Site Name: Meadow Valley Wash
Status: Recognized State: Nevada
Priority: State Country: US
Criteria Proposed: D3, D4i, D4vii
Criteria Confirmed: D1 		County:
Lincoln
 
Latitude: 37.2653
Longitude: -114.4672
 Area (ha): 6379.0 Elevation (m):
Min 183.0  Max 411.0  Avg 0.0
 
Bird Conservation Region:
Great Basin 		Endemic Bird Area:
 
Site Description:
Landownership is primarily Federal (Bureau of Land Management), though there are some scattered private parcels in the wash.

Meadow Valley Wash is a major north-south was system extending 80+ miles from the Muddy River at its southern end and beyond Caliente to the north. This nomination focuses on the best habitat, which lies between the Clark/Lincoln County boundary and Caliente. Wetlands and seeps ranging from tens to hundreds of acres are intermittent with the Wash. This combination of large area, north-south alignment, and wetland/water sites make this wash system a significant wildlife habitat and migration corridor for riparian and desert species. The wash provides bird habitat for year-round residents, seasonal breeding birds, and migrants.

 
Ornithological Significance:
MVW is one of a handful of desert riparian sites in southern Nevada. Although altered, the site still provides breeding and stop-over habitat for landbirds. Much interest from FWS & NDOW has been focused on the wash with an eye towards controlling invasive weeds and enhancing habitat values for neotropical migrants. The sites orientation as an a long, narrow corridor probably offers support for migrating birds. MVW actually drains a much larger region of eastern NV, but the nomination is for the highest quality habitat in the wash.
 
Criteria:
 
Species Data and Criteria :
Common Name Date Seasonal/ Daily Season # Observed Density (#/km2) Units Proposed Criteria Confirmed Criteria
Cooper's Hawk 2002 passage  4    Individuals     
Ferruginous Hawk 2001 resident  7    Individuals     
Prairie Falcon 2000 resident  4    Individuals     
Willow Flycatcher 1999 breeding  4    Individuals  D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
D4i - >1% State population
  
Gray Flycatcher 2002 breeding  3    Individuals     
Ash-throated Flycatcher 2002 passage  24    Individuals  D3 - Species in rare/unique habitat
D4vii - US State: outstanding landbird stopover
 D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
Loggerhead Shrike 2000 resident  23    Individuals     
Phainopepla 2001 resident  60    Individuals  D3 - Species in rare/unique habitat
D4vii - US State: outstanding landbird stopover
 D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
Western Bluebird 2000 resident  30    Individuals    D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
Sage Sparrow 2000 resident  125    Individuals     
Lucy's Warbler 2002 breeding  12    Individuals     
Wilson's Warbler 1997 passage  50    Individuals     
Yellow-breasted Chat 2002 resident  36    Individuals  D3 - Species in rare/unique habitat
D4vii - US State: outstanding landbird stopover
 D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
Blue Grosbeak 2002 breeding  37    Individuals  D3 - Species in rare/unique habitat
 D1 - State Species of Conservation Concern
Scott's Oriole 2002 resident  9    Individuals     
 
Ownership
% of IBA Ownership

 
Habitat
% of IBA Habitat
15.0 Forested Upland 

 
Land Use
% of Total Use of IBA Land Use
5.0 agriculture 
90.0 other 
5.0 urban/industrial/transport 

 
Conservation Issues
Level Threat
3 Disturbance to birds 
10 Invasive species 
3 Water Diversions (incl. impact dikes/dams) 

Citation: National Audubon Society 2010. Important Bird Areas in the U.S.
Available at http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba 02/2010