Pahrump Valley ACEC nomination

Above, Prior internally-nominated ACECs by the Bureau of Land Management. Below, our nominated ACEC map.

Mesquite Woodlands:

Portions of the nomination have a high water-table and support both honey mesquite and catclaw acacia woodlands.

The area supports neotropical bird habitat—the size of mesquite trees and largely unfragmented mesquite groves is unique compared to other areas of desert in the region.

Western Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa, also called Neltuma g.) are located in the proposed ACEC. These trees have been impacted by water drawdown but still are a unique ecological part of this desert that should be avoided. They provide habitat to several BLM Sensitive and Special Status Species.3

3 2017 Final BLM NV Sensitive and Special Species Status List .pdf Phainopeplas (Phainopepla nitens) are often observed in these south Pahrump valley mesquite groves.

Mesquite trees furnish shade and wildlife habitat where other trees will not grow. They will often be found in alkaline soils near water holes. Although a single flower of the blossom is only a few millimeters long, they are clustered into a yellow blossom attracting many different types of pollinators, including native bees, bumblebees, flower flies, and hummingbirds.

Mesquite beans are a staple food for may species in the area, including desert tortoise, desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii), and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus).

“Historically, mesquite bosques provided a unique and valuable ecosystem for a variety of animal and plant species; however, in recent times many of these woodlands have been either eliminated or heavily reduced and fragmented by anthropogenic influences. Associated with loss and reduction of these bosques is a decrease in populations of many plant and animal species dependent upon this riparian type”.4

4 Riparian research and management: Past, present, future. Volume 2 (usda.gov)

Since this is a unique woodland, it should be preserved and protected from solar development.