Resource Advisory Council members present and category represented:
Marta Agee Ranching/Grazing
Kenny Anderson Native American
Joni Eastley Elected Official
Jerry Helton Transportation/Row
Dr. John E. Hiatt Wildlife
Mark N. Ioli Mineral Development
Robert Maichle Environment
Steve Mellington Public at Large (Chair)
William Mull Ranching/Grazing
Claire Toomey Permitted Recreation
John Weisser Dispersed Recreation
Billie Young Wild Horse & Burro

 

Resource Advisory Council members absent:
Dr. Colleen Beck Archeology/Historic
Dr. Steve Parker Academic/UNLV 

Bureau of Land Management representatives present:
Stephanie Connolly BLM Ely Field Office Associate Field Mgr
Karen M. Eller BLM Tonopah Field Station Admin. Support Assistant
William Fisher BLM Tonopah Field Station Mgr
Chris Hanefeld BLM Ely Field Office PAO
Helen Hankins Acting Mgr Las Vegas Field Office
Angie Lara BLM Las Vegas Field Office Assoc. Mgr
Jo Simpson BLM NV Chief of Communications
Susanne Rowe BLM Las Vegas Field Office archeologist
Robert Wandel Outdoor Recreation Planner, LVFO

 

U.S. Forest Service representatives present:
Tim Short USFS Spring Mountain NRA District Ranger

Public Attendees:
Michael Delee Amargosa Valley resident
Ed Dodrill President S. NV Region Trails
Greg Hanes University of Nevada-Reno
George Phillips COHORT

 

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.

 

- A quorum present, Chairperson Steve Mellington called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.

 

8:15 a.m. Ely RMP/EIS Update, Stephanie Connolly, Associate Field Manager, BLM Ely Field Office:
Connolly provided the RAC with a brief update on the Ely RMP/EIS. Connolly said the draft EIS should go out to the public in July 2005.

 

8:20 a.m. Logandale Trails, Robert Wandel, BLM Las Vegas Field Office outdoor recreation planner:
Wandel provided the RAC a brief update on the Logandale Trail.

Fisher asked if the public was still using outdated maps. Wandel said yes, but BLM was not encouraging it. No signage has been put up marking closed trails.

Maichle asked if there were any one-way trails. Wandel said no, adding that BLM intends to make one trail a one-way trail.

Hiatt said he was appalled at the treatment of the area. Hiatt said that BLM was allowing Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) to destroy the site. Toomey asked Hiatt where he would place OHVs. Hiatt said BLM needs to find a location that could be a "sacrifice area". He had no suggestions as to where.

Anderson asked about the Native American bodies (what was done with them). Robert and Susanne stated that they were taken care of in the proper manner.

Maichle stated that the area needs to be limited for OHV users. He suggested making the area an educational area instead, based on its history.

Wandel stated that BLM and OHV groups have come to a compromise on areas that will be off-limits for off road vehicles.

Lara stated this was a good example of a project that moved faster than it should have.

Young asked if any consideration has been given to the Native Americans of doing their own interpretation in dealing with this area. Agee asked how much of the area the Native American community desires to have excluded.

 

8:40 a.m. OHV Outreach, Robert Wandel, BLM Las Vegas Field Office outdoor recreation planner:

Wandel provided the RAC with a brief presentation on OHV outreach, including:

o The Conservation Initiative.

o Inventory BLM FWS axis roads trails. Park services roads as well. Taking giant inventory to create maps that can be given to people with current roads. Map production is the most important.

o Short term OHV outreach & awareness for four agencies to come together & distribute maps. Media is being used to get the message out.

o Long term – get the word out on how to deal with OHV & where they can ride.

o The BLM Las Vegas Field Office is conducting meetings with OHV groups to find parallel way of doing business, including asking the public to provide BLM with suggestions.

o Fisher asked if the road inventory was going to include Nye County. Wandel said no.

o Toomey pointed out the difficulties of riding horses over trails used by motorized vehicles as well as bicycles because of the ruts and moguls produced.

o Maichle stated that they are working on public scoping meetings to designate trails for different uses.

o Connolly said that Reno, Nev., has a "know, before you go" program that allows people to select their preferred experience. She said that brochures explain which trials are open to what activities. Also, signage has been placed at each trailhead, she said.

- Mellington recessed the meeting at 9 a.m., reconvening at 9:15 a.m.

