|
Map Satellite One of eight county-owned sanctuaries in the Antelope Valley, Alpine Butte is the most varied topographically. (See also Butte Valley Wildflower Sanctuary, Carl O. Gerhardy Wildlife Sanctuary, Mescal County Wildlife Sanctuary, Phacelia Wildlife Sanctuary, Rock Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, Theodore Payne Wildlife Sanctuary and Wildflower/Wildlife Sanctuary.) The sanctuary lies on the southern slope of Alpine Butte, a Mesozoic granitic formation. Though there are granitic outcrops in the sanctuary, most of the area is covered by Quaternary nonmarine alluvium. There are a few small sand dunes. Vegetative cover is almost evenly divided between creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodland. In addition to the Larrea tridentata and Yucca brevifolia, Mormon tea, Ephedra nevadensis, winter fat, Eurotia lanata, cheese-bush, Hymenoclea salsola, and desert evening primrose, Oenothera deltoides, among others, occur here in some abundance. Animals are common and include the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizi, and the desert side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana stejnegeri. The endangered Mojave ground squirrel, Citellus mohavensis, has been sighted within 2 kilometers (1 mile) of the area. Integrity: There is a well-graded dirt road in the sanctuary. Additionally, there has been a small amount of off-road-vehicle damage. Use: Educational, research, present. December 1979
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2008 Steven Louis Hartman
|
