The Parks

The Chihuahuan Desert Network

includes seven park units within the Northern Chihuahuan Desert: Amistad National Recreation Area, White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park and The Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River. Within the parks, altitudes range from 282 M (925 ft) at Amistad to the highest point in Texas, El Capitan at 2667 M (8750 ft) in the Guadalupe Mountains. The variations in elevation along with an average annual rainfall of 10 inches contribute to the diversity of the region.

Amistad National Recreation Area

(NRA), resulted from construction of Amistad Dam in 1969. When the reservoir water level is at its conservation elevation of 340 m (1117 ft), then there are 17,820 ac of land in this NRA. The Amistad NRA includes more than 864 km (540 miles) of park boundary on the US side, and extends 118 km (74 miles) up the Rio Grande, 22 km (14 miles) up the Pecos River, and 38 km (24 miles) up the Devils River. The park is located at a convergence of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Edwards Plateau Savannah, and the Tamaulipan Mezquital Ecoregions (Ricketts et al. 1999). Riparian, shoreline, inundation zone and upland desert ecosystems support terrestrial species diversity. Aquatic species occur in the lake and sections of the Devils, Rio Grande, and Pecos rivers. (http://www.nps.gov/amis)

Big Bend National Park

(NP), established in 1944, includes 324,641 ha (801,863 ac), and is the largest protected area representative of the Chihuahuan Desert. The park was designated in 1976 as a U.S. Biosphere Reserve. Big Bend also includes 216,070 ha (533,900 ac) of recommended wilderness, and administers the 190-mile Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River. Species diversity is increased due to inclusion of the Rio Grande and the Chisos Mountains, a 50-square mile range that is home to numerous relict and isolated populations. Big Bend also has a remarkable reptile assemblage which includes about 34 species of snake, 21 species of lizard, and five species of turtle. (http://www.nps.gov/bibe)

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

(NP), established in 1923, includes 18,934 ha (46,766 ac), of which 13,443 ha (33,203 ac) are Designated Wilderness. The park was designated a World Heritage Site on December 6, 1995 which indicates the significance of the park's cave and other resources. Surface elevations range from 1,096 m (3,595 ft) to 1,987 m (6,520 ft), and include fossilized reef uplands and diverse incised canyons. (http://www.nps.gov/cave)

Fort Davis National Historic Site

(NHS), established in 1963, is in the Davis Mountains, Texas' most extensive mountain range. The 192 ha (474 ac) park preserves fort structures, the heritage late 19th century U.S. Army and this park interprets the era of westward migration. Natural resources include a striking blend of desert, woodland, and grassland, a historic cottonwood grove, and associated faunal communities. (http://www.nps.gov/foda)

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

(NP), established in 1972, consists of 34,986 ha (86,416 ac), of which 46,850 ac are Designated Wilderness. The park preserves the world's most significant fossilized reef outcrops of Permian age limestone, designated as an International Benchmark Standard for Geology, and the Chihuahuan Desert resources that occur upon it. Elevation-related environmental diversity ranges from lowland salt basin to relict conifer forests, including Texas' highest point at 2,667 m (8,749 ft). (http://www.nps.gov/gumo)

Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River

(RS) Created in 1976 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River encompasses 305 river km (190 river miles) from the Chihuahua-Coahuila State Line in Mexico to the Terrell Val Verde County Line in the United States. As mentioned above, for planning purposes and project implementation, the BIBE-RIGR overlap is considered and is limited to the 209 river km (127 river miles) between Big Bend and the Terrell Val Verde State Line. (http://www.nps.gov/rigr)

White Sands National Monument

(NM) established in 1933, at the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies the Tularosa Basin. In the heart of this basin lies one of the world's great natural wonders, encompasses 58,191 ha (143,733 ac) in south central New Mexico, and preserves approximately half of the world's largest gypsum sand dune field. Amount of gypsum sand in the white dunes is approximately 4.5 billion tons. White Sands is home to the largest gypsum dune fields. In the gypsum sands, white coloration has evolved in several vertebrates and invertebrates species. (http://www.nps.gov/whsa)