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Map Satellite This reserve is located on the arid slopes of the Santa Rosa Mountains and provides a transect from creosote bush scrub on the floodplain of the several intermittent creeks, through chaparral, to the pinyon-juniper forest in the upper reaches. Some 332 plant species have been identified from the flood-plain and desert slopes, below 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) elevation. Included are four Pteridaceae and five Coniferophyta, among the latter three species of Ephedra. Ten species of Cactaceae, including six Opuntia spp., Opuntia acanthocarpa, Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia bigelovii, Opuntia chlorotica, Opuntia echinocarpa and Opuntia ramosissima, are found here. Some of the conspicuous plants on the slopes are ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens, desert agave, Agave deserti, Mojave yucca, Yucca schidigera, and Yucca whipplei. In scattered groves in the canyon are California fan palms, Washingtonia filifera. There is also a riparian association with cottonwoods, Populus fremontii, and willows, Salix gooddingii and Salix lasiolepis, present. The rare Salvia eremostachya is found at a number of sites on the canyon's slopes. On the floodplain, smoke tree, Psorothamnus spinosus (of the 10 species of Dalea and Psorothamnus native to California, six are found on the reserve), palo verde, Cercidium floridum, and desert willow, Chilopsis linearis, are among the more noticeable plants. There is a wide variety of animal life present in the reserve. Over 50 species of mammals, 200-plus of birds, 15 of reptiles and 3 amphibians have been identified. Among the more noteworthy are the desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, and the only salamander inhabiting the desert, Batrachoseps aridus, which is found only on this reserve. More than 20,000 invertebrate species have been collected here, including over 60 species of ants. The geology of the area is extremely complex. Rocks range in age from Triassic metasedimentaries and Mesozoic granitics of the Southern California batholith to Pleistocene nonmarine sedimentaries. The floodplain is Quaternary alluvium and dune sand. One of the more spectacular features is the gorge, 425 meters (1,400 feet) deep, with almost vertical walls on Deep Canyon Creek near its confluence with Horsethief Creek. The entire reserve is interlaced with faults, the two largest having given rise to the most deeply incised watercourses. There is abundant archaeological material in the area. Integrity: There are limited research and living facilities. Portions of the area are fenced. A highway traverses a section of the area. Use: Research, educational, observational. Ref: Ryan, R. M. 1969. Mammals of Deep Canyon. Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, Calif. August 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
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