From the front lines: The Power of Partnerships 2 Thank you!: Agencies, Businesses and Volunteers 3 In the field: 2011, the Year of the Wild Refuges 4 Wilderness inspiration: The Wisdom of the Wild 7 alendar of events

INSIDEC : Friends’ upcoming activities 8

Friends of Nevada Wilderness Spring 2011 Boots on Pine Forest Range: the Ground One Step Closer to Permanent Protection Southern Nevada

By Jose Witt n 2002, Congress designated new wilderness in Clark County. ISince then, managing agencies have gathered little data on wilder- ness character and trends, until now. Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership—the BLM, Forest Ser- vice, National Park Service and Fish & Wildlife Service—are partnering to oversee an eight-person Student

Brian Beffort Conservation Association crew The idyllic Pine Forest Range inspired unanimous support for wilderness to collect consistent data on all 18 by the Humboldt County Commission and NV Congressional Delegation. Clark County wilderness areas. he Nevada Congressional Friends of Nevada Wilderness—put These eight young, inspired delegation is working with aside differences and worked togeth- individuals from across the country Humboldt County and local er to protect the place they love. hike throughout wilderness areas, T recording human impacts with GPS stakeholders to bring permanent “It was fun working with people protection to the Pine Forest Range, who care about the land,” says points, photos and notes. In the pro- 100 miles northwest of Winnemucca. Shaaron Netherton, Friends’ execu- cess, they are learning about south- Wilderness enjoys strong bipar- tive director. “With divisive national ern Nevada’s spectacular landscapes tisan support, and legislation will politics, it’s heartening to see Neva- while providing the agencies with likely be introduced this spring. This dans working together to find com- information to better manage our consensus is a testament to the fact mon-ground solutions. I’m sure the wilderness resources. Hopefully, that everyone agrees the Pine Forest Congressional delegation is thrilled.” they will be able to follow this year’s Range is an important natural The proposal combined the Alder fabulous wildflower bloom north as treasure that deserves to be protected Creek and Blue Lakes wilderness they collect data (and good photos). for the future. study areas into a single Pine Forest This team will be true wilderness ex- Everyone in the Pine Forest task Range Wilderness Area, and made a perts by year’s end, and we’re proud force—ranchers, hunters, anglers, common-sense boundary everyone to know they’re ensuring the future off-road vehicle enthusiasts and can support. of America’s wilderness. 2 www.nevadawilderness.org

FRONTLINES OUR MISSION By Shaaron Netherton protecting the land we all love. We hope Friends of Nevada Wilderness don’t know about you, but while I to see wilderness legislation for the Pine is dedicated to preserving all love the fact we’ve gotten records qualified Nevada public lands Forest Range moving ahead this spring. as wilderness, protecting amounts of snow this year, I am ready The Douglas County bill may move all present and potential for Spring. While we were covered forward this year protecting a small but wilderness from ongoing withI snow in the north, this year started beautiful wilderness study area, Burbank threats, educating the public about the values of —­ and out strong in southern Nevada with a Canyons, in the Pine Nut Range. need for — wilderness, and wonderful partnership with the land We also hope to see legislation move improving the management and restoration of wild lands. management agencies that allowed Friends forward to protect the fragile and incredible of Nevada Wilderness to bring on two new cultural resource rich Gold Butte Region. Friends of staff, Katie LaCroix and Jose Witt. Southern We left last year with strong support Nevada Wilderness Nevada wilderness is rocking again! for this protection by the Clark County Box 9754, Reno, NV 89507 As part of this partnership, our staff Commission and the city of Mesquite. (775) 324-7667 is working with a team of eight Student We are committed to pulling 50 miles Shaaron Netherton Conservation Association students who of fence on Sheldon Refuge to help Executive Director [email protected] are doing wilderness character monitoring wildlife and wilderness this year. Join us. Kurt Kuznicki in Clark County. And speaking of youth, I Experience the beauty of Sheldon and Southern Nevada Director can’t thank the UNR and UNLV students give back at the same time. See the list of [email protected] enough for spending their spring break Sheldon project dates on Page 8, and find Brian Beffort Associate Director doing some heavy lifting for wildlife on the one that works for you. [email protected] Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Make an Earth Day Pledge to do more Pat Bruce I think 2011 will be a good one for for Wilderness this year. The difference you Field Project Coordinator Wilderness in Nevada—both with legal make really matters! [email protected] protection and on-the-ground protection. Wes Hoskins For the Wild, Forest Project Coordinator We will continue to work hard with other [email protected] stakeholders, finding common ground, Jose Witt Stewardship Coordinator [email protected] Katie LaCroix Welcome Katie and Jose! Stewardship Coordinator By Kurt Kuznicki Katie comes to [email protected] very once in a southern Nevada by Rose Demoret Administrative Director while, as we like way of New England, [email protected] Eto say in southern but don’t let that fool Richard Knox Nevada, the dice roll in you. Katie spent six Membership Coordinator our favor. [email protected] months last year patrol- Darcy Shepard I feel extremely ling Mt Charleston as a Americorps Volunteer fortunate to have two Wilderness Ranger; she [email protected] new colleagues here in knows those hills better Board of Directors southern Nevada: Jose than a lot of long-time Roger Scholl, State Chair Witt and Katie LaCroix. visitors. With her won- Hermi Hiatt, Southern Vice-Chair Jose and Katie were derful smile and big Karen Boeger, Rural Vice-Chair Larry Dwyer, Treasurer brought on board heart for wilderness-lov- Meghan Sural, Secretary in January and both make their home in ing folks, she has taken over as our south- Bart Patterson southern Nevada. ern membership guru. Peter Bradley Jose is a longtime southern Nevada John Hiatt When she’s not working for wilderness, Marge Sill resident and President of the Las Vegas Katie enjoys spending time with her boy- [email protected] Mountaineers Club and is planning ascents friend, Andy, brewing homemade beer and www.nevadawilderness.org in the Cascades and wild Nevada this year. herding her two cats, Marley and Brewer. nevadawild.blogspot.com One of Jose’s duties is to encourage Welcome, Katie and Jose, to the wild [email protected] businesses to invest in our communities side, and thanks for your help keeping the Join us on Facebook! by keeping wilderness wild. wild in southern Nevada wilderness. 3 www.nevadawilderness.org

