Welcome to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.  Red Rock Canyon is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, a federal agency under the Department of Interior.  Red Rock Canyon, established as a National Recreation Area in 1967, became a National Conservation Area in 1991 in order to protect its natural resources for future generations.   The Bureau of Land Management, Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Assocation and Friends of Red Rock Canyon cooperate to offer a variety of onsite and classroom based environmental education programs.  For more information please see relevant folders: Red Rock Canyon Field Programs 2007/2008, or Red Rock Canyon Classroom Programs 2007/2008.   Red Rock Canyon Information Big picture :  The unique geological features, plants and animals of Red Rock Canyon represent some of the best features of three different desert ecosytems: the Mohave, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin.  Likewise, spring filled mountains, large changes in elevation, and the complexity of the Keystone thrust make Red Rock Canyon a extremely diverse area.  Kids and adults alike come to Red Rock Canyon to explore nature, enjoy its many recreational opportunities and cooperate with scientists discovering better ways to protect the fragile desert and riparian ecosytems located minutes from a internationally known vacation spot. Size: 197,000 acres Climate: Red Rock Canyon’s climate is dominated by the rain shadow effects of the Mohave Desert ecology. Average temperatures from June to September often range above 100 F during the day with lows between 60F to 70F at night. Brief afternoon thundershowers are common in July through September.  Winters can be cold in the canyons with temperatures ranging from 50F during the day to 20F at night. Snow above the escarpment can be expected in the winter with occasional snow in the lowest points of the Conservation Area. Precipitation amounts varies from 10 inches near the mountains to 6 inches per year in the leeward side of the Spring Mountain Range. Geography: Rugged Mountains, Alluvial fans, dry washes, sculpted sandstone bluffs, stream and spring riparian areas. Ecosystem Types: There are nine dominant ecosystem types in the Conservation Area:  pinyon-juniper, joshua tree, rabbitbrush, blackbrush, manzanita, desert shrub, oakbrush, barren, and unique vegetation. Focal Plants:  Endemic and species of special concern. Ponderosa pine, Joshua tree, Mohave yucca, barrel cactus, pencil cholla,  Beaver tail cactus, penstemon, Creosote bush, Manzanita, Big sage, Pinyon  pine, juniper, and maiden hair ferns,    Focal Animals:Desert Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Mountain Lion, Mountain Bluebird, Wild horses and burros,  Gila Monster, Prehistory: For thousands of years various Great Basin Indian groups have used the Conservation area as a seasonal gathering place during the summer and fall.  The pueblo people and their decendents, including the Paiute people gathered plants  and hunted animals. Pinyon pine and agave were important food sources.  Yuccas were used for everything from food, shelter, clothing and medicines. Evidence of their use of the area is visable through roasting pits, pictographs, and petroglyphs. Euro-American History: Spanish exploration of the surrounding Las Vegas Area in the late 1600’s, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that European immigrants began settling in the area and utilized the various water and natural resources . Evidence of this can be seen in remenents of the Spanish/Morman trail, quarry/mine sites,  homesteads, and from feral animals gone. The most obvious of these species are the wild horses and burros. Current Communities: One reservation is located in the north expansion area of the Conservation Area and two small developments are located within the Conservation boundaries.  The greater Las Vegas metropolitan area dominates the eastern boundary of the Conservation Area. Tourism and mining dominating the local economies.