Also a meta-question for you to think about SadMan-- like yourself, any critters living in the area will need reasonable access to a water source in order to be able to survive there. If there's no water sources on or near the plateau, it's unlikely that animals will be hanging out for much time. If there are water sources, no matter how marginal they are, you'll be able to purify that water and drink it, and the animals will be drinking it too. Obviously it's important to go in prepared with sufficient water for a day or two, but if you can't find anything to drink, the animals won't either, and you'll both be looking for literal greener pastures.
Figure it was worth pointing out because you describe yourself as backcountry newbies. Good luck out there!