Conservation, Ranch Life
What’s In A Name?
By Ben Stout
Ever wonder about the “lava” in Lava Lake Lamb? The closest neighbor to our ranch is the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, an area dominated by volcanic rock. This volcanic rock forms the natural lake bed at the edge of the main ranch headquarters, thus the name Lava Lake Lamb.
Last summer, I had the privilege of working for the National Park Service at Craters of the Moon, surveying biodiversity and conducting weed control. Each day, I brought my camera along, hoping to capture some of the beauty of what Calvin Coolidge, who designated the Monument in 1924, described as “a weird and scenic landscape peculiar to itself.” Below are some of my best shots from Craters of the Moon.
This summer I am again lucky enough to work in the field, this time for Lava Lake, gathering data on plant community health and managing invasive species. In my short time on the job, I have found that, in many ways, Coolidge’s words apply to the area surrounding Craters of the Moon, particularly the land on which Lava Lake operates. Rest assured my camera will be along for the ride as my work takes me far afield in our 900,000 acre operating area. I can’t wait to see the results!