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16-735: The 106-acre (43 ha) refuge was created as part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex , on September 10, 1979. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge complex also includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge , the Desert National Wildlife Refuge , and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge . One of the areas of the MVNWR, now called the "Plummer Unit," was a public, family-owned recreational park. A former general manager of

32-510: A central office, have similar ecology , and similar management needs. Fish and Wildlife Service staff are shared between all of these refuges. Range/Refuge staff work out of the Corn Creek Field Station, which includes a visitor center, which is located 23 miles (37 km) north of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Range can be accessed from U.S. Route 95 via Corn Creek Road . The Desert NWR contains six major mountain ranges, including

48-575: Is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , located north of Las Vegas, Nevada , in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties, with much of its land area lying within the southeastern section of the Nevada Test and Training Range . The Desert NWR, created on May 20, 1936, is the largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states of the United States, encompassing 1.615 million acres (6,540 km ) of

64-696: Is a roughly 4-mile paved road that provides access to the community via Landy Street and the DNWR visitor center and Corn Creek Campsite from U.S. Route 95 . The road has a 45 mph speed limit. The western half is located in the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and the eastern half in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. At the end of the road, Alamo Road and Mormon Well Road are accessible as well as Gass Peak Road which spurs off Mormon Well Road further into

80-638: The Mojave Desert in the southern part of Nevada . The refuge was originally established at 2.25 million acres. In 1940 840,000 acres were transferred to the Department of Defense. This Range is part of the larger Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex , which includes the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge , the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge , and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge . All of these refuges are managed from

96-579: The Sheep Range , with heights up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) and valleys around 2,500 feet (760 m). Annual rainfall in the range varies from less than four inches (100 mm) in the valleys to over fifteen inches (380 mm) on the mountain peaks. Perpetuating the desert bighorn sheep and its habitat is the most important objective of the range. The Range actively improves bighorn habitats by developing new water sources and maintaining and improving existing ones. Numerous other wildlife species share

112-548: The Spring Mountains . Corn Creek has a cool desert climate ( Köppen BWk ). To the northeast up Corn Creek Road is Corn Creek Campsite and the Desert National Wildlife Refuge visitor center and parking lot . Trails and dirt roads from the visitor center provide access to the Sheep Range and Las Vegas Range and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument located further south closer to Las Vegas. Corn Creek Road

128-587: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Corn Creek Road Corn Creek is an unincorporated community in Clark County , Nevada , United States . The community is located along the former Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad where it had a station. It is approximately 7.5 miles from the Las Vegas city limits by road and is situated south of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge border and bordered to

144-805: The mosquitofish and shortfin molly have also added to the dace's decline. In August, 2005 the National Wildlife Refuge Association and again in September, 2005 the Defenders of Wildlife listed the Refuge as one of the 10 most endangered refuges in the United States . [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service . Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex The Desert National Wildlife Refuge

160-506: The "Jewel in the Desert". By 1990 the resort changed from an open-to-the-public venue into a private time-share spa. The Desert Oasis Warm Springs Resort continued to operate until a wildfire swept through the area in 1994. After the fire, the resort remained unused until 1997 when the property was purchased by Del Webb Inc. , turned over to the Fish and Wildlife Service, and incorporated as part of

176-510: The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Bob Plummer, purchased a 100-acre (40 ha) parcel of land with an oasis of California Fan Palms ( Washingtonia filifera ) and natural hot springs . It became known as "Desert Oasis Warm Springs." During the 1970s and 80's he converted the property into a spa, resort and retreat enjoyed for over several decades by Las Vegas area families, with fond memories at

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192-789: The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was established to provide and protect the habitat of the endangered species of Moapa dace of which about 1,900 exist in the Muddy River area. The habitat on the refuge consists of stream channels feeding the Muddy River including six hot springs emerging near the center of the refuge. Since the 1990s the dace have been in decline mainly due to habitat destruction and modification. Nearby groundwater pumping has decreased stream discharge and streamflows and decreased dace habitat. Competition with introduced species such as

208-610: The dominant shrubs in the hottest, lowest elevations of Desert National Wildlife Range. Above the valley floor, Mojave yucca and cactus become abundant. At the upper edge of the desert shrub communities, between approximately 4,200 to 6,000 feet (1,300 to 1,800 m), black-brush and Joshua tree are dominant. Above 6,000 feet (1,800 m) desert woodlands, composed of single-leaf pinyon , Utah juniper , and big sagebrush begin. The coniferous forest communities begin around 7,000 feet (2,100 m). From 7,000 to 9,000 feet (2,100 to 2,700 m) Ponderosa pine and white fir are

224-526: The dominant trees. Near 10,000 feet (3,000 m) where the growing seasons are the shortest, the only trees surviving are bristlecone pines . Numerous recreational opportunities are available on the Range. Camping , hiking , backpacking , and horseback riding are all popular activities enjoyed by refuge visitors. Limited hunting for bighorn sheep is permitted. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

240-529: The range with bighorns. In addition to wildlife the Range also boasts an abundance of plant communities. Plant communities and wildlife found on the Range vary with altitude and climate. Most of these plant species can be seen while driving the Mormon Well Road (which can be accessed from the Corn Creek Field Station). The desert shrub community, composed of creosote bush and white bursage are

256-602: The west, south, and east with the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument . Corn Creek is an off-the-grid community, relying on power from propane tanks and solar panels . Corn Creek lies on the Las Vegas Wash at an elevation of 2,854 ft (870 m). Visible in the east are the Sheep Range and Fossil Ridge, Castle Rock, and Gass Peak of the Las Vegas Range . To the west are

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