 

9:15 a.m. Site Stewardship, Susanne Rowe, BLM Las Vegas Field Office archeologist:

Rowe provided the RAC a brief update on site stewardship, including:

o The objectives, i.e., training volunteers, increasing public knowledge, and increasing program efficiency.

o The goal of COHORT, a non-profit organization assisting with the site stewardship program (Rowe was assisted by George Phillips, a member of COHORT).

o Hiatt said law enforcement must be involved in the program for it to be successful.

o Lara said several agencies have already hired law enforcement officers. She said BLM is requesting an additional law enforcement position.

o Weisser voiced concern about the public removing items from the site(s). Rowe responded that BLM has a No Removal policy.

 

9:35 a.m. Wild Horse Issues, Billie Young, Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council:

Young provided the RAC a brief update on the Burns Amendment and Wild Horse Sale Authority, including:

o A meeting in January 2005 of wild horse advocate-type organizations and individuals. Young said numerous working groups evolved from the meetings. She said specific details are available on the Internet at www.aowha.org.

o Ioli asked if any thought has gone into trying other ways to adopt horses. Young said that several ideas have been presented in the past, but have not evolved due to federal bureaucracy. Maichle said that he sees the same problem with dogs and cats. If there is no other alternative you have got to euthanize.

o Young said a pilot project is underway to conduct outreach-type adoptions with horses that have had 30-60 days prison gentling. She said that the prison gentling program is very successful and suggested expanding the program. She said the program dramatically lowers some restrictions. A brief discussion ensued. Agee said prison-type programs might open the door to adopting previously un-adoptable wild horses.

o Hankins suggested that the agencies consider all wild horses, not just horses in holding facilities. Hankins said that every BLM field office in Nevada will have established Appropriate Management Level (AML) on their Herd Management Areas (HMA) by the end of 2005.

o Mellington proposed obtaining a report from the BLM and scheduling the item on a future RAC agenda.

o Connolly and Lara said that BLM is working on an adoption strategy.

9:50 a.m. Forest Service Update, Tim Short, District Ranger, Spring Mountains NRA:

o Winter recreation is becoming an issue with increased visitation.

o The ski area is planning to expand its snow-making ponds, placing them in a lower parking lot.

o A second avalanche has damaged the main ski lift so that it cannot be used for the remainder of the season.

o The Forest Service is implement the signed OHV decision.

o The Forest Service is becoming more active in the area of Pahrump, Nev., and focusing on developing recreational opportunities on the so-called west side.

o The Forest Service is developing on a fuels treatment project.

o Fisher invited Short to attend the next meeting of the Nye County Commission, and Austin/Tonopah Ranger District.

 

11 a.m. Public Comment Period

 

11:05 a.m. Field Manager’s Reports:

BLM Las Vegas Field Office, Helen Hankins, acting Field Manager; and Angie Lara, Associate Field Manager:

Hankins provided the RAC a brief verbal update on BLM Las Vegas Field Office programs and/or issues, including:

Las Vegas Wash: Hankins said a representative from a San Bernardino, Calif., museum, located in the wash more than 400 sites above and beyond what was previously recorded. She said this so-called "river of animals" is an important site for paleontologists. She was supported by Greg Hanes, of the University of Nevada-Reno. Hiatt asked what agency Hankins would recommend take responsibility for the site. Hankins responded that the site should be managed by multiple agencies, with the federal government taking the lead role. Dodrill asked if Hankins had attended any of the BLM open meetings held on the subject. Hanks responded that she had attended some of the meetings. Mellington suggested placing the item on a future Mojave-Southern RAC agenda. Young suggested the RAC consider writing a letter of action on the issue. Connolly asked if the site should be nominated for SNPLMA funding. Hankins said that it might be considered for SNPLMA Round 7.

Lara provided the RAC a brief update on SNPLMA, telling the RAC that the BLM is not allowed to expend SNPLMA funds outside Clark County, but that the Forest Service and National Park Service can.

BLM Ely Field Office, Stephanie Connolly, Associate Field Manager (see attachment 1):

BLM Battle Mountain Field Office, Bill Fisher, Tonopah Field Station Manager: (see attachment 2):

 

11:50 a.m. Steve Mellington, Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council chairperson, told the RAC that he has received a letter from the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association requesting that permittees be notified prior to BLM tours occurring on their allotment(s) and that they be invited to accompany the tour. The RAC unanimously agreed to the request and will send a written response to the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

 

11:55 Public Comment (re-opened)

Michael Delee, of the Amargosa Valley, voiced concern about water issues in the valley. He also asked about the possibility of improving the Sand Dune site, e.g., concession stand(s), restrooms and other recreation-type facilities. Delee also said that he would like to see BLM deed roads to counties instead of providing the counties with Rights-of-Way (ROW).

 

- There being no further business, Mellington adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.

 

APPROVED BY:  Steve Mellington, Chair. Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council

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

 

Attachments:
BLM Ely Field Manager’s report
BLM Battle Mountain Field Manager’s report