CO 



UT 2. Fish Springs. Acreage: 7000-10,000. Ej 



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Location: Juab County; E of Topaz Mt. and Dugway Range quadrangles; on the I 



northern boundary of Juab County and 35 miles from the Nevada border; 

 reached via Callao-Tooele Road. 



Description: Fish Springs is located in the harsh arid country of Western Utah, 

 in the desert basin bordered by Fish Springs Mountains to the west and by 

 rolling dunes along other perimeters, within the shorelines of ancient Lake Bon- 

 neville. Inundation is confined to an area 6 miles long, 3 miles wide. Twisting 

 depressions on the basin floor form shallow sloughs, many of which have been 

 developed for waterfowl habitat. Three major and numerous lesser springs give 

 a total flow of approximately 45-50 second-feet. Vegetative aspect includes 

 desert, dune boundaries grading to Distichlis communities, Juncus meadows and 

 borders, Phragmites communities, Eleocharis meadows, Scirpus, Typha emer- 

 gents, and submersed communities of Chara and Ruppia. Fish Springs are rich in 

 history. They were used intensively by the Goshute Indians, and later were im- 

 portant as a way station in relation to explorations and developments, including 

 the Pony Express. The area is used extensively by various waterfowl and shore- 

 bird species. 



References: Bolen, E. G. 1962. Ecology of spring fed salt marshes. M.S. Thesis, 

 Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah; Bolen, E. G. 1964. Plant ecology of spring fed 

 salt marshes in western Utah. Ecol, Monogr. 34:143-166. 



Encroachments: Extensive early alteration of the site by numerous, short-lived 

 attempts at farming and ranching. Currently modified through major develop- 

 ments designed to improve existing habitat for waterfowl management purposes. 



Ownership: BSFW, Fish Springs National Waterfowl Refuge. 



Data source: William T. Krummes, BSFW, Division of Wildlife Services, P.O. 

 Box 1306, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Dr. Eric G. Bolen, Texas Technological College, 

 Lubbock, Tex. 79400; Dr. Jessop B. Low, Leader, Utah Cooperative Wildlife 

 Research Unit, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84321, and his former grad- 

 uate student, Dr. Donald E. McKnight. 



