The vegetation community directly on the property is supported by loose sandy/rocky decomposed granite and soils deposited by the drainage systems. The site is bordered by relatively steep well-drained rocky hills and the Bradshaw Mountains. The river enters from the east but makes a sharp turn to the south at the base of the mountain where it joins the creek. Consequently, the river and creek beds are part of an extensive drainage system prone to periodic flooding that keeps the vegetative communities along the drainages susceptible to dramatic changes.

Regionally the area is unique because the structural geography created by mountainous terrain, desert hills topped by open grasslands, and rocky canyons with perennial water support a unique combination of ecosystems. Because the preserve sits at the confluence of two of the region’s major drainage systems that are likely serving as biological corridors, it is possible to encounter an incredible diversity of endemic species, resident populations, and migrants.