Friday, April 15, 2005
BLM Caliente Field Station
Caliente, Nevada  

 

Resource Advisory Council members present and category represented: 
Dr. John E. Hiatt Wildlife
Robert Maichle Environment
Claire Toomey Permitted Recreation
John Weisser Dispersed Recreation
Billie Young Wild Horse & Burro
Marta Agee Ranching/Grazing
Steve Mellington Public at Large (vice-Chair)
Joni Eastley Elected Official
Jerry Helton Transportation/Row (Chair)
Dr. Colleen Beck Archeology/Historic
Tim Short USFS Spring Mountain NRA Dist Ranger

 

Resource Advisory Council members absent:
Mark N. Ioli Mineral Development
Mark Hill State of Nevada
Dr. Steve Parker Academic/UNLV
William Mull Ranching/Grazing
Kenny Anderson Native American

Bureau of Land Management representatives present:
Jo Simpson BLM NV Chief of Communications
Chris Hanefeld BLM Ely Field Office PAO
Karen M. Eller BLM Tonopah Field Station Admin Support Asst
Jack Tribble Outdoor Recreation Planner, Ely F.O
Jeff Weeks BLM Ely F.O. AFM for Non-Renewables

 

Forest Service Attendees:
Susan Barrow Spring Mountains Nations Recreation Area Planning Team Leader

Other Presenters:
Nancy Flagg Director, Public Lands, UNLV

 

Public Attendees:
Laurie Howard

A copy of each attachment is listed in the text of or at the end of these minutes and is also on file with the official copy of the minutes in the Ely Field Office of the BLM. Persons desiring to review said minutes should contact Chris Hanefeld, public affairs specialist, at (775) 289-1842.

 

8:03 a.m. Steve Mellington called meeting to order

 

8:05 a.m. Field Managers Reports

 

o Richard Orr gave the Ely report (see attachment # 1)

o Hyatt asked about the funds from the Ely land sales. Orr stated that funds are available after 120 days. Hyatt asked if they would now be seeing funds applied. Orr gave examples of what the money was going to be spent on.

o Orr stated that there are approximately 4 proposals that have a good chance of being submitted for round 6 and all are under review.

o Juan Palma gave the Las Vegas Field Office Manager’s Report

o Sloan Canyon Draft RMP/EIS is out; let him know if they have any comments.

o Red Rock Canyon GMP (RMP) the latest draft and the final should be out in the next 60 – 90 days.

o Las Vegas had an Executive Committee discussion on Round 6. These projects are being refined.

o Currently SNPLMA money does not fund the project fully. The Executive Committee feels that they need funding for the planning process.

o The Laughlin sale is this summer. Several meetings with the city of Laughlin have taken place. The City of Laughlin felt appraisals came back too high. Palma stated that he felt that BLM should not / will not try to influence the appraisers in any way.

o The sale for August has been moved to November 16, 2005. This is based on the 2300 acres that is in question.

o Hyatt asked about the status of the Gene Leg / Cal Baird allotment. Palma stated that the county is preparing to buy his grazing rights. Hyatt stated that the situation doesn’t seem to have been resolved. He asked about the Clark County Shooting Range and questioned the amount of money being spent on this project.

o Karen Eller gave the Battle Mountain Report (see attachment # 2)

o Marta Agee asked Eller about the status of the Ralston Allotment.

o Agee asked if geothermal wells at Hot Creek would convert to stock water use if not utilized as intended.

o Bob Maichle asked about the prescribed burn. Eller said the burn was successfully completed earlier this week.

