UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2002 From neglected waste to protected space: An administrative history of Mojave National Preserve Eric Charles Nystrom University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Nystrom, Eric Charles, "From neglected waste to protected space: An administrative history of Mojave National Preserve" (2002). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1417. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/1i6i-cex6 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. ProQuest Information and Leaming 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Mi 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI' Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. FROM NEGLECTED WASTE TO PROTECTED SPACE: AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY OF MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE by Eric Charles Nystrora Bachelor of Arts University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2000 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of History College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2002 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1411276 UMI* UMI Microform 1411276 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNTV The Graduate College L'niversity ot Nevada, Las Vegas A ueust 2 20Q2_ The Thesis prepared by Eric Charles Nvstrom Entitled From Neglected Waste to Procected Space; An Administrative History of Moiave National Preserve is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History____________________________ Examination Committee Chair 'ean of the Graduate College Examination C^mitta^Member Examinatioi/Committee Member GraduateCollege FacidtyRe^^entatï^"2^ u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT From Neglected Waste To Protected Space: An Administrative History of Mojave National Preserve by Eric Charles Nystrom Dr. Hal K.. Rothman, Examinatioa Committee Chair Professor of History University of Nevada, Las Vegas The Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park Service, was created in 1994 in southeastern California. Its 1.6 million acres were used historically for extractive industries such as mining and ranching, and its recent history was shaped by the land’s proximity to urban Los Angeles. The preserve was the fruit of a long political battle between environmental activists and conservative opponents, and the park’s final administrative form and subsequent management was indelibly altered by the compromises made during the legislative fight. The park’s subsequent history, including innovative planning efforts, a 1995 attempt by opponents to eliminate the preserve’s budget, and day to day management of Mojave’s extensive resources, highlight the unique features and history of the area, as well as the flexible institutional culture forged in the park’s early struggle for survival. m Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................................iü ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.....................................................................................................v CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION....................................................................................... I CHAPTER 2 PRELUDE TO SYSTEMATIC FEDERAL MANAGEMENT .............10 CHAPTER 3 THE RISE AND FALL OF BLM MANAGEMENT IN THE EAST M OJAVE..................................................................................................................50 CHAPTER 4 FIRST DAYS: AN AWKWARD START AND THREATS OF AN EARLY E N D ........................................................................................................... 86 CHAPTER 5 PLANNING FOR MOJAVE'S FUTURE..............................................Ill CHAPTER 6 MODERN PARK MANAGEMENT .AND ADMINISTRATION ... 137 CHAPTER 7 VISITOR SERVICES: RESOURCE PROTECTION AND INTERPRETATION............................................................................................. 156 CHAPTER 8 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .............................................................189 CHAPTER 9 EPILOGUE .............................................................................................230 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................232 VITA ...................................................................................................................................239 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I still vividly remember the way I met this thesis. My advisor. Dr. Hal Rothman. casually pitched it to me: ”1 have a project that would probably be cool, but it would take a year and probably rearrange your schedule." Yes. every bit as promised. 1 really need to thank my advisor. Dr. Rothman. for everything he has done for me. I couldn’t possibly list even a fraction of the debts 1 owe him. big and small. It will have to suffice to say that he’s taught me a lot. and I’m a much better historian than 1 ever thought 1 could be at this stage because of his guidance. I’ll never forget his lessons, the explicit ones and the silent ones alike. The rest of my committee is dynamite. Dr. David Wrobel takes his duty of turning me into a historian very seriously; he’s kicked open doors and pushed me to give papers, and I’ll always be thankful for the well-timed nudge. Dr. Andrew Kirk’s office door is always open, and even when he’s busy he gives unselfishly of his time. He also is living breathing proof that one can be a historian and have a life too - a definite source of inspiration. Francisco Menendez was kind enough to serve on my committee as well. My utmost sympathies go out to him - 1 can’t imagine anything quite as boring as a master’s defense in a field other than your own. but he was game and even quizzed me. Bill Fullerton, my desert chauffeur, was a tremendous help and an honest fnend - how they squeezed such a big heart into such a rough exterior. I’ll never know. The Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. employees of Mojave National Preserve put up with me and tolerated my miscues. and I can only hope that this history does them justice. My families, the one I've had for decades now and the one I formally acquired a few days ago. cheered me on through the entire ordeal. I never quite understood their enthusiasm for me and for my project - "can't you peoplesee how stupid 1 feel?’’ - but their encouragements made the doldrums short and the triumphs long. Rachel Diane Land is my best friend in the world. She's smart, caring, hilarious and tender, beautiful and considerate, warm and utterly unique. A week ago. she married me. and I'm the luckiest guy on the planet. 1 dedicate this text to her. VI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The eastern portion of the Mojave desert is a beautiful place. Successive mountain ranges, trending from southwest to northeast, tower above broad valleys with sweeping vistas. Shimmering bright playas. remnants