Volunteers, businesses and agencies ByThank Kurt Kuznicki you! ife is full of emails, tweets, phone calls and Facebook, but these aren’t enough to tell how Lmuch we appreciate the wonderful folks who work to benefit Nevada’s wild heritage. Friends is very fortunate to have great corporate partners like Zappos.com, REI, Wells Fargo and R&D Events, who have come forward with big-hearted support for wilderness. In a world where some corporations & businesses focus only on the bottom line, it’s awesome to see these companies invest in clean water, clean air and a happier future. Friends would also like to thank the overworked Zappos, making Nevada wilder, one smile at a time. Kurt Kuznicki and underfunded folks at the four land management hard for no pay, and for braving the cold or the heat. agencies. These agency warriors work tirelessly to From everyone at Friends of Nevada Wilderness, keep places wild for generations yet unborn. we thank you for the wild in your hearts. Perhaps Although we do our best to thank our the greatest thanks will come when forthcoming many wilderness volunteers with blue helmets, generations understand of the true meaning of appreciation picnics and awards, it never seems to the wild gift you have given them, and they feel make up for people giving up the day off, working compelled to pay it forward.

What’s the Buzz with the BLM Wild Lands Policy? By Shaaron Netherton ou’d think the sky was falling listening to some people talking about the BLM’s recent Wild Lands YPolicy. It’s really much ado about nothing. As Bob Abbey, Director of the BLM, said in a recent editorial, “The Wild Lands policy doesn’t change the management of a single acre of public land. It simply clarifies how the BLM should manage the public lands for all of the values and multiple uses for which it is responsible, from energy development to recreation and backcountry protection. “It also provides practical and much-needed BLM guidance for identifying and managing lands with

wilderness characteristics. BLM has not had this com- Mike McCurry prehensive guidance since it was revoked in 2003 as a The BLM had to assess the wilderness character of its newly result of a controversial out-of court settlement between acquired parcels in the Granite Range. We think it’s a no-brainer. then-Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, the state of Utah, and other parties.” When the BLM acquires new lands, like on Pilot The BLM decides how to manage its lands by writ- Peak in Elko County, or in the Granite Range, by the ing resource management plans (RMPs), created with Black Rock Desert, the BLM must assess their wilderness extensive public and local government input. RMPs may character and decide whether wildlife habitat, cultural identify “Wild Lands” for wildlife and backcountry rec- resources and solitude are more important to the public reation. Other lands may be better for development. than other activities, like mines, roads or wind farms. 4 www.nevadawilderness.org

