Nevada
Wilderness Areas Associated with the Black Rock Desert – High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
Fact Sheet
The Black Rock Desert – High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area Act of 2000, as amended, provides National Conservation Area status and Wilderness designation to nearly 1.2 million acres of public lands in northwestern Nevada. Nearly 752,000 acres of wilderness study area was designated as Wilderness in the Act.
These wilderness areas provide outstanding opportunities for solitude. The rugged terrain, large size and undeveloped nature of these areas offer a natural, primitive, and solitary experience. Wilderness is an area affected primarily by the forces of nature alone: man’s imprint is mostly undetectable, and man is a visitor who does not remain.
The ten wildernesses designated in the Act surround the historic emigrant trail segments that pass through the new conservation area. The emigrant trails and the surrounding area have remained virtually unchanged for more than 150 years since the pioneers first made their way to California. These areas were designated "wilderness study areas" in 1980 and were managed on an interim basis to preserve their wilderness-like values. The ten wilderness areas are:
• | Black Rock Desert Wilderness |
• | North Jackson Mountains Wilderness |
• | South Jackson Mountains Wilderness |
• | Pahute Peak Wilderness |
• | North Black Rock Range Wilderness |
• | East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness |
• | High Rock Lake Wilderness |
• | Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness |
• | High Rock Canyon Wilderness |
• | Calico Mountains Wilderness |
Wilderness areas may also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historic value. Many of these values are present in the new wilderness areas.
Effects of Wilderness Designation
While these areas have been managed as wilderness study areas for more than 20 years, Congressional wilderness designation does bring some management changes.
Motorized and Mechanized Vehicles and Equipment
Wilderness areas are closed to motor vehicles and mechanical transport and equipment, including mountain bikes, wheeled game carriers, chainsaws, and similar kinds of motorized or mechanized equipment. However, persons requiring the use of wheelchairs may use them in wilderness.
Roads that are outside of wilderness areas or that have been excluded from wilderness designation, such as cherrystem roads that dead-end within wilderness areas, are open to motor vehicles and mechanical transport and equipment. Some of these open roads include:
• | High Rock Canyon Road |
• | The road separating High Rock Lake and Calico Mountains wilderness areas |
• | The road between the South Jackson Mountains and the North Jackson Mountains wilderness areas |
• | Roads just outside wilderness boundaries, such as the road along the east side of the Black Rock Desert Wilderness Area |
• | Various dead-end roads excluded from wilderness designation, often referred to as ‘cherrystems’, that provide public access inside wilderness areas. |
Wheeled game carriers, chainsaws and other kinds of motorized or mechanized equipment cannot be used in wilderness.
Commercial Uses
Previously permitted grazing may continue. Access to repair and replace range developments using vehicle access may be authorized on a case by case basis.
No new mining claims may be filed. No new mineral leases will be granted.
Special recreation permits (SRPs) in wilderness areas are restricted. Competitive permitted events will not be authorized. Outfitting and guiding permits will continue to be issued.
Recreational Activities
Hunting, trapping and fishing are allowed according to federal and state laws and regulations. Repair and replacement of existing wildlife improvements may be allowed on a case by case basis, but construction of new developments would be rare and would be authorized only to protect and improve management of wilderness resources.
Tent camping, campfires, rock climbing, rockhounding, hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, nature study, and photography may all be pursued in wilderness areas.
Emergency Situations
Fighting wildland fire will be done using equipment and tactics selected to minimize impacts to wilderness values.
Noxious weed control will use methods that cause the least impact to wilderness resources.
Motorized vehicles and equipment may be authorized for use in wilderness for emergencies involving public health and safety.
Planning
The Wilderness areas is being managed by the Bureau of Land Management in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. The RMP that has been developed in this process provides additional direction for activities in wilderness areas.
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