Active Desert Sand Fields

Background

Description and distribution.These are areas of active sand movement, with little or no vegetation, where accumulated sand is not of sufficient depth to form classic formations that characterize dune systems. Sand fields may intergrade with active dunes, and stabilized and partially stabilized dunes and sand fields. They may be characterized by hummocks of sand forming behind individual shrubs or clumps of vegetation. This community occurs within a Creosote Bush Scrub matrix. Approximately 5,016 acres occur in the Plan area: on the Coachella Valley Preserve, east of the Whitewater Floodplain Preserve, and on the Willow Hole-Edom Hill Preserve, and along Varner Road and north of I-10 between the Willow Hole and the Coachella Valley Preserves. Many of these sand fields were probably once dune formations. About 47% of this community currently occurs on public land or private conservation land. 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 grasshopper, and Coachella Valley milkvetch.