2011 year of the wild refuges rotecting big chunks of wildlife habitat is critical in the face of Pclimate change. And some of the biggest, most intact habitat in the Lower 48 is on the Sheldon Refuge (on the Oregon border) and Desert Refuge (just north of Las Vegas). The Sheldon Refuge is snuggled into the much larger Greater Shel- don-Hart Ecosystem. Encompassing both Sheldon and the Hart refuge to the north in Oregon, as well as many BLM wilderness study areas in Oregon and Nevada, this region pro- Anna, Toby and Ian made hard work fun and good forbighorn on the Desert Refuge. Kurt Kuznicki vides a haven for pronghorn, greater sage-grouse, California bighorn sheep, American pika, pygmy rabbit, and myriad songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl etc. Studies are on-going by refuge staff, NatureServe and oth- ers to determine just how important this region could be as a refugia for species amid global climate change. Unfortunately, the Ruby natu- ral gas pipeline has sliced its way through precariously undisturbed BLM lands that connected Sheldon to the protected lands in the Black Rock Desert NCA. Because of the ecological impor- tance of this area, Friends of Nevada Wilderness is investing in major on- Above, Bandia and Saria pulling fence during an the-ground projects to restore habitat alternative spring break on the Desert Refuge. with fence removal and spring res- Right, volunteers building the Birdsong Trail, toration to help ensure the Sheldon also on the Desert Refuge. Both by Kurt Kuznicki remains a stronghold for wildlife. for removing at least 50 miles of Go Rebels! Go Wolf Pack! Volunteers from many organi- fence this summer. During this nstead of drinking on tropical zations have been pulling obsolete “Summer of Sheldon,” Friends beaches, students from UNR and cattle fence from in Sheldon since will host a series of volunteer trips UNLV enjoyed an “alternative livestock was removed in the mid- throughout the summer, instead of Ispring break,” tearing down a hu- 90s. But there is still a lot more out one big Sheldon Rendezvous. See mongous fence in the Desert National there obstructing wildlife movement. page 8 to find a trip that fits your Wildlife Refuge, then packing two Friends has leveraged your schedule. Come experience the tons of fence materials miles through generous donations to get support beauty of the Sheldon first-hand. Continued on page 6 www.nevadawilderness.org 5

What is Wilderness Character? Spring Time in By Jose Witt and Shaaron Netherton fined Recreation” opportunities are s the Wilderness Act’s 50th evaluated to measure the experience the Black Rock Anniversary in 2014 looms of wilderness visitors. Similar data closer, we have to ask: Are collection in the future will reveal our wilderness areas being trends over time ... hopefully good Amanaged well? Are land-managers trends. preserving the wilderness character Along the way, the interns gain of these important resources? What intimate experience with southern are the trends? Are places getting Nevada’s wild landcapes. wilder, or less so? “Being in wilderness is a power- In southern Nevada, our Student ful experience that generally is calm- Conservation Association interns ing and balancing,” says Mike Doyle, are hiking through wilderness areas, an SCA intern from Atlanta, Georgia. helping southern Nevada’s land man- “I love being outside and feel like I agement agencies collect the baseline am making a difference for the places data needed to monitor these trends. I love.” They record all signs of human For Angie Lake, an intern from By Brian Beffort impact, including fences, vehicle Iowa, recording wilderness character n the desert, water is life. At least tracks, litter, etc. to get an idea of the appears to be building her character. I80% of wildlife species depend on wilderness area’s “naturalness” and “This place forces me to push springs or riparian areas sometime “undeveloped” nature. myself to lengths I never imagined during their life. And in the Black Another trend they monitor is the possible,” she says. “In no other envi- Rock Desert, springs are critically “untrammeled” nature of the wilder- ronment have I had to work so hard important when all else is desolate. ness, which measures how free the to relax; to reach the ‘top,’ or to enjoy You can help keep Black Rock wilderness is from modern human a moment’s peaceful sunset.” springs healthy and resilient, so they control or manipulation. We never said wilderness was can continue to support wildlife as Lastly, the level of outstanding easy. Thanks, SCA crew, for your we head into an uncertain future of “Solitude” or “Primitive and Uncon- work to keep Nevada wild. climate change. Friends of Nevada Wilderness is teaming up with the Bureau of Land Management, the Desert Research Institute, and other partners to train volunteers to measure and monitor the health of springs throughout the Black Rock region. This project offers great opportu- nities to hike and explore the remote and beautiful corners of the Black Rock, use cool gadgets like electro- conductivity meters, meet charismatic snails, and make a difference to wild- life in the Black Rock region. If you’re interested in visiting the Black Rock a few times this year to monitor springs, and maybe mentor others in applying these skills, please join us. Call (775) 324-7667, or email brian@nevadawilderness for info. 6 www.nevadawilderness.org

