-
The Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center encompasses a major drainage system descending from the high peaks of the Santa Rosa Mountains down to Colorado Desert. Deep Canyon’s tributaries begin in montane forests, flow across a rolling plateau covered with piñon-juniper woodland and chaparral, join at the head of a precipitous gorge, and plunge 1,180 feet into the canyon. From there, the mouth of the canyon opens out into a broad alluvial fan with sandy washes on the southern edge of the Coachella Valley.
Except for a few permanent pools, the streambed in Deep Canyon’s lower reaches is dry. However, winter storms can trigger dramatic flooding.
The vertebrate fauna is exceptionally rich, with 46 reptile species, 228 birds, and 47 mammals. The reserve is part of the U.N. Mojave and Colorado Desert Biosphere Reserve and it is surrounded by the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument.
-
- North America
- 54900 Desert Research Trail
- United States
- Indian Wells
- CA
- 92210
- 33
- 116
- tracyc@ucr.edu
- https://deepcanyon.ucnrs.org
- 1958
- 1982
- Chris Tracy
- tracyc@ucr.edu
- Reserve Director
- 54900 Desert Research Trail, Indian Wells, CA 92210
- +1 951-295-6427
- Chris Tracy
- tracyc@ucr.edu
- Brenda Fisher
- bfisher@ucr.edu
- 1001-2500
- No
- Yes
- 3-5
- 0
- 1-10
- 1-25
- Solar or Off Grid
- 21-40 minutes
- No
- Terrestrial
- Desert
- 101-300 meters
- 1501-3000 meters
- B (arid)
- 75
- 20
- 5
- Year Founded
- 1958
- Year Joined OBFS
- 1982
- Size of Field Station (hectares)
- 1001-2500
- FSML Web Address
- https://deepcanyon.ucnrs.org
- Private nonprofit organization?
- No
- Universities affiliated / Parent Organization
- Federal, state, or local governmental partners?
-
No
- Member of the Virtual Field
- No