Due to the significance of the area and the interest in its conservation, many photographs exist from the late 1960's and early 1970's. Fewer photos exist prior to this time. Present efforts are focusing on locating additional photographs from all time periods, as it is difficult to get series of images suitable for comparison due to differences in photographic perspective. However there is sufficient documentation for a basic comparisons of changes from when Robert Rush Miller began his studies there in 1938. Our own involvement in Ash Meadows began in 1994-5 and are continuing.
Several springs have a good series of photos that provide an indication of changes over time.
These include Big, Jackrabbit, Crystal, Longstreet, Point of Rocks, Kings, Rogers, and Fairbanks. These photographic comparisons allow both anthropomorphic and natural changes over time to be recorded. They also document nature's ability to recover from seemingly total devastation, both of which are useful in restoration efforts.