Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve


The Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve is a 121-hectare nature reserve that is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System. It is located near Yucca Valley, California in San Bernardino County, California. Administered by UC Irvine, the reserve is owned by the University of California and managed for teaching and research.
Reserve lands form a transition zone, or ecotone, between the high-elevation ecosystems of the San Bernardino Mountains and the lower, hotter Mojave Desert.

History

From 1947 to 1972, the reserve was owned by Bruce and Jean Burns. The couple built a home and raised a family there before selling much of the property to the University. The Burns house now serves as a field station that provides accommodations for reserve visitors. The University purchased the remainder of the Burns land in 1990.

Geology

The most salient feature of the reserve are its weathered boulder hills. Because the reserve lies in the rain shadow of the San Bernardino Mountains, millions of years of drying eroded the soils. Wind blew away much of the soil, exposing the granitic bedrock below. Additional spalling produced the characteristic look of the reserve’s boulder piles.

Ecology

Habitats at the reserve include desert, a freshwater seep, and a wash. Vegetation typical of the high elevation Mojave, such as Joshua trees, nolina, and the reserve’s namesake, the piñon pine grow atop the dry hills.
The wash supports lower-elevation desert plants such as desert willow, mesquite and catclaw.
Perennially moist lower Railroad Wash sustains Muller’s oak and rushes
Two species of quail mingle on the reserve, mountain and Gambel’s . Other common fauna include horned lizards, coachwhip snakes, and phainopepla. Two new beetle species discovered in the wash were described in 2011.