An Island in a Sea of Desert
Warm Springs Natural Area is a 1,250-acre oasis in Moapa, Nevada featuring more than two dozen bubbling springs, rushing streams and lush wetlands. It is also home to over 28 sensitive species and more than 200 species of birds. Operated by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, our mission is to manage the property as a natural area for the benefit of native species and for the recovery of the endangered Moapa dace.
Free guided walking tours
Spend a Saturday at Warm Springs!
Join us for a free, guided tour of the Warm Springs Public Use Area. Tours are approximately one hour long and begin at 10 a.m. Upcoming tour dates:
- April 25
- May 16
Volunteer opportunities
Warm Springs Natural Area is seeking enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about the outdoors and thrive on educating others! Come engage visitors at our public use area, help at local events, assist staff during field trips and other hosted activities, work in the greenhouse and on restoration projects, and teach the community about our rich history and current preservation efforts and biological, ecological, and archaeological research.
Become a docent
2025 Highlights
- Engaged with more than 6,100 people during community outreach events, tours, and presentations.
- Continued partnership with Future Farmers of America program at Moapa Valley, engaging students in wildlife and property management activities.
- Hosted 145 fifth-graders from Grant Bowler Middle School for annual World Wetlands Day event.
- Held annual community Green-Up event that brought 176 volunteers to the property to plant 1,968 native shrubs and grasses.
- Spent more than 1,600 hours completing 9 Scout projects that included 161 volunteers installing 688 native plants, 1,082 ash trees, and restoring an historical ditch.
- Volunteers completed more than 300 hours in plant propagation projects in the greenhouse and shade structures on property.
- Completed tours for more than 276 guests for groups including Red Rock Audubon, Red Cliffs Audubon, Foothills Montessouri School, Clark County Parks and Recreation, Coleman Senior Center, Nevada Naturalist group, Master Gardeners group, Cambridge Recreation Center senior group, and Youth Conservation Council.
- Logged more than 47 groups and over 600 individuals in the guestbook.
- Hosted Spring and Fall tours bringing more than 79 people to the property.
- Continued to implement compliance measures to protect threatened and endangered species per the Incidental Take Permit authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Conducted two Moapa dace counts, snorkeling more than six miles of streams for each count. Numbers remain stable with 1,927 Moapa dace counted in February 2025 and 2,426 counted in August 2025.
- Identified four Virgin River chub on property during the February dace count and two during the August 2025 dace count.
- Continued annual marsh bird surveys, detecting Virginia rail, sora, and least bittern.
- Documented two southwestern willow flycatcher (endangered) pairs and confirmed two fledglings.
- Reported one yellow-billed cuckoo (threatened).
- Hosted a Muddy River Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 27, 2025 with 15 participants counting 74 species and 4,867 total birds.
- Documented two desert tortoises on property (may have been the same individual).
- Implemented herpetological surveys at 12 locations, documenting one new snake species (western leaf-nosed snake) and Ticul's desert shrew (six individuals), among others.
- Added 20 new terrestrial invertebrates to the inventory, bringing the total to 547.
- Conducted a monarch survey identifying two adults and signs of caterpillars, but no caterpillars observed on the property.
- Coordinated with U.S. Geological Survey and Clark County to collect genetic samples and determine if there are Arizona toad hybrids on property.
- Coordinated with USFWS and Nevada Department of Wildlife to collect Virgin River chub genetic samples to help researchers understand the relationship between chub species in different western rivers in North America.
- Actively participated in the Muddy River Biological Advisory Committee monthly meetings.
- Treated 9.35 acres of noxious weeds and 18 acres of bare ground for firebreaks.
- Removed two acres of tamarisk from the Arrow Canyon area.
- Produced more than 12,000 native trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses in the onsite propagation facility for future restoration efforts.
- Installed 3,000 native plants and associated irrigation systems at nine ecological restoration sites.
- Cleared vegetation from 1.2 miles of streams to improve Moapa dace habitat.
- Prepared plans and started work at restoration sites funded by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.
- Actively managed and maintained 86 acres of restored areas.
- Continue monthly herpetelogical survey of the property January through May 2026.
- Conduct annual threatened and endangered bird species surveys.
- Conduct a small mammal survey of riparian habitats and round-tailed ground squirrel habitat (tentative).
- Restore several acres of abandoned farm fields and riparian habitat along the Muddy River.
- Continue to treat and remove noxious weeds and carry out fuel reduction efforts.
- Construct one mile of bird loop trail.
- Begin process to fence Cardy Lamb pool and remove bullfrogs and non-native.
- Continue to engage with local schools, delivering in-classroom presentations and bringing students to the property for field trips.
- Continue spring and fall Public Use Area tours for the general public and tours for interested groups.
- Continue annual fall Green-Up native planting events.