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ZZYXX Mineral Springs

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Located on the western edge of Soda Lake, the artificial Lake Tuendae harbors the only natural-occurring pure strain of endangered Mojave chub, Gila mohavensis.  Originally found in the Mojave River from near the confluence of the east and west forks to Soda Lake, the fish has hybridized with the illegally introduced Gila orcutti elsewhere in the drainage. Populations of the fish have been successfully introduced in other ponds in Southern California.  The introduced Saratoga Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis nevadensis, has completely replaced a pupfish, Cyprinodon salinus, introduced earlier.

Various migrant waterfowl, including Canada geese, Branta canadensis, are seen in the vicinity.

Soda Lake, now a wet playa, is a remnant of the late Pleistocene Lake Mojave.  The Mojave River flowed through it and on to Death Valley.  There is a series of pools near the artificial lake.

Integrity:  The lake is artificial and is stocked with various waterfowl.  The owner is cooperating in the preservation efforts.  It is a part of a health resort.

Use:  Private

Ref:  Jubbs, C. L. and R. R. Wilier, 1943.  Mass Hybridization between Two Genera of Cyprinidid Fishes in the Mojave Desert, California.  Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts Let. Vol. 28, pp. 343-378.

St. Amant, J. A. and S. Sasaki, 1971.  Progress Report on Reestablishment of the Mojave Chub, Gila Mohavensis. Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game Vol. 57, pp. 307-308.

Blackwelder, Eliot, 1954.  Pleistocene Lakes and Drainage in the Mojave Region, Southern California. In Geology of Southern California, Calif. Div. of Mines Bull. 170.     

September 1975  

San Bernardino
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2005 Steven Louis Hartman

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Last modified: December 06, 2005