walking along
Ruby Marsh
Ruby Marsh, Nevada
Some basins, in the "basin and range" country, have limestone as their country rock and therefore developed underground outflow routes which insured that the basin does not become a salt/alkaline flat. Because they are sunken marshes much of the year, large scale cattle/sheep grazing was discouraged. Therefore, most of the native grasses are intact. The natural wildlife staff also periodically burns to insure a return to a multiple species "prairie" flora, much in the way that both natural and hunting fires insured this in the past. The "hillside" forest is classic Pinyon Pine/Juniper. The Ruby Mountains are capped by glaciated granite (the ranges core) and look very much like the "high sierras".
Ruby Marsh
Ruby Marsh, Nevada
Some basins, in the "basin and range" country, have limestone as their country rock and therefore developed underground outflow routes which insured that the basin does not become a salt/alkaline flat. Because they are sunken marshes much of the year, large scale cattle/sheep grazing was discouraged. Therefore, most of the native grasses are intact. The natural wildlife staff also periodically burns to insure a return to a multiple species "prairie" flora, much in the way that both natural and hunting fires insured this in the past. The "hillside" forest is classic Pinyon Pine/Juniper. The Ruby Mountains are capped by glaciated granite (the ranges core) and look very much like the "high sierras".