Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Tunnel Spring Wilderness (
map) in 2004 and it now has a total of
5,341 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
Nevada and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Tunnel Spring Wilderness is bordered by
the
Cougar Canyon Wilderness to the east.
Description
Tunnel Springs Wilderness is a land of steep, mountainous canyons, long ridges and rough drainages located at the head of Beaver Dam Wash. Various kinds of volcanic rocks predominate. Vegetation is mostly pinyon-juniper and sagebrush. The climate is semi-arid, with cold winters and hot summers. Five to seven miles of streams support trout fisheries, unusual in BLM lands in this desert region. Rainbow trout live in the perennial waters of Beaver Dam Wash. Mountain lions and a variety of raptors frequent the area. The birds include: ferruginous hawk, Swainson's hawk, southern spotted owl, long-billed curlew, mountain plover, western snowy plover, western yellow-billed cuckoo, white-faced biis, and Arizona Bell's vireo. Rodents include Merriam's kangaroo rat. Beaver Dam Creek is known to inhabit the Virgin River spinedance, speckled dace, and desert sucker.
