AMARGOSA CONSERVANCY
Working toward a sustainable future for the Amargosa River and Basin through Science, Stewardship, and Advocacy.
From its headwaters in the Oasis Valley north of Beatty, Nevada, the Amargosa River flows in a southerly direction for 180 miles in the northern Mojave Desert. Near Dumont Dunes, it makes a U-turn and heads north into Death Valley National Park, finally terminating in Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the United States.
The Amargosa is a river of groundwater. It flows mostly underground but surfaces in a few places: in Beatty and from Shoshone, California through Tecopa and into the Amargosa Canyon south of Tecopa, California. This section in California is designated as a Wild and Scenic River. During large rainstorms, the entire course of the river will flow above ground.
In one of the hottest and driest places anywhere, the river and associated springs provide islands of water that support a variety of plants and animals. Many of these organisms are unique to the area – or endemic – meaning they can’t be found anywhere else on earth.
HIGHLIGHTS
Explore
Visit the Amargosa Basin.
From birding to botany,
hiking, and off-highway adventures
Save Ash Meadows from the harms of mining
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is the largest oasis in the Mojave Desert and the beating heart of the Amargosa River watershed. Join us in the fight to save it from the harms of mining on its doorstep!
DONATE
You, as a donor,
are the heart of the Amargosa Conservancy.
Your tax-deductible donations provide the vital backbone which keeps the AC operating in the field, stewarding our incredible natural resources, and advocating for the land.


LATEST NEWS FROM THE BLOG
We Are Hiring Our Next Executive Director!
Join Our Team as the Next Executive Director! The Amargosa Conservancy is seeking an Executive Director to lead us into the future. The Amargosa Conservancy is a 501(c)3 California and Nevada non-profit organization headquartered in Shoshone, California. For over 20...
Ash Meadows Threatened Once Again: What’s at Stake with the St. Cloud Mining Project Approval
By Mason Voehl Campaigns Director Amargosa Conservancy Over the past few years, the communities of the Amargosa Basin could not have made themselves any clearer: we will not abide by predatory extraction projects that put Ash Meadows at risk in the name of profit. And...
Changes afoot at the Amargosa Conservancy
A message from Mason Voehl: Thanks to the support and generosity of our members and supporters, the Amargosa Conservancy has experienced tremendous growth and success in recent years. Through the expansion of our advocacy work, our Save Ash Meadows campaign, and our...