News Release
For Immediate Release: July 21, 2003 CC2003-30
BLM Making Changes at Sand Mountain Recreation Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City Field Office, is taking emergency action pursuant to existing authority to protect and restore the sand dune ecosystem at Sand Mountain Recreation Area (SMRA) in Churchill County, Nevada, while allowing for the continued enjoyment by the public.

“While the Sand Mountain Recreation Area is not being closed, changes are being implemented due to increased disturbance of vegetation in the dune ecosystem from off-highway vehicle use,” said John Singlaub, BLM’s Carson City Field Office Manager. “The Sierra Front-Northwest Great Basin Resource Advisory Council, a 15-member, interdisciplinary group, unanimously passed a resolution last week that spells out short-term management actions and long-term planning efforts they would recommend that BLM implement at Sand Mountain.” We’re going to work on the ground with the Friends of Sand Mountain, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and other groups to make this work for everyone.”

Highlights of BLM’s actions will be to:

Continue to manage the Sand Mountain Recreation Area (SMRA) under the existing off road vehicle designations.

Develop programs and practices that encourage OHV users to prevent disturbance of Kearny Buckwheat habitat within and outside the SMRA. These actions will be implemented no later than August 30, 2003.

Begin efforts to restore and rehabilitate disturbed Kearny Buckwheat habitat within and outside the SMRA.

Identify existing disturbed travel routes through the Kearny Buckwheat habitat to connect OHV use areas within and outside the SMRA. Discourage OHV use in the habitat area outside these travel routes.

Continue scientific investigations into the Sand Mountain ecosystem, including studies of the natural history of the plants and animals, restoration techniques and monitoring technology.

Initiate a revised management plan for the Sand Mountain landscape to update the current Recreation Area Management Plan, reflecting the increasing amount and variety of uses and demands of the area.

Working closely with the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, develop management strategies for Sand Mountain that honor the spiritual values associated with the area, and that allow for appropriate uses of Sand Mountain by the Tribe consistent with their traditions. These strategies will be identified and implemented in the revised SMRA Management Plan.

These actions and the effects of these actions will be monitored by BLM and additional actions taken as needed to achieve these goals. The complete text of the Decision Document and RAC Resolution is attached, below.

For more information, please contact Elayn Briggs, BLM-Associate Field Manager, or Mark Struble, BLM-Public Affairs Officer, at (775) 885-6000.



More info:
http://www.nv.blm.gov/carson/News_Re...se_2003_30.htm

 

Why are these crybaby evaluations not going on where no-one rides? This is another step....these ego-***** will eventually have it all...I guarantee it. They will take a little at a time though, because there is no confrontation then.....we need too bad together like the NRA.....NO TOO EVERYTHING.