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CA 19. San Felipe Creek. Acreage: 1000 estimated. 



O Location: Imperial County; Harpers Well Quadrangle; 32 miles NW of Brawley; 



j reached via Rt. 78. 



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O Description: This area is extremely desirable because it contains one of the very 



few spots in California's deserts where water flows continuously throughout the 

 year. Although nearly all of both San Felipe and Carrizo creeks are dry on the 

 surface most of the time, the region at the junction of these creeks contains 

 flowing surface water at all times. Amphibians (Rana pipiens and Hyla regilla) 

 and musk rats {Ondatra zibet hica) are residents at this site. The native pupfish 

 (Cyprinodon macularius californiensis) finds a refugium here, and aquatic insects 

 are also present. In essence, this is an aquatic island surrounded by desert. Ex- 

 posures of the valley fill in this area provide opportunities for geological and 

 archaeological research. 



Ownership: Alternate sections under Bureau of Reclamation Control and 

 Southern Pacific Railroad ownership. 



Data source: Boyd R. Strain, University of California, Riverside, Cal. 92500. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Dr. C. L. Hubbs, Scripps Institute, La Jolla, Cal. 

 92037; Drs. R. Ruibal and W. W. Mayhew, University of California, Riverside, 

 Cal. 92500. 



