Basin and Range
(Area - 37,500,400 ha)
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State Plans
California
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Location and physiography - The Basin and Range is a large
physiographic area covering most of Nevada, part of eastern California, western Utah, and
southeast Idaho. It lies in the rainshadow of the Sierra Nevada, south of the Columbia Plateau
and north of the Mohave Desert, and is a mosaic of xeric basins, scattered mountains, and salt
flats. It is hotter and contains more and higher mountains than the Columbia Plateau, with more
perennial streams and ponderosa pine forest at the higher elevations. Compared to the Mojave
Desert, it is not as hot and is more dominated by shrubland and less by grassland.
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Conservation issues and recommendations - Overgrazing, an altered fire regime, and invasion by aggressive invasive non-native plants have changed the character of much of the Basin and Range. Over smaller areas, urbanization and recreation affect bird habitat. Conservation recommendations include restoration of shrubs, using, in part, a 40-80 year interval fire regime, planned to avoid post-fire cheatgrass dominance. Prevention of further conversion to other uses is desirable. Wetlands have been heavily affected by water diversion for agriculture to the point of essentially being eliminated altogether in some cases. Partnerships dedicated to restoration of instream flowage and natural wetlands must be continued and strengthened.
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