The valley sink scrub community found at Allensworth Ecological Reserve is one of the best remaining examples of this rare alkali habitat in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Since 1980, the state of California has been purchasing land in this area, initially to protect habitat for imperiled species including the San Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and Tipton kangaroo rat, along with several other special status species and natural communities. The property was designated as an ecological reserve by the State Fish and Game Commission in 1983.

     Funding for these ongoing purchases has come largely through the State Wildlife Conservation Board, which does not provide funds for managing the lands. Thus, while the Reserve is conserved in perpetuity for the protection of lands vital to sensitive native species included in the Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, funds for management, monitoring, and maintenance by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife depend on allotments from the state’s general fund.

     Visitors exploring this flat land of valley sink scrub and valley saltbush scrub will see iodine bush, goldenbush, atriplex, and San Joaquin saltbush, ground squirrels, and possibly a coast horned lizard or two, along with native and migrating birds in season. Caution: Summer temperatures are very high, there are no visitor facilities, and there is virtually no shade. Carry water.

March, 2022

NOTE: The Project Team will be conducting research for a full article as volunteer time allows.  Contact us if you’d like to help write about this Treasure