FRIENDS OF NEVADA WILDERNESS WINTER 2003 BLMs wild areas under attack By Shaaron Netherton eas the BLM recommended as non-suitable for It appears that the extractive industries may be Wilderness. The BLM’s reasons for why areas pushing the Bureau of Land Management to drop shouldn’t be Wilderness included: the areas are too protection for millions and millions of acres of Wil- flat, too steep, not enough vegetation, vegetation derness Study Areas. In a move that is blatantly too thick, it might have mineral values, and so the against the intent of Congress, the Administration excuses went. These recommendations were de- is looking to drop all of the Wilderness Study Ar- veloped over two decades ago when the face of the west was much different. When the final Wilderness suitability recom- WBy ildernessBrian Beffort fire fighting mendations were made in Nevada, of the 110 Wil- When BLM notifies Friends of Nevada Wil- derness study areas totalling over 5.1 million acres, derness of illegal activities and proposed actions in the Nevada BLM recommended less than 2 million Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, we have acres as suitable for designation. Under the 30 days to respond with our comments. Administration’s plan, over 2 million acres of This fall, we learned of two wildfires in WSAs Nevada’s Wilderness Study Areas could lose pro- in 2002 that resulted in unnecessary impacts. Last tection and their chances for designation be lost summer, crews fighting fires in the Desatoya forever. Success! Mountains WSA (Carson City district) and the Congress has shown time and time again that Parsnip Peak WSA (Ely district) used bulldozers BLM recommendations were outdated and no to cut fire lines. Similar fire mismanagement oc- longer valid. In 2000, Congress designated wilder- Clark County curred this last year in the Elko and Battle Moun- ness areas in the Black Rock Desert region that Conservation tain BLM districts. the BLM said were not suitable; areas like the Although it’s legal to use bulldozers to fight Calico Mountains, the Jackson Mountains, Pahute of Public Land fires, we believe they should be used when loss of Peak and the North Black Rock Range. Only a and Natural property, life or other emergencies could result few months ago, Congress designated areas like Resources Act without their use. In both of these situations, the the North McCullough Mountains, Arrow Canyon, BLM admitted the bulldozers were not necessary, Jumbo Springs, El Dorado and Ireteba Peaks, of 2002 stating that out-of-state fire crews, who were less which the BLM found were not suitable for Wil- designates familiar with the areas, used them accidentally. derness designation. Friends of Nevada Wilder- 452,000 acres While we understand that in the heat of a fire, ness will be closely monitoring the situation and these things can happen, these two events and will keep our members updated. of Wilderness other similar violations show that we need to work see story on harder with the BLM’s fire program to prevent From the front lines Page 2 page 3 violations. We are working with state director Bob Citizens at work on wilderness Page 3 Abbey and the field offices to implement sure-fire Wilderness areas and acerage Page 4 (yes, pun intended) Minimum Impact Suppression Kick off new 2003 campaign Page 4 Tactics that will allow crews to fight fires without Trek the Mormon Mountains Page 5 Inside: Action alert to acquire lands Page 6 unnecessarily damaging Wilderness values. Helping hands restore the land Page 7 1 d From the front lines by Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director Board of Directors Happy New Year to all! our watchdog efforts over all Wilderness Id like to welcome all the new quality lands within the state and fighting members who joined Friends of Neva- to keep WSAs protected. Well also be Las HermiVegas MembersHiatt da Wilderness last year. We appreciate working for expanded protection of our John Hiatt Theo Byrns your dedication to Nevadas wildlands. Forest Service roadless areas as part of We celebrated the upcoming Forest Plan Reno Members another Wilder- revision in Nevada. Ron Hunter It would not have Roger Scholl ness success in Friends of Nevada Wil- happened without Marge Sill southern Nevada derness will be working to you, our dedicated Karen Boeger with the passage protect Fish and Wildlife Henry Egghart of the Clark members. Service managed Wilder- Corey Lewis County Conserva- Thanks to each and ness- quality areas in both tion of Public every one of you! the Desert National Land and Natural Game Range and the Executive Director Shaaron Netherton Resources Act of Sheldon Antelope Range. 