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Want To Learn More? Get This Book
Emery Thran says "The more I read Trashing the Economy: How Runaway Environmentalism Is Wrecking America I keep finding more and more facts that are supported by already well researched pros. The book has 1250 footnotes supporting the facts!" If you would like to learn more about the broad scope of the wilderness movement you can buy this $20 book at Amazon.com.
Ninth Circuit ruling in favor of Wilderness Society
A Federal appellate panel overturned an agreement reached between the U.S. Forest Service and Elko County. That appeal was brought by the Wilderness Society, and in effect says that the agreement reached regarding a county road that existed before the National Forest was created was invalid because the Wilderness Society and other groups were not participants in the process. <more details>
Ninth Circuit Sierra ruling works against catastrophic fire
A Federal judge last week enjoined fire-preventative thinnings created under SNFPA guidance with the judgment that the planning was not "rigorous" enough to satisfy. That suit was brought by the Wilderness Society, and in effect destroyed eight years of effort by USFS employees and an engaged public to comply with the law. <more details>
"Betrayal of Trust"
H.R.6156 Eastern Sierra and San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act, if passed as drafted, will result in almost 473,000 acres of new wilderness and almost 53 miles of restricted use rivers in California. The Hoover and White Mountain additions could have the biggest impact on Nevada residents and recreationalists. Advocates for Access to Public Lands (AAPL) co-founder Dick Noles said. “Many of us have worked at his [U.S. Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon] request so diligently for years and what’s happened with the introduction of this bill is an absolute betrayal of our trust.” <more details> CPA will attend a public meeting in Bishop on June 25, 2008 and will post the results later this week.
Carson Valley Days Theme "Keep Nevada Open"
“Keep Nevada Open” is the theme of this year’s parade, according to Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club Treasurer Jeremy Davidson. “The main idea is to keep public lands open to recreation and keeping trails open” he said. Record Courier article - 5/21/08
Esmeralda County unanimously passes Resolution against Lands Bill
Esmeralda County Commissioners unanimously passed a No Lands Bill Resolution June 4, 2008. This makes it unanimous that Lyon, Mineral and Esmeralda counties are saying NO to Senator Reid and his Lands Bills that contain additional wilderness requirements. This is a great day for all who don't want our public lands to be closed to multi-use recreation, grazing, trapping, sources of alternative energies and other economic proposes. It is expected that Senator Reid will remain true to his word and will not put forward legislation adding Wilderness areas in these counties.
Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) unanimously passes Resolution regarding Lands Bills
NACO unanimously passed Resolution #08-06 to have current pending Nevada Lands Bills put on hold until counties that are affected pass a resolution that supports the Lands Bill for their county. The resolution further states that in the future Lands Bills should only be originated by a requesting county by way of a resolution. To view the resolution click here
NWP Wilderness Proposal maps are now on-line
Maps of NWP's proposed wilderness areas (~694,000 acres) are now available for viewing on this site.
Chapter of CPA forms in Mineral County
A Mineral County chapter of CPA was recently formed. Sue Silver is the Chairperson and the next meeting will be May 29, 2008. If you wish to join this group or have questions please contact Sue at ssilver@cfpa-nv.org.
Wilderness Study Areas
WSAs in Nevada total approximately 2.55 million acres with only .72 million acres "recommended suitable" by the BLM. BLM's Carson City Field Office managed WSAs in Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Nye and Western Churchill counties total 277,811 acres with 0 acres "recommended suitable", yet these WSAs remain under the protection of wilderness status. More on WSAs...
A Must See Website!
The People For Preserving Our Western Heritage website is awesome! Our goal is that all of our CPA members are knowledgeable about all the threats to keeping our public lands open for everyone. Please visit this website, broaden your knowledge and then talk to your friends about the issues and the things we can all do to preserve what we have.
Mineral County Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing a Lands Bill
The Mineral County Board of Commissioners on May 7, 2008 unanimously approved a resolution not to have a Lands Bill at this time. The efforts by members of the CPA and concerned citizens were vital to getting this resolution passed and we thank the County Commissioner's for taking this necessary action. (Click to view the signed resolution)
Wilderness Areas Are Not The Way To Go
In his weekly column for the Mason Valley News (4/25/08) Mr. Charles Lawson, opining on Wilderness Areas wrote:
“…(A) wilderness area is not the way to go. In my younger days I hiked the entire length and width of what is now the Desolation Wilderness west of Lake Tahoe. The only people utilizing the area (then) were a few local hunters and fishermen because there was nothing to attract anyone else. Then the wilderness folks showed up and saved the area for posterity by having it designated wilderness. Today, there is more foot traffic in a day than there was in 10 or so years prior to the designation. There are maintained trails, five or so feet wide, bridges over little streams and parking lots at terminal ends of trails”.
To support Mr. Lawson’s observations, we found a 1980 study by George Stankey, PhD, of a 1972 sampling of users of the Desolation Wilderness, that ¾’s of these users expected to see few if any people during their visit to the Wilderness (p.2). Such was not the case. These folks found the area overcrowded and overused (p.19). [(Source: click here.]
This finding is somewhat curious when you consider that a chief reason for establishing Wilderness Areas in the first place was to have “…outstanding opportunities for solitude…” (1964 Wilderness Act, (c), (2).) Since there are now 22 developed points of entry, 99 miles of maintained trails, with 837 people per day visiting the area, one should probably not expect to see “few” people, which tends to quell any notion of an “opportunity of solitude”.
Keep in mind when Mr. Lawson hiked the area there was no wilderness area designation and very few people used it. It should be noted that the development of entry points and maintained trails is completely contrary to the intent of the 1964 Wilderness Act which states as part of the definition of a wilderness to be, “…affected by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work unnoticeable.”
Now the area is designated a Wilderness and what do we have? We have more people, less solitude and noticeable imprint(s) of man. And how did the government solve this little (self created) problem? More regulation!
Again, Mr. Lawson: “...Reservations have to be made prior to any access and no leaving of marked trails. (You couldn’t go to the “solitude” if you wanted to). There are rangers to maintain the rules of trespass, and they do.”
This is but one example of the many and varied reasons why so many folks who currently use the Public Lands in Lyon, Mineral, and Esmeralda Counties have said NO to Wilderness Area Designations.
The Survey Says...
The April 2008 edition of the Costco Connection (Costco membership publication) is featuring an "informed debate" question on Wilderness. The debate question is "Are we doing enough to protect or national wilderness?. The May edition is published and the results are 75% voted "yes" we're doing enough.
Costco "Informed Debate" on Wilderness
The April 2008 edition of the Costco Connection (Costco membership publication) is featuring an "informed debate" question on Wilderness. The debate question is "Are we doing enough to protect or national wilderness?.
CPA Members Are Making A Difference
Over 750 people came to the CPA meeting on April 2, 2008 at the Smith Valley School. Your voice is being heard and you are making a difference. Senators Ensign and Congressman Heller have gone on record saying there should not be any wilderness without the support of the local communities (click here for details). Senator Reid has responded to a letter from our local Nevada Legislators saying if we don't want a Lands Bill then there won't be any wilderness. (click here for details). We have over $2,500 in donations - thanks to those who have donated. If you haven't yet sent in a donation - no amount is too small.