Contents Specific Recommendations ................................ 47 1) Site Recommendations .................................. 47 INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1 Kelso Depot ...................................................... 47 Purpose of Plan ...................................................... 1 Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center.......... 51 Project History ....................................................... 2 Baker Information Center .............................. 52 Executive Summary ............................................... 4 Mojave National Preserve Headquarters..... 52 FOUNDATION FOR PLANNING AND Zzyzx.................................................................. 52 DESIGN ...................................................................... 5 Mitchell Caverns at Providence Mountains National Park Service Mission............................. 5 State Recreation Area ...................................... 53 Park Purpose........................................................... 7 Fort Piute........................................................... 53 Park Significance.................................................... 7 Quail Springs Trailhead................................... 53 Management Objectives........................................ 8 Historic Ranching – OX and Kessler Springs Interpretive Audiences........................................ 10 ............................................................................. 53 Visitor Experience Goals .................................... 11 Cal-Trans Rest Areas....................................... 53 Primary Interpretive Themes ............................. 12 2) Interpretive Media .......................................... 54 EXISTING CONDITIONS.................................... 13 Wayside Exhibits.............................................. 54 Mojave National Preserve .................................. 13 Publications....................................................... 54 Natural Resources............................................ 14 Exhibits.............................................................. 55 Natural Resources............................................ 15 Digital Media .................................................... 55 Natural Resource Management Issues ......... 18 Audiovisual Programs ..................................... 56 Cultural Resources........................................... 21 Personal Services.............................................. 56 Local Communities.......................................... 33 Outreach............................................................ 57 Partners Inside Mojave National Preserve... 35 3) Interpreting Primary Themes ........................ 58 Information Centers & Campgrounds ......... 37 All themes.......................................................... 58 Minimally developed points of interest........ 39 Research Needs.................................................... 69 Areas where development is planned ........... 40 Staffing Needs....................................................... 70 Undeveloped points of interest ..................... 41 4) Implementation Plan....................................... 71 Visitors................................................................... 42 APPENDICES .......................................................... 78 RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................... 46 Planning Team...................................................... 78 General Recommendations................................ 46 References............................................................. 78 INTRODUCTION Purpose of Plan Interpretive Plan (CIP) for Mojave National Preserve. This Long-Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP) has three components: This plan is consistent with and incorporates aspects of the Mojave National Preserve General Goals: Describes foundation elements and goals Management Plan, Draft Resource Management for visitor experience, interpretation, education, Plan, Strategic Plan, and other park plans. It and resource stewardship includes perspectives from partners and interested publics. Recommendations: Recommends ways to achieve those goals and address the issues through Intended audiences for the plan include park staff, facilities, interpretive media and programs, and interpretive media and facility designers, partners, access to resources and experiences and regional office staff. Background: Provides relevant background information The Long Range Interpretive Plan gives a broad vision for interpretation for the next decade. Annual Interpretive Plans, based on the framework of this plan, identify specific goals for each year. The Long Range and Annual Interpretive Plans, together with the Interpretive Database, make up the Comprehensive 1 Introduction Project History Mojave National Preserve is a relatively new park, A planning workshop was held April 6-8, 1999. established in 1994. A general management plan Participants included National Park Service (NPS) (GMP) was completed in September 2001. The staff, partners, and an interpretive planner from park was identified by the Pacific West Region as a Harpers Ferry Center (HFC). At that workshop, priority for interpretive planning in response to a participants drafted interpretive themes and goals, fiscal year 1999 call from Harpers Ferry Center formally assessed current conditions, and began (HFC). Interpretive planning commenced when a discussing recommendations. Recommendations, preferred alternative was drafted for the GMP. implementation planning, and issues relating to the Kelso Depot have been addressed in subsequent workshops in July and October, 2000, and March, 2001. The Mojave NP Advisory Commission, a group of citizens appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to advise park management, assisted in drafting theme statements for this plan. Yucca and Barrel cactus 2 Introduction Clark Mountain 3 Introduction Executive Summary Mojave National Preserve is not highly developed. protection information, orientation, and an Visitors value the sense of discovery that is still introduction to interpretive themes. Information available here, and it is a management objective to centers inside the park at Kelso and Hole-in-the- perpetuate conditions that make that experience Wall will provide this basic information, as well as possible. The goal of interpretation is to facilitate more in-depth services such as audio-visual the ability of visitors to learn about and enjoy the programs, museum exhibits, interpretive talks, and park safely while still maintaining the opportunity printed guides. Publications, videotapes, and other to explore and discover. Therefore, interpretive theme-related items will be available for sale programs and media will be clustered in only a few through the cooperating association at developed areas. Wayside exhibits and kiosks will information centers and over the Internet. be kept to a minimum. A limited number of low- impact developments such as trails and roadside Planning for a comprehensive visitor center for the pulloffs will provide opportunities for direct park will begin in the second half of the life cycle connections by visitors who don’t have the time, of this plan. experience, or capabilities for more strenuous experiences. Education programs will initially target local and regional schools with increased in-school Initial contacts will often be made over the programming. Since staffing is limited, the staff Internet and through telephone and mail inquiries. will explore opportunities to expand programming Information will be available at state welcome through the use of volunteers. To serve adult centers and other information outlets in nearby communities, the park will seek opportunities to communities such as Primm, Lancaster, Needles, partner with existing adult education activities Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Peripheral such as the Desert Studies Center. information centers in Baker and Barstow will provide (through personal services and non- personal media) basic safety and resource 4 FOUNDATION FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN objects and the wildlife therein, and to The National Park Service mission and mandates provide for the enjoyment of the same in such (laws), and Mojave National Preserve purpose, a manner and by such means as will significance, and management goals form the basis leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of for management decisions and planning. Visitor future generations. experience goals and primary interpretive themes more specifically describe desired outcomes In the 1970 General Authorities Act, Congress relating to visitors. Decisions about park recognized that a confusing variety of designations management are generally measured against these had been used in the creation of National Park elements to determine activities that may be System units (parks, monuments, seashores, acceptable in a unit. historic parks, recreation areas, preserves, etc.). They responded by amending the Organic Act to clarify that all units, regardless of their specific National Park Service Mission designation, are to be managed under the Organic Act mandate. As a unit of the national park system, Mojave must . these areas, though distinct in character, be managed in accordance with the National Park are united through their interrelated purposes Service preservation mission as provided in the and resources into one national park system agency’s authorizing legislation (Organic Act