Regardless of the historic era the tendency is to tell of colorful individuals and grand efforts. Yet, daily life will reveal more about the land, plants and wildlife. What was daily life like on the refuge for any historic group? If you lived here some time ago, what was it like?

Who are the colorful characters of Ash Meadows history? Did Butch Cassidy actually work somewhere at Ash Meadows?Is Ash Meadows all colorful gunslingers and painted brothel ladies?

NOTE: We are working directly with representatives of the Timbisha Shoshone and Southern Paiute regarding Ash Meadows stories. However, this doesn’t mean we don’t want to hear your story of native Paiute or Shoshone.What native families lived most recently on refuge land? Do they still come to the refuge?It is said that many of the mesquite trees on the refuge are of a prized stock. Which ones? Where?Did Chief Tecopa have any dealings with Ash Meadows native bands or settlers directly?

Did any part of the Lt. John Fremont’s expedition make it to Ash Meadows?Did James Nye, for whom Nye county is named, save his life by drinking from an Ash Meadows springs?How in the world did Jack Longstreet have a two-day gunfight? How does that work?What early biologists surveyed the refuge area?

How was this region settled by Europeans and Americans? Was it by land grant? Did the 16th and 17th century Spanish government issue any land grants for this area?

It is said that the Fairbanks family’s mercantile business was killed by the railroad. Is this true?What businesses relied on the railroad that passed through Ash Meadows? When did the trains stop running here?

What are some of the names of the ranches that make up Ash Meadows? Do we have any of their brands or branding irons?Did ranchers take horses from the wild herds in this area?Was there a school at School Spring? When?

Were precious metals ever mined here? What is mined here at Ash Meadows?

Cotton, alfalfa—what else was farmed commercially here?Did any farmer ever consider commercial mesquite husbandry? Or, perhaps the commercial value of another native plant?

What was the Carson Slough like in the 1940s and 1950s before peat mining? Was peat mining a profitable business? Intact Carson Slough: Did people get ice from the slough in the winter? How good was the waterfowl hunting at Carson Slough? Would it be of local economic benefit to have Carson Slough intact? (NOTE: Las Vegas is spending a great deal of money to recreate the equivalent of Carson Slough in its backyard.)

This decision guaranteed that the rock shelf in Devil’s Hole would be covered by enough water for the Devil’s Hole pupfish to breed. It limited groundwater pumping. In what ways has this landmark decision affected the region? Is there enough groundwater for fish and people?

In the 1980s it was proposed that a housing development be built at Point of Rocks. At the last minute the land was purchased for the refuge. If the houses had been built only a relative few would have had access to King’s Spring and the Point of Rocks Springs (if they even remained). Instead, this area is public land—accessible by all.

The Bureau of Land Management held some of the refuge lands in the past. When was this? How did they manage the land? What were their objectives?

Did we need a National Wildlife Refuge here? Wouldn’t local families and businesses have preserved the biodiversity of Ash Meadows?

Much of the work on the refuge today entails restoring the hydrology and plant communities of Ash Meadows. Very few refuges are lands simply set aside without any active management practices. It isn’t enough just to call it a “refuge.”

Did you know that scientists around the globe are interested in Ash Meadows? If each species is a unique book, then Ash Meadows is a library of world renown and interest.

With the whole planet warming up, has Ash Meadows experienced an increase in temperature? Is it wetter? Drier? How is global warming affecting this area?