LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is celebrating Mother's Day at the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The public is encouraged to honor "Mom" by taking advantage of all Ash Meadows has to offer.
Springtime at Ash Meadows is filled with wildflowers in bloom and the sound of birds singing. Staff of the wildlife refuge will be on hand Sunday May 9, 2010 with tea and pastries at the Crystal Springs Visitor Center. Visitors are invited to take part in a nature walk from 11 a.m. – Noon.
Two new boardwalks are in place at the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. One guides visitors to springs and other points of interest in the Point of Rocks area, while the other leads to the Longstreet Cabin and spring. The elevated boardwalks enhance the visitor experience with wide, even walking surfaces and easy wheelchair access.
The Point of Rocks boardwalk is approximately 1,500 feet in length, and protects the area from trampling as Ash Meadows personnel continue to restore the fragmented habitat.
A new boardwalk, approximately 500 feet in length, also leads to the Longstreet Cabin and spring. The historic cabin, once owned by Andrew Jackson "Jack" Longstreet, was restored in 2005 after the spring mound against which it was built collapsed, knocking down the entire structure. Visitors can enter the cabin and gain a sense of what Jack Longstreet's living conditions were at the turn of the 20th century.
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, located 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, was established in 1984 under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. It comprises 23,448 acres of spring fed wetlands and desert uplands that provide habitat for at least 26 plant and animal species that occur nowhere else in the world.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