 

8:30 a.m. Lincoln County Water Pipeline Applications (see attachment # 3)

o Jeff Weeks provided the RAC an update on proposed Wind Energy anemometer sites in Lincoln County. Weeks said an EIS would have to be completed prior to pursuing the project(s). Weeks said that without new power sources, shortages would eventually occur in the western states. Weeks said the firm proposing the project is Nevada Wind. SWIP is a corridor that stretches from Idaho to Las Vegas.

o Hyatt asked what the power company is proposing to mitigate the Table Mt. Weeks explained that the project is on hold at this time, he is processing the application. There will be windmills on this area, but he doesn’t know what the effects will be.

o Hyatt commented that the company picks the place and we don’t get a chance to look at the passes & the valley floors and decide what would work for society.

o Hyatt asked when this project might be reactivated. Weeks stated that it depends on their legal issues.

o Helton asked about public meetings. Weeks said Monday they will be making a presentation to the county commission.

o Weeks stated that Idaho is coming out with a draft EIS on this same issue. Helton asked to see a copy of this if it is available and asked if it was in an area that is sensitive.

o Agee asked about the real issue. Hyatt stated that this is a totally undisturbed area right now, if this goes through there will be a road and these wind mills. This is an area that has Sage Grouse leks, and Elk as well as many other wildlife species.

o Weeks stated that there is a lot of potential for proposals as the anemometers come back with their info.

    o Weeks explained that the water pipeline would consist of 7 wells, and produce >+ 7000 acre feet of 
           water to fill the Coyote Springs project.

o Hyatt asked where the process was. Weeks stated that it is still in the application process.

o Hyatt asked if the EIS was done. He asked it if would be the same type as Southern Nevada Water pipeline’s. Weeks stated that yes it would.

o Weeks stated that all wells are drilled in Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. No permit has been issued for the test well, they are in the process and that they would have to do all of the studies associated with this type of action.

o Hyatt asked about the timeline. Weeks said this timeline is similar to the Southern Nevada Water Pipeline.

o Weeks talked about the Tulle Desert into Tokwap township. A company is interested in building power plant and there have been 2100 acre feet of water on LCLA lands approved for this power plant.

o Helton stated that they are working on a utility corridor. Weeks – doesn’t identify all of the utilities included.

o Weeks stated that there are ten 16 inch production wells. Helton added that they have an application for an additional seven and that Bidler & Lincoln County working together on this project.

 

9:15 a.m. Forest Service Update

o Susan Barrow discussed the following issues:

o Middle Kyle Canyon project – Barrow stated that this project is to accommodate the use on the Spring Mountains and the conservation issues. A contractor is working on this issue to create a proposal. The Forest Service proposed an action to start the project in May or June of 2005. Landscape analysis is being done to look the at Spring Mountains RA – trying to compile all of the information and a social survey to look at what people need and want in Southern Nevada. There will be a West Side Planning Effort to take place at the end of May to look at developing the west side of mountain.

o Barrow stated that the Saw Mill trail head construction should start this summer.

o Barrow announced that they are close to a decision, probably by the end of the month to expand the area of the Desert View Overlook.

o Barrow stated that the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Park is discussing the issue of how to replace the lift that the avalanche removed. They are also expanding water making capability which will increase snow activities during the winter. She added that Sprint’s concerns were regarding the telephone line that was taken out by the avalanche

o Barrow also stated that a housing & spa project has been proposed.

o Hyatt asked about landscape assessment. Barrow stated that it will be done by 12/06 and will be presented to public.

o Maichle asked if the water exploration was complete. Barrow stated that it was not yet complete.

o Hyatt asked if chair the chair will be moved or kept in existing run. Maichle suggested putting to the left or right of the run. Barrow stated that they are looking at several areas that are out of avalanche chutes and are considering an avalanche chutes program.

o Members discussed the issue of the housing & spa development proposal.

o Barrow stated that Clark County would have to take over the maintenance of the road for this project to work.

o Hyatt commented that it would take significant grading to get nine miles of road where they were proposing it.

o Weisser asked how large of a development was being proposed. Barrow stated that was unknown at this time, but it would include condos & a spa type of facility. Hyatt suggested possibly 34 acres.

o Maichle stated that he was excited about the Kyle Canyon plan, but an old dump is just about ½ mile down from the project. He asked about what was being done with this. Barrow stated that that issue is being considered.