year of the Refuges, cont... the rugged desert to trucks waiting to recycle the material. Thanks to their hard work, bighorn sheep will have easier passage to water. On yet another project, more than 30 volunteers donated their time and sweat to help the US Fish & Widlife Service build the Birdsong Trail at Corn Creek Station, also in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Corn Creek is a spectacular place to view wildlife, because it’s a visible oasis to birds mi- grating along this eastern edge of the Participants at the first annual NWSA conference in Las Vegas in March. Chris Hensley Pacific Flyway. Each spring and fall, hundreds of migrating species stop National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance to rest and feed before taking wing By Darcy Shepard and Shaaron Netherton ideas on what works, what doesn’t, again. And thanks to your great sup- ore than 40 boots-on- and how to improve practices when port, and volunteers’ great work, we the-ground wilderness it comes to wilderness stewardship. now have a trail that makes it easier to organizations from With representatives from Alaska watch them. around the country met to Arizona, and the Pacific Crest Trail A Plan for the Sheldon inM Las Vegas this March for the first to the Appalachian Trail, stewards The Sheldon Refuge should release annual National Wilderness Stew- were able to connect and brainstorm their draft Comprehensive Conser- ardship Alliance conference. with others from across the country. vation Plan this spring. Friends will Friends of Nevada Wilderness On the final day of the confer- publish a special-edition newsletter hosted the conference, proud to ence, 50 attendees walked their talk soon after the draft is released, with show off southern Nevada wilder- by joining Friends for a stewardship more detail about the plan’s proposed ness areas to many first-time visi- project in the Rainbow Mountain alternatives and how you can weigh tors to the state, not to mention our Wilderness, turning a vehicle tres- in to protect the wildlife habitat and nationally recognized Wilderness pass scar into a single-track trail. wilderness values of the refuge. Stewardship program. “The National Wilderness Stew- The goal of the Alliance is to ardship Alliance is going to be a build a strong, national community major voice for wilderness stewards to help build and support wilderness across the country,” said Shaaron stewardship around the country. Netherton, treasurer of the NWSA Attendees enjoyed a variety of board and conference chairperson speakers and panelists covering as well as Executive Director for fundraising, wilderness charac- Friends of Nevada Wilderness. ter monitoring, agency partner- “We’re looking forward to being ships, and the future of wilderness. in Wash. DC, for the 50th anniver- Breakout sessions allowed them to sary of the Wilderness Act in 2014!” brainstorm with other experts from More information at around the country and exchange wwwWildernessAllaince.org Friends of Nevada Wilderness Trainings Forest Service Crosscut Saw. May 5. Learn 20-22. Gain skills building trails and leading the art and skill of wielding a cross-cut saw. work crews. Nevada archaeological site stewardship. Invasive Weed Class. May 3-4. Free to vol- May 14, 9a-3:30p. Learn how to protect unteers who agree to 3 FNW trips in 2011. Nevada’s archaeological sites. Please call (775) 324-7667 or email Volunteer vs. fence on the Desert Refuge. Kurt Kuz. Trail Construction and Crew Leader. May [email protected] to sign up. www.nevadawilderness.org 7

