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New Water Mountains
New Water Mountains
New Water Mountains
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The New Water Mountains is a mountain range in southwestern Arizona. The range is on the northern border of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge as well as the northern Kofa Mountains.

Key Information

It is a northwest–southeast trending range, about 20 miles (32 km) long and composed of volcanic rocks.[1] The southeast third of the range is in the Kofa Refuge, and the mountain range merges northwesterly into the Plomosa Mountains of southern La Paz County. The central part of the range is the New Water Mountains Wilderness[2] with a lengthy east–west border on the northern Kofa National Wildlife Refuge of about 12 miles. The highest point is Black Mesa at 3,639 feet (1,109 m).

Three northerly routes access the mountain range; the central route accesses the Ramsey Mine and eventually the central dry wash on the north; other mines, such as the Republic Mine, are in these mountains, as well as some springs (Dripping Springs); also Brintley Well on a fourth westerly access route. The closest community to the north side of the mountain range is Brenda, Arizona, east of Quartzsite. Brenda is on US 60, four miles (6.4 km) northeast of Interstate 10.[citation needed]

The mountains are known for their biological diversity. Species known to have resided in the area include the spotted leaf-nosed snake, the long-nosed snake, night snake, the glossy snake, and the desert spiny lizard.[3]

See also

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References

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New Water Mountains

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The New Water Mountains are a remote mountain range in La Paz County, southwestern Arizona, United States, trending northwest-southeast and located east of Quartzsite, just south of Interstate 10, and immediately north of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. The range is characterized by volcanic geology, including Tertiary volcanic rocks, and reaches its highest point at Black Mesa—a large volcanic butte—at 3,639 feet (1,109 m) above sea level. A 24,600-acre portion is protected as the New Water Mountains Wilderness, designated by Congress in 1990 and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The wilderness encompasses rugged desert terrain with colorful craggy spires, sharp ridges, sheer rock outcrops, natural arches, and slickrock canyons, receiving less than five inches of annual rainfall. Vegetation is sparse, featuring saguaro, creosote, ocotillo, and cholla dotting the hills, while paloverde and ironwood line the washes. Wildlife includes —using areas like New Water and Dripping Springs as prime lambing habitat—and mule deer. Recreational opportunities focus on non-motorized activities such as backpacking along primitive two-track trails, wildlife viewing, bird watching, dispersed camping, and hunting, with an emphasis on solitude and Leave No Trace principles. Access requires high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles via routes from I-10 (Gold Nugget Road exit) or State Route 60 (Ramsey Mine Road), as many roads are unmaintained and cross varied conditions; no permits or fees are required for individual visits.

Geography

Location and extent

The New Water Mountains are a mountain range located in southwestern Arizona's La Paz County, United States. The range lies in a remote area east of the community of Quartzsite, near Brenda, and is positioned just south of Interstate 10 and immediately north of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. The mountains form a southeast-trending prong extending from the Plomosa Mountains and are situated within the Basin and Range physiographic province of the Sonoran Desert region. The range is bounded on the northeast, east, and south by undissected alluvial fans of the Ranegras Plain and Alamo Wash. Access routes include dirt roads off Interstate 10 to the north and roads along U.S. Route 60 to the northwest.

Topography and notable peaks

The New Water Mountains exhibit rugged desert topography typical of ranges in southwestern Arizona, characterized by colorful craggy spires, sharp ridges, sheer rock outcrops, and slickrock canyons shaped by volcanic rock composition. The highest point is Black Mesa, a large volcanic butte situated in the northwest corner of the New Water Mountains Wilderness, with an elevation of 3,639 feet (1,109 m) above sea level and rising approximately 1,200 feet above the surrounding Ranegras Plain. This prominence makes Black Mesa the dominant topographic feature of the range, contributing to the area's steep slopes and significant vertical relief. The overall profile features abrupt elevation changes and steep gradients common to desert mountain ranges, with the terrain descending sharply from high points to adjacent desert plains.

