At first glance, the area looks desolate, hardly a place for a wildlife refuge. But myriad tracks in the soft sand reveal the complex relationships of its native species: kangaroo rats, cactus wrens and an array of predators including great horned owls, coyotes and rattlesnakes.
A habitat conservation plan hammered out a decade ago to ensure the survival of the kangaroo rat population has become a source of pride for the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District.