The Wisdom of the Wild By DanSchatz There is wisdom in wildness. though we are not wild, there will here is wisdom in wildness. We are not wild, whatever pre- always remain wildness within us. I don’t mean misbehavior, tensions we may have. Human We touch it when we are at peace but real wildness, elemental language and society will always be with nature, when our senses are wildness, animal wildness. imprinted upon us; we cannot escape heightened, when we become one TThere is wisdom in the wildness of them. We can, though, learn from with our surroundings, whatever the wolf, whose rhythms are com- the wildness of others. We can learn they be. We taste it when we are in pletely attuned to the truth of the balance—in the wild, nature out of love. And when we have given our- earth, who leaves silent paw prints in balance is nature dying. We can learn selves to the long and difficult work a world we can only taste, but never stewardship—like the wolf that culls of tuning our minds, our homes, and truly touch. the herd, or the raven who tends her our communities to the needs of the There is wisdom in the wildness nest. We can learn to listen to our greater Earth, then we will have be- of the moose, in whose powerful legs senses—smell, taste, sound, touch, gun to live the wisdom of the wild. can be found surprising grace. There sight, and the indefinable instinct is wisdom in the songbirds, whose that we have almost, but never quite, Dan Schatz is a Grammy-nominated lives border our own, yet whose forgotten. musician. Learn more about his music music will never be tamed. There is wisdom in wildness, and and buy his CDs at www.danschatz.com Donor profile: The Hall Family By Brian Beffort ome people give money. Some people give time. Other people give both. Scott and Mimari Hall give both. Scott and his kids, Kilala and Shoki, are regular features on Friends’ restoration trips. SScott, why do you do it? “I like Friends for a couple of reasons,” he says. “I like that Friends is helping to protect more Nevada wilder- ness. I think Nevada is pretty wild as it is, but designated wilderness will keep some of my favorite areas free from road building, encroachment, and mining activities. Scott Hall, teaching his son, Shoki, the true meaning of wide-open spaces up on the Sheldon Refuge last summer. Brian Beffort “Friends also provides good opportunities to go out to new areas with new people. Having other kids and like-minded people along makes it more fun.” GIVE WILDERNESS A GIFT The Hall family donates to Friends of Nevada Wilder- ness via a monthly gift from Scott’s credit card. EVERY MONTH “I feel that giving to a group which I believe in is a A few dollars each month via your credit card good idea, because money talks,” says Scott. “But annual will be easy for you and essential to places membership fees can interfere with household budget or emergencies. When the donation is monthly, the financial and wildlife that need your help. toll is less, but the overall dollars are greater. I also like CALL ROSE TODAY AT (775) 324-7667 TO that it’s more stable for Friends.” PROCESS YOUR SECURE TRANSACTION, We at Friends are truly lucky to have people like the OR SIGN UP TODAY AT Halls caring for wild Nevada. Thank you Scott, Mimari, Kilala and Shoki. Nevada is better off because of you. WWW.NEVADAWILDERNESS.ORG 8 www.nevadawilderness.org Upcoming events and restoration trips Southern Nevada volunteer picnic. Black Rock Rendezvous. May 27-30. Help us clear the Barley Creek Trail. April 16, 2p-6p. Red Spring Picnic Area. Learn about and give back to this region, Sheldon Rendezvous. June 23-26. Help Celebrate the folks who give back to wild with good folk and good food. Family. wildlife on the Sheldon Refuge. Limit 30. Nevada. RSVP to Katie at (702) 622-0946 Summer of Sheldon 1. June 3-5. Help the Santa Rosa Wilderness. July 14-18. Sum- Earth Day: Party for the planet. April 22, wildlife and the places they live on the mit Trail Backpack and Trail Inventory. 10a-4p at Shark Reef, Mandalay Bay. Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. Summer of Sheldon 3. July 22-24. Wells Fargo restoration trip. April 23, National Trails Day. June 4. Spring Another opportunity to give back to the 8:30a-4p. Rainbow Mountain Wilderness. Mountains National Recreation Area. wildlife on the Sheldon. Wells Fargo employees are invited to this Celebrate National Trails Day by clean- North Black Rock Range Wilderness. restoration project near Mtn. Springs. ing up trails in the Spring Mountains. August 19-21. Our final push to remove Earth Day: Pahrump. April 23, 10a-4p. Central Nevada Hiking and Inventory. old fence from the wilderness. Family. Ian Deutch Memorial Park. June 6-10. Help us gather data in the Summer of Sheldon 4. August 26-28. Desert National Wildlife Refuge. April beautiful Monitor and Hot Creek Ranges. Help the wildlife and the places they live 30, 9a-1p. Corn Creek Station. Help pull Mt. Rose Invasive Weed Removal. June on the Sheldon Refuge. invasive weeds that hurt wildlife. 11. Help Hunter Ck. native plants thrive. National Public Lands Day. September Earth Day: Reno. May 1, 11a-4p. Zappos.com Spring Mountains cleanup. 16-18. Join us for this annual event on Spring cleaning in the Spring Mtns. June 15. Zappos.com cleans up the Mt. wild lands across Nevada. Sites TBA. Charleston wilderness. May 7, 8a-12p. Help the Spring Moun- See our list of upcoming volunteer tains by removing litter and trash. Table Mountain Wilderness. June 24-27. training opportunities on page 6 To RSVP or sign up for alerts, send an email to [email protected], or call (775) 324-7667.

Updated schedules are posted at www.nevadawilderness.org

PERMIT NO. 318 NO. PERMIT

RENO NV RENO

PAID

U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S. NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT