the southwestern United States. Both the groundwater and surface water in the region support isolated, unique and diverse ecosystems, while also supporting human needs through domestic, agricultural, wildlife, stock-watering, mining and other industrial uses. Relatively small variations in groundwater elevation can have considerable effects on the ability for springs to maintain surface flow. While isolated portions of the Mojave Desert have been investigated for site-specific projects, or larger areas studied in more densely populated areas (e.g., Mojave River area), most of the region has seen little in the way of regional hydrogeologic investigations.
Increasing pressures on the region’s water resources are well-documented. Population growth in the region (particularly in the West Mojave and the Mojave River Basin), pressures for groundwater export (e.g. the proposed Cadiz Project in southeastern Mojave Desert) and ongoing and proposed renewable energy projects (e.g. in Harper Lake Valley and other proposed projects) all put pressure on an already precarious water supply in this region of sparse precipitation and limited groundwater recharge. The absence of a comprehensive dataset of spring environments across the Mojave can result in project approvals absent any data against which future impacts can be identified. With the future increase in projects such as those described, the identification of baseline hydrologic conditions before substantial impacts start occurring is essential for future water management in the Mojave Desert. (Andy Zdon et al., 2016)
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Our Spring Survey Report produced in 2016 provided the most comprehensive view of Mojave Desert Springs to date. This data is now available to government agencies and other non-profit groups to help assist work in their regions.
We conduct regular monitoring in our project areas to prevent damage to precious resources like these springs. We are working with the BLM to prevent vehicle damage to Bird Spring (pictured above). This spring is a valuable stop for migrating birds and local wildlife. The area will remain open for hikers to enjoy.
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In 2014, Transition Habitat Conservancy conducted a Spring Survey Report. The report was prepared by Andy Zdon & Associates, Inc. on behalf of Transition Habitat Conservancy and funders the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy as part of an effort on building a greater understanding of springs in the Mojave Desert. This effort mapped and catalogued springs across the entire Mojave Desert. This is the most exhaustive report to date on this topic.
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THC partners with Roux environmental consultants, Andy Zdon and Associates Inc., the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Conservation Lands Foundation, and other non-profit partners to conduct the restoration and preservation of these water resources and the areas around them.
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Our work with our partners will enable us to:
• Provide a comprehensive, focused resource for information on springs throughout the Mojave Desert;
• Provide greater understanding of the hydrologic and biologic conditions at these springs:
• Provides a basis for focusing future biological and hydrologic research at key locations where needed, providing long-term, more cost-effective research solutions;
• Provide a baseline conditions report from which future change can be based; and,
• Provide recommendations for future long-term monitoring and resource management.
The Plants and Animals of the West Mojave Wildlife Management Areas
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The Fremont-Kramer and Superior-Cronese areas span nearly 300,000 acres, and encompass habitat from dry lake beds, to mountains, valleys, washes, seasonal ponds, and Harper Dry Lake. This diversity of the landscape affords habitat for a large array of species. Some are seasonal migrants and traveling waterfowl, while some breed here annually.
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Calscape reports 424 species of plants in this area. iNaturalist reports 393 species observations. Needless to say, the biodiversity of plants here is incredible.
Following the Sawyer et al. (2009) nomenclature, Spinescale Scrub [Atriplex spinifera Shrubland Alliance] and Shadscale Scrub [Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland Alliance) predominate in the southwestern portion of the Reserve and around the periphery of Cuddeback Lake. In some previous surface disturbance areas these saltbush alliances intergrade with Allscale Scrub [Atriplex polycarpa Shrubland Alliance). In the northern half of the Reserve, Creosote Bush Scrub [Larrea tridentata Shrubland Alliance] is the dominant plant community. Scattered individual Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and Mojave yucca (Y. schidigera) are also known from portions of the Reserve region .
Click Here to View Our Plant List (PDF)
Click Here to View Our Plant List (XLS) -
18 species of mammals have been recorded in this area via iNaturalist. These include:
black-tailed jackrabbit
white-tailed antelope squirrel
kit fox
Mohave ground squirrel (threatened)
desert kangaroo rat
Merriam’s kangaroo rat
coyote
desert cottontail
pallid bat
bobcat
Botta’s pocket gopher
ringtail
bighorn sheep
desert pocket mouse
North American deer mice (genus Peromyscus)
desert woodrat
California ground squirrel
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At least 28 species of reptiles reside in these Critical Habitat Units, including the desert tortoise.
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204 species of insects have been recorded here via iNaturalist. There are many species of pollinators that breed and feed here.
The Desert Tortoise
This iconic resident of the Mojave Desert is one of the main reasons for our conservation efforts in the WMWMA. Together with biologist Tim Shields, Hardshell Labs, the BLM, USFWS, and CDFW, we are working heavily towards their conservation and enhancement. A $1.9 million grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has enabled us to begin conducting this work with our partners, Hardshell Labs, highlighted in this documentary by the New Yorker.
About These Critical Habitat Units
Usage Tips
This area does not have well defined hiking trails, but it does have LIMITED USE OHV trails.
Limited Use OHV trails are maintained by the BLM, and require that riders remain on designated trails due to the sensitive nature of the surrounding habitat (tortoise homes!).
Tortoises, snakes, tarantulas and other wildlife will cross the roads, so please keep an eye out for them so they stay safe. Enjoy the sighting!
Bring lots of water and snacks when exploring. There is no supplemental water onsite.
Check the weather in advance.
Bring a hat and other appropriate clothing such as a jacket or other layers.
Wear shoes comfortable enough to provide support.
Bring dog-poop bags and more water if you are bringing your pup.
Wear sunscreen.
Watch out for the "pokey" plants in the area, such as: Cholla, cacti and Joshua trees. Cholla is very spiny and can get caught in dogs’ paws and hikers’ shoes. Do not attempt to remove it by hand. Use a small pair of pliers or a comb to remove it. It has velcro-like tendencies.
Keep an eye out for the wildlife that calls this place home. Rattlesnakes, coyotes, and bobcats are a few of our very rarely- seen residents. If you give them space they will be happy to keep away from you. Enjoy the sighting if you do spot them.
There are no supplemental restroom areas. Restroom waste can be packed out or a “cat hole” can be dug 6 inches down, buried, and paper waste packed out (taken with you). Things don’t decompose well in the desert!
There are no trash cans on site, so be prepared to take out any trash you bring in.
No drone usage, hunting, motorized vehicles off designated trails, collecting of artifacts/plants/animals or other resources is permitted.
For helpful tips on how to be outdoors, click on these link logos provided.
