The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established September 10, 1979, to secure habitat for the endangered Moapa dace, a small fish commonly found throughout the headwaters of the Muddy River system. In the last decade, dace populations have declined due to habitat destruction and modification.
Competition with introduced species such as the mosquitofish and shortfin molly have also added to the dace's decline. The Moapa White River springfish, however, compatibly coexists with the dace.
The refuge is located on 116 acres in northeastern Clark County and is approximately 60 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada. Dace habitat on the refuge consists of stream channels supported by six thermal springs emerging near the center of the refuge.
Due to its small size, fragile habitats, and on-going restoration work,the wildlife refuge is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, sunrise to sunset, from Labor Day through Memorial Day. The wildlife refuge is closed from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
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