Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Ash Meadows is a 23,000-acre refuge established to preserve and protect valuable and extemely rare desert oases in the Amargosa Valley near Death Valley in Nye County, Nevada. There are more than 30 seeps and springs that come to the surface of the desert floor here, making for a widely varied complex of habitats. There are at least 24 species of indigenous plants and animals found here that are found nowhere else on Earth. Currently on the endangered species' list are 4 local fish and 1 local plant.

Picnicking, hunting (in season), birdwatching and wildlife observation are available activities at Ash Meadows. Swimming is allowed in Crystal Reservoir but you will be exposed to swimmer's itch (a skin infestation of certain flatworms that is very uncomfortable but is neither dangerous or contagious - the larval stage of the flatworms penetrate the skin and cause a reaction that can persist for up to a week or more). Visitor facilities are still mostly in the planning stages so bring lots of your own water, some excellent sunscreen and a good hat. You don't want to be here (especially on these roads) when it's wet.

Ash Meadows was formally set aside as a National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on June 18, 1984. Ash Meadows is part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, a grouping of sites that includes the Amargosa Pupfish Station and the Pahranagat, Moapa Valley and Desert National Wildlife Refuges.

The Fish & Wildlife Service is working here to restore the wetland and desert upland habitats to what they were like before the European settlers first arrived 100 years ago. Another objective is to restore and delist endangered animal and plant populations on the refuge. The refuge also supports 2 captive populations of Devils Hole pupfish, established here in case of a catastrophic occurence at Devils Hole.