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Services, Getting There Services: Wellington is 5 miles to the south; Gardnerville is about 35 road miles to the northwest. Hikes & Trails Related Areas Map Information Benchmark Gazetteer, page 54. |
The Burbank Canyons Wilderness Study Area serves as a vital sanctuary for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS) Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a high-priority sensitive species and genetically distinct population which depend on intact habitats including this particular ecosystem. The expansive, contiguous stands of native sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) blanketing the rugged slopes provide an unbroken matrix of cover essential for every stage of the birds' life cycle. These flats function as critical breeding grounds (leks), nesting sites, and brood-rearing habitats where the dense canopy offers indispensable camouflage for hens and chicks against predatory raptors, and the native understory provides the insects and forbs necessary for chick development. When winter sets in and snow covers the peaks, Sage-Grouse rely entirely on these windswept, exposed sagebrush leaves for both shelter and their primary food source. Free from motorized vehicles and habitat fragmentation, this undisturbed interior remains a stronghold of core habitat that supports the long-term resilience and genetic connectivity of Sage-Grouse populations within the Pine Nut Mountains. |