In the desert, a cat hole may prolong decomposition. Sprinkle with sand to discourage flies. Around camp, avoid urinating repeatedly in the same areas. Urine-saturated sand retains a strong odor and salt residues may attract unwanted animals. Use sand, slickrock, gravel washes, and other hard or barren surfaces for travel routes and campsites.
Cryptobiotic crust is the foundation of life in the high desert.
It provides a seedbed for the desert plant community and serves as a sponge, retaining the precious moisture of a dry climate. The crust is also the primary source for fixation of nitrogen, which is critical to all life in the desert. This crust is a complex community of microorganisms, the most important of which are called cyanobacteria. When mature, cryptobiotic soil has a lumpy, black-tinged crust. In earlier stages, the crust is almost invisible.