2002 that designated 452,000 acres We want to help the Fish and Wildlife Las Vegas Staff Jeremy Garncarz of threatened Wilderness. A special Service celebrate their 100-year anni- Dino Fulgencio thanks to the leadership skills of Sena- versary in 2003 with a legacy gift of Reno Staff tor Reid and his staff. While this was a Wilderness protection. Lastly, were Brian Beffort bipartisan bill, it would not have suc- looking forward to working with the state Pat Patera ceeded without Senator Reids extreme legislature on Wilderness issues during Richard Knox ability and influence in the Senate. It the 2003 session. also would not have happened without Think big and act wild, you, our dedicated members. Thanks NorthernPO BoxNe v9754ada Office to each and every one of you! Reno, NV 89507 (775) 324-7667 Without breaking stride, Friends of Nevada Wilderness is jumping into our Foreman speaks Eastern Nevada Wilderness Campaign Sout1700hern E. Desert Nevada Inn #406Office with both feet. Our next issue will focus out for wild places Las Vegas, NV 89109 Friends of Nevada Wilderness in more detail on the incredible Wil- (702) 650-6542 hosted an evening fundraiser with derness values found in Lincoln, White Dave Foreman, leading Wilderness www.nevadawilderness.orgWebsite Pine and Nye Counties. With your con- activist and author on October 7th. tinued help, we hope to see significant Dave shared his passion and vision [email protected] Wilderness protection for some of for wild landscapes with over 100 these fabulous wild places. Were add- supporters at Patagonia in Reno. ing a rural Wilderness organizer in Ely Over $1,000 was raised to help pub- Get on the list to help make this protection a reality. lish the Nevada Wilderness Testimo- Our new year, 2003, is shaping up ny Book, scheduled to be out this To get Wilderness news to be a very busy onein addition to spring. A huge thanks to Dave for and action alerts, eastern Nevada, well be working for coming back to Nevada to help raise subscribe to the Friends sound management of our newly des- awareness about our stunning wild of Nevada Wilderness places. Many thanks to Roberta ignated Wilderness areas in the Las email list: Send post to Moore for putting the Nevada Wil- Vegas area as well as for the Black [email protected] derness Testimony book together. A subscribe with as subject Rock/High Rock Wilderness areas des- howling great time was had by all. ignated in 2000. Well be continuing 2 d CitizensKeeping it Wild: work creates Wilderness By Dino Fulgencio Barely two months ago, two years of exten- The bill was introduced as a comprehensive sive field work, public meetings, grassroots orga- conservation and growth plan for public lands in nizing and education efforts to obtain Wilderness Clark County. Nevada’s Congressional delegation protection for some of Southern Nevada’s spec- has been working with local governments and in- Southern tacular wild lands finally reached fruition. The terest groups for more than a year to develop the proposal, which will accommodate growth while Nevada Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Happenings Natural Resources Act of 2002 was signed into protecting natural resources for current and future law on November 6, 2002. Area list on page 4. generations of Nevadans. From the heights of the Ireteba Peaks to the Activists mapped potential protected areas. Volunteer Night depths of Arrow Canyon, from the Joshua trees They wrote letters, published brochures and gave every Thursday of Wee Thump to the pon- slide show presenta- 4-8 pm at Moose derosa pines of the LaMa- tions to the public to McGillicuddys dre Mountains, some introduce their fel- Happy Hour 452,000 acres of southern Clark County low citizens to the Nevada Wildernesss are Conservation of Public wild beauty in their Northern now permanently protect- Land and Natural own backyards. And Nevada ed as Wilderness. Resources Act of 2002 they met with other Happenings The new law balances stakeholders to en- The legislation, introduced by Nevadas sure that conserva- the needs for infrastruc- Volunteer Night ture development, recre- Senators Harry Reid (D) and John Ensign (R) tion was represented and Rep. Jim Gibbons (R), designated in the public lands first Wednesday, ational opportunities, and 5:30 - 7:00 at 452,000 acres of new Wilderness in Clark bill, which also ad- conservation of our pre- Silver Peak cious natural resources in County and created the Sloan Canyon dressed recreation and development Brewery southern Nevada. In a National Conservation Area. Happy Hour nutshell, this landmark concerns in the na- piece of legislation tem- tion’s fastest-grow- pers development with conservation measures ing county, Las Vegas’ own Clark County. that will protect our pristine vistas and promote Conservationists, although not entirely in favor responsible growth in what is becoming a highly- of every aspect of the legislation, welcomed the urbanized segment of Southern Nevada. wilderness component of the public lands bill be- cause it is a positive first step towards wilderness protection in Southern Nevada.