 

9:40 a.m. Mellington recessed the meeting for a break

 

9:49 a.m. Mellington reconvened the meeting

 

9:50 a.m. Nancy Flagg discussed the Interagency Volunteer Program Initiative (see attachment # 4)

o Working with Cooperative Extension with some of these projects and increasingly with UNR (University of Nevada at Reno).

o Agee asked if the program had any input on the curriculum for the young people. Flagg explained that their curriculum advisory team deals with schools, home schooling, etc. and the curriculum is reviewed to make sure that it will work.

o Hyatt asked about the number of kids involved. Flagg stated that in the pilot program there were 12 kids. She explained that they are taking smaller groups because they don’t want the kids & program to feel like they have failed. She also added that they are trying to link literacy into program.

o Agee asked if this program was linked in any way to Cooperative Extension illiteracy program. Flagg stated that, currently it was not.

o Hyatt asked what the view for long term funding was. Flagg stated that project managers are writing grants for permanent funding.

o Helton asked if the long term goal was to make the program self sufficient. Flagg stated that yes it was and added that it is also to get kids to enjoy public lands.

o Flagg told members that UNLV has various professors that are actively involved in getting funding and doing research. This project is to try to bring all of the information together and create an interagency cooperation. The interagency team meets once to several times per month.

o Hyatt asked where the funding was coming from. Flagg stated that there was no Nevada state money, it was coming from SNPLMA right now, and would come from other sources in the future.

o Agee showed concern for creating a biased generation of kids. Flagg stated that BLM has specifically asked that this program deal with all of the different uses public land is intended for.

o Hyatt showed concern about promoting these activities as strictly recreation, but that all of these learned abilities have life qualities. Lake Mead is not there just for recreation; that is probably the least of its qualities.

o Rick Orr commented on the need for balancing the educational programs. He stressed the importance of making sure that every aspect is being taught. He used the example of Smokey the Bear, for all the good he did, using fire as a management tool got lost in his message.

o Helton reiterated the importance of teaching multiple use throughout the lessons.

o Billie Young suggested using the RAC as a resource to get advice on the curriculum for this project.

o Hyatt suggested sending information home to the parents. Weisser suggested that giving these families a free pass to one of the local parks would help encourage the involvement of the parents.

 

10:49 a.m. Public Comment Period

o Hyatt commented on the situation at Goldbutte. He stated that this is an area that does deserve a much higher level of protection than it has now. It gets a lot of visitation. Maichle stated that the information on the web has increased tremendously. Hyatt stated that this area was not protected in the Land Bill. The members discussed taking a trip to go see Goldbutte. Either this spring or this fall. They agreed to make this an agenda topic. The decision was made to make an unofficial trip out to visit the site and to discuss it further at the next meeting.

o Laurie Howard commented that every district in Nevada is struggling with illiteracy & lack of funding. That with no child left behind the emphasis on reading & writing is extreme and cannot be met by 2010.

o Jo Simpson gave an overview of the administration initiative and stated that this initiative asks BLM to reach out to local governments and invite them to become a cooperating agency. She added that this really didn’t change the way BLM does things because they are already doing this. Orr stated that what it did was identify the particular agencies that need to be involved in cooperative projects.

 

11:50 a.m. Housekeeping

No housekeeping items were discussed.

 

11:10 p.m. There being no further business, Steve Mellington adjourned the meeting.

o Mellington motioned to adjourn; Helton second.

 

APPROVED BY:  Steve Mellington, Chair, Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council
June 16, 2005

- Minutes provided by Karen M. Eller, BLM Tonopah Field Station

 

Attachments:
(1) Ely Field Office Manager’s Report
(2) Battle Mountain Field Office Field Manger’s Report
(3) Lincoln County Water Pipeline Applications
(4) Interagency Volunteer Program Initiative