Stabilized and Partially Stabilized Desert Dunes

Background

Description and distribution  These are dune sand accumulations that are stabilized or partially stabilized by evergreen and/or deciduous shrubs, scattered low annuals, and perennial grasses. This community may intergrade with active dunes, sand fields, or sandier phases of creosote bush scrub. This community occurs within a Creosote Bush Scrub matrix. There are approximately 192 acres in the Plan area. About 11% of this community currently occurs on public land or private conservation land in the vicinity of Willow Hole, west of the Indio Hills.

Associated covered species  Species associated with this community are the Palm Springs ground squirrel, Palm Springs pocket mouse, flat-tailed horned lizard, Le Conte's thrasher, burrowing owl, Coachella giant sand treader cricket, Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket and Coachella Valley milkvetch.