WSNA Sensitive Species

The Warm Springs Natural Area is an ideal
habitat for a number of sensitive species.

Approximately four miles of the Muddy River is located within the Warm Springs Natural Area. The property is home to 28 sensitive species, 225 species of birds, and a wide variety of other species.

The majority of the Moapa dace habitat in the entire world is found on site. The Moapa dace is protected by the Endangered Species Act and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) considers the recovery of the Moapa dace to be essential in this region.

Due to the thermal springs and their outflows on both the Warm Springs Natural Area and adjacent Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, SNWA's property contains six of the eight species listed in the USFWS 1996 "Recovery Plan for the Rare Aquatic Species of the Muddy River Ecosystem."

Additional sensitive species found on the property include the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, candidate yellow-billed cuckoo, threatened desert tortoise and a number of species listed as critically imperiled by the State of Nevada.

The Warm Springs Natural Area also has the largest breeding population of vermilion flycatchers in Nevada.

In addition, under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act funding for acquisition of the property in September of 2007, SNWA committed to manage the property as a Natural Area. SNWA developed a stewardship plan for the property in coordination with USFWS, The Nature Conservancy, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, signatories of the 2006 Memorandum of Agreement, and other property stakeholders.