Imperial Wildlife Area

This wildlife area is composed of three units, one on the southeastern end of the Salton Sea, the others on the Alamo River. Approximately half of the area is under cultivation, though the Finney-Ramer unit, which runs for some 12 kilometers (8 miles) along the Alamo is uncultivated and is primarily desert riparian, with some creosote bush scrub.

Along the watercourses and lakes are thick stands of cattails, Typha spp., tules, Scirpus spp., arrowweed, Pluchea sericea, and willow, Salix sp. Other plants in the area include mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana, the exotic tamarisk, Tamarix aphylla, palo verde, Cercidium floridum, and Atriplex sp.

During the migratory season large numbers of waterfowl rest here, many wintering. Among the more noteworthy are the wood ibis, Mycteria americana, and fulvous tree duck, Dendrocygna bicolor. There are numerous other birds, mammals, reptiles and other animals.

The three areas lie in the bed of Lake Cahuilla which was probably extant 400 years ago. The Alamo River was once a distributary of the Colorado when it flowed into Lake Cahuila. Today it is fed by drainage water only. There are "mud volcanoes" on the Wister unit.

Integrity: The area is managed for wildlife. Prior to the early 1930's the Finney-Ramer unit was managed as a duck club. Portions of the larger Wister unit have been covered by the Salton Sea.

Use: Research, educational, recreational, hunting, fishing.

July 1976