Surface features

The New Water Mountains feature a rugged array of characteristic of the region's volcanic and arid environment, including colorful craggy spires, sharp ridges, sheer rock outcrops, slickrock canyons, and natural arches. The most prominent named arch is the Eagles Eye, a double shelter arch eroded through basalt with the larger opening spanning 19 feet. It is visible from a stretch of Interstate 10 between mileposts 35 and 40. Additional hydrological features include Dripping Springs and New Water, which provide scarce but important water sources in the desert landscape.

Geology

Rock composition

The New Water Mountains are primarily composed of Tertiary volcanic rocks that unconformably overlie pre-Tertiary basement rocks. These Tertiary volcanics include basaltic lava flows, rhyolitic domes and flows, andesite, rhyolite, and associated tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. Volcanism in the range began in the Oligocene or with eruptions of basaltic lava flows and rhyolitic domes and flows. A prominent younger unit is the Basalt of Black Mesa, consisting of lava flows that cap the range's highest point. In some areas, such as near the Eagle Eye mine, the bedrock consists mostly of Tertiary andesite and rhyolite. Tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, including basal sedimentary breccia, are also present and date to the Miocene and possibly Oligocene. Pre-Tertiary rocks are exposed in limited portions of the range and include Proterozoic quartz monzonite, Paleozoic dolomite and marble, and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of the McCoy Mountains Formation such as sandstone, quartz arenite, quartzite, shale, and siltstone. These older units form the basement beneath the dominant volcanic cover and contribute to the range's overall lithologic diversity.

Geological formation and structure

The New Water Mountains were formed as a late Tertiary horst through a combination of Miocene volcanic activity and Basin and Range extensional tectonics. Normal faulting, characteristic of this tectonic regime, began approximately 20 million years ago and uplifted the range relative to surrounding basins. Northwest-trending, steep to vertical normal faults bound the northeast margin of the mountains, with most exhibiting down-to-the-northeast displacements. As a result, Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary units dip 6° to 30° southwest. Volcanism in the area commenced in the with the eruption of basaltic lava flows and rhyolitic domes and flows between 23 and 20 million years ago, accompanied by minor pyroclastic flows. A sequence of lava flows capping Black Mesa, the range's highest point, erupted around 17 million years ago, representing the youngest volcanic activity in the area. The structural foundation of the range includes pre-Tertiary rocks affected by earlier deformation, notably Late Cretaceous thrusting along the Poorman thrust fault, which separated pre-Tertiary rocks into structural plates and caused local folding, faulting, and low-grade metamorphism. However, the current northwest-southeast trending configuration of the range resulted primarily from the Miocene extensional faulting and associated uplift. These tectonic and volcanic processes produced the rugged desert terrain characteristic of the range today.

Ecology

Vegetation and plant communities

The vegetation in the New Water Mountains is sparse, characteristic of the arid Sonoran Desert environment with annual precipitation typically below five inches. This area supports upland Sonoran desertscrub plant communities, dominated by drought-adapted species that include saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), ocotillo (), and various cholla cacti (Cylindropuntia spp.) scattered across the hillsides and rocky slopes. Along intermittent washes and drainage areas, palo verde (Parkinsonia spp.) and ironwood (Olneya tesota) trees provide denser cover, forming linear riparian-like corridors that contrast with the open upland terrain. These communities reflect adaptations to extreme aridity, high temperatures, and the range's volcanic substrate, with plants exhibiting features such as reduced leaves, deep root systems, and seasonal dormancy to conserve water.

Wildlife and fauna

The New Water Mountains support a diverse array of desert-adapted wildlife typical of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. Mammals include (), for which New Water and Dripping Springs serve as prime lambing areas, and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Other mammals present in the area include bobcats, coyotes, and various small rodents. Reptiles are well-represented among the fauna, typical of the Sonoran Desert. Birds are abundant, supporting viewing opportunities, with raptors such as hawks, eagles, and owls commonly observed. The rugged terrain, sparse vegetation, and occasional springs provide essential habitat for these species, contributing to the area's overall .

