Spanish Lake RNA
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Spanish Lake Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent plant communities that could be studied for the effect of future global warming trends. The RNA is an open basin with an upward east-facing slope towards Coleman Rim and is dissected by Basin and Range faults (north-trending) and echelon faults (northwest-trending). Spanish Lake is a perennially dry lakebed surrounded by salt desert scrub and alkali greasewood plant communities. An extensive shadscale-budsage (Atriplex confertifolia-Artemisia spinescens)/bunchgrass community dominates the uplands and the portion of flats surrounding the playa. Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum var. obovatum) is being monitored within the lakebed. A small alkali bottomland community of greasewood/basin wildrye (Sarcobatus vermiculatus/Leymus cinereus) dominates the south portion of the RNA. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), greasewood, spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), shadscale, gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), and basin wildrye dominate the north portion.
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