Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Pacific Southwest Region
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Refuge Quick Facts

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Amy Sprunger, Refuge Manager

Desert NWR
HCR 38, Box 700
Las Vegas, NV 89124
Email Address: amy_sprunger@fws.gov
Refuge Phone: 702-879-6110
Fax: 702-879-6115

Quick Refuge Facts

  • Established: May 20, 1936.
  • Acres: 1.6 million acres located in Clark County, NV.
  • Location: The refuge is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Travel to the Refuge from Las Vegas on Highway 95 North, turning right at the refuge sign.
  • The refuge was established for the preservation and management of desert bighorn sheep and its habitat.
  • Desert is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the continental United States. The refuge is large enough to cover the state of Rhode Island twice, and still have room left over for over a quarter of a million football fields.
  • Refuge habitat ranges from desert shrub communities in the low lands (below 6,000 feet) to coniferous forest communites in the high mountain ranges (7,000 - 9,000 feet.)
  • The refuge bighorn sheep population in 2001 was 700.
  • Primary public use at the refuge consists of wildlife observation, primitive camping, and picnicking.

Financial Impact of Refuge

  • 3 - person staff.
  • Over 68,000 visitors annually.
  • Annual budget (Fiscal Year 2004) $361,333 (includes 1 time budget allocations).

Refuge Goals And Objectives

  • Protect, restore, and perpetuate a natural diversity of endangered and threatened species, other fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats, with an emphasis on desert bighorn sheep.
  • Protect and manage the proposed Desert Wilderness Area to maintain the integrity of its wild, primitive character.
  • Provide opportunities for quality, wild-life dependent recreation, education, and research to enhance public appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of refuge fish, wildlife, and habitats.
  • Provide opportunities for wildlife and wildlands-dependent recreation, interpretation, and education oriented to urban residents, emphasizing the Interior Basin ecosystem while maintaining the rugged, remote, and undeveloped character of the Refuge.

Management Tools

  • Big game management.
  • Endangered species restoration/management.
  • Water level/water rights/water quality.
  • Law enforcement.
  • Research.
  • Education/interpretation.
  • Volunteer/student intern program.

Public Use Opportunities

  • Wildlife observation.
  • Photography.
  • Camping.
  • Horseback riding.
  • Environmental education.
Last updated: June 24, 2010