Critical Habitat Added to Nevada Wildlife Refuge

The Conservation Fund has protected a critical property that will be added to Nevada’s Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge — ensuring this former industrial site can be restored for wildlife and for people to enjoy. 

For years, the property operated as a zeolite processing facility. Today, thanks to our partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), it’s on track to become a haven for the rare desert species that rely on the refuge’s fragile spring systems. Protecting this land will help shield nearby waters from contamination — a major win for endangered fish like the Ash Meadows speckled dace and Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish, which exist nowhere else on Earth. Restoring the site will also create healthier stopover and nesting habitat for migrating waterfowl and resident birds. 

The property includes remnants of a historic ranch, hotel, and airstrip — features that could one day be thoughtfully restored for public interpretation and recreation as part of the refuge experience. 

When FWS identified this land as essential to protect, they turned to The Conservation Fund for help. We stepped in quickly, acquiring the property and holding it until FWS can complete the purchase within the next one to two years. This cooperative approach ensures the land is protected immediately while allowing the refuge to plan its long-term restoration and stewardship. 

Ash Meadows is one of the most unique landscapes in the Mojave Desert — a network of desert oases supporting species found nowhere else. We’re proud to play a role in securing this special place and advancing habitat protection where it matters most.