September Field Notes from a Naturalist Campout Along the Proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink Route
By Lizbeth Bárcena
On the first naturalist campout along the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink route, I was treated to majestic skies, lovely biota, and a visit from dear friends.
Located at the western extent of Anza-Borrego State Park, at Stuart Spring in Grapevine Canyon, this area is a thriving desert chaparral ecosystem with cacti, higher-elevation shrubs, and cottonwood trees nestled in a bouldered canyon that frames the desert sky. The location is superbly remote, making it a perfect place to enjoy the silence and relish the dark skies. Given the phenomenal weather that rolled in during the holiday weekend, I was in for a treat with gorgeous lenticular clouds, animated cirrostratus and cirrus clouds, wind gusts that made the cottonwoods sing and dance, and the overnight and morning rain that brought the delicious scent of petrichor.
It was good to see a few off-road excursionists enjoying the canyon as they rolled through. But a nice highlight was having friends and a former California Naturalist cohort join me. Fernando and Alexandra Mares and I caught up on life and the happenings in the desert.
Alexandra and Fernando had this to share:
“We are two desert rats from the Imperial Valley who didn’t discover the magic of the Anza-Borrego Desert until adulthood. This was our first visit to Stuart Spring, where we spent the night under a canopy of stars while coyotes serenaded us in the distance and a UV light revealed tiny scorpions nearby. Overnight, we were treated to a light summer rain—no sleep machine required. There is truly nothing like waking up to the dusty-wet smell of petrichor and the sound of birds chirping.Our dream is that Anza-Borrego Desert State Park will continue to offer these unspoiled experiences for old and new desert lovers alike for generations to come.”
Thank you for joining!
Field Notes:
Dates: 9/4 – 9/6/2026
Location: Stuart Spring, Grapevine Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Weather:
- 9/4, Mostly sunny with sparse cirrus clouds overhead. Temperatures reaching upper-90’s. Light gusts. Clear night sky.
- 9/5, Blue sky overhead with dense lenticular clouds to the west. Temperatures ranged from mid-60’s to upper 90’s. Light gusts. Clouded night sky.
- 9/6, Overnight light showers off and on, Blood red sunrise behind cloud coverage. Temperatures ranged from mid-60s to upper 70s.
Noted Biota:- Western Bees (Apis mellifera)
- Flesh Flies (Sarcophaga species)
- Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)
- Harvester Ants (Veromessor pergandei)
- Aves
- California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
- Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata)
- Ravens (Corvus corax)
- Giant Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)
- Brown Moth (Noctuidae family)
- Desert Stink Beetles (Eleodes)
- Tarantula Hawk (Pompilidae)
- Bats, species unknown
- Coyotes (yipping in the distance)
- Cholla (Cylindropuntia ganderi ganderi)
- Mesquite Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum)
- Catclaw Mesquite (Senegalia greggii)
- Frémont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
- Desert Wild Grapes (Vitis girdiana)
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Desert Agave (Agave deserti)
- Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera)
- Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata)
- White Sage (Salvia apiana)
- California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
- Jointfirs (Ephedra)
- Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
- Cheesebush (Ambrosia salsola)
- Rock Lichen (types: Psora, Peltula, Collema)
So much life! So much at stake.
All are welcome to join the next campout! Follow me on Instagram @desertdialogues, where you can message me if you’d like to join or have any questions. Stay connected with the ABF for future Powerlink updates.
Forthcoming dates for the Next Powerlink Route campouts:
October 2-4, Grapevine Canyon, east of Angelina Springs at bluff- November 6-8, Yaqui Flats
- December4-6, Yaqui Wells
- January 8-10, Mescal Bajada/San Felipe Wash
- February 5-7, Nude Wash/Sunset Wash
- March 5-7, Off Kane Spring Road
Hope to see you there.
For Our Desert,
Lizbeth Bárcena
Borrego Springs, California
Listen to a California Scrub Jay (volume up!) from Lizbeth’s campout: