Yuha Basin

The Yuha Basin Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) includes eroded badlands, buttes, desert washes and broad benches.

Creosote bush scrub is the dominant vegetation with scattered Larrea tridentata prominent. There are numerous stands of ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens, particularly in the western portion. Smoke tree, Psorothamnus spinosus, and honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana, are abundant in the washes. Two rare or endangered plants occur in the area, Pilostyles thurberi and Castela emoryi.

A variety of animals is found in the area, among them the flat-tailed horned lizard, Phrynosoma m'calli, zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides, Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, Uma notata, sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus, burrowing owl, Speotyto cunicularia, and kit fox, Vulpes macrotis.

Geologically, the western portion is primarily Pliocene marine and nonmarine sedimentaries; the eastern section consists of Pleistocene terrace deposits and, at the eastern boundary, lacustrine deposits from Lake Cahuilla. There are some fossils dating from the Pliocene.

Numerous items of archaeological interest are found in the ACEC.

Integrity: Portions of the area have been highly disturbed by off-road vehicles and other activity; however, in parts, the desert pavement is intact.

Use: Research, educational, observational. Some private.

March 1982