Protected areas

New Water Mountains Wilderness

The New Water Mountains Wilderness encompasses 24,600 acres in the central portion of the New Water Mountains range in La Paz County, southwestern Arizona. It was designated as wilderness in 1990 under the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-628), which established it as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System originally created by the Wilderness Act of 1964. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Under wilderness protections, motorized equipment, mechanical transport (including vehicles, bicycles, and aircraft landings), permanent structures, and commercial enterprises are generally prohibited to preserve the area's natural condition and opportunities for solitude. These restrictions safeguard the wilderness's rugged desert terrain and biological diversity.

Relation to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

The New Water Mountains lie immediately north of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, with the southern portion of the range forming the northern boundary of the refuge. The central part of the range includes the New Water Mountains Wilderness, which shares its southern boundary directly with the northern edge of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, adjoining the Kofa Wilderness that occupies much of the refuge's interior. This adjacency creates a contiguous protected landscape of rugged desert terrain across the two areas.

Human history

Mining activity

The New Water Mining District, a copper-silver-lead-iron area, is characterized by spotty chrysocolla and other oxidized copper and lead minerals in joints and fractures along fault zones within Cretaceous andesitic volcanics. Mining activity has been intermittent throughout the 20th century, consisting primarily of prospecting, claim staking, and small-scale operations, with most activity occurring in the early 1940s. Notable mines include the Eagle Eye Mine (part of the Moore patented claims), which shipped 480 tons of 3.7-percent copper ore from 1941 to 1944, and the Apache Chief Mine, which produced about 100 tons of ore averaging 3.8 oz/st gold and 0.8 oz/st silver between 1909 and 1911. The Black Mesa Mine is a nearby occurrence with sampled gold-silver mineralization but no recorded production. Bureau of Land Management records indicate few within the boundaries, but approximately 200 are located adjacent to it. No identified metallic mineral resources or recorded production exist within the wilderness boundaries themselves, though nearby prospects and mines feature secondary copper minerals in rhyolite and limestone-replacement deposits with gold and silver.

Wilderness designation and management

The New Water Mountains Wilderness was designated on November 28, 1990, as part of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-628), which added the area to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The act, enacted as H.R. 2570 and signed by President George H. W. Bush, designated multiple wilderness areas on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Arizona to protect remote desert landscapes. The New Water Mountains Wilderness is administered by the Bureau of Land Management, specifically the Yuma Field Office, in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the provisions of the 1990 act. Management focuses on preserving wilderness character, including the area's rugged terrain and biological diversity, through restrictions on motorized vehicles and new mining claims while allowing certain pre-existing uses such as livestock grazing where established.

Recreation and access

Recreational opportunities

The New Water Mountains Wilderness offers outstanding opportunities for primitive, non-motorized recreation in a remote desert setting characterized by rugged volcanic terrain, sparse vegetation, and exceptional solitude. Visitors are drawn to the area's challenging backcountry environment, which provides an immersive experience amid colorful craggy spires, sharp ridges, sheer rock outcrops, natural arches, and slickrock canyons. Hiking and backpacking are primary activities, with approximately 20 primitive two-track trails—often following old mining roads or game paths—providing accessible routes through the range's varied topography. These trails appeal to those seeking physical challenge and panoramic views from prominent features such as Black Mesa, the range's highest point. is permitted throughout the wilderness on a primitive basis, with no developed facilities or services available. Campers must pack in all supplies, including water, and adhere to Leave No Trace principles to minimize impact in the arid landscape. Wildlife viewing and birding are popular pursuits, enhanced by the area's biological diversity and relative isolation, allowing observation of desert fauna in their natural habitat without disturbance. The combination of rugged terrain and protected status fosters opportunities for quiet reflection and connection with the desert environment.

Access routes and considerations

The New Water Mountains are accessible primarily via routes off Interstate 10 (I-10) and U.S. Route 60. The area lies east of Quartzsite and just south of I-10, facilitating access from nearby communities such as Quartzsite and Brenda. The western boundary of the New Water Mountains Wilderness can be approached from I-10 via the Gold Nugget Road exit (#26). Access to the northern boundary is available by taking the U.S. Route 60 exit (#31) from I-10 and then turning right onto Ramsey Mine Road. Due to infrequent road maintenance and highly variable conditions on the unpaved and primitive roads leading to the wilderness boundary, high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles are strongly recommended for safe access.
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