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In Attendence:
12 members
Officers:
- President – Pat Schmid
- Vice President – Oz Cheek
- Treasurer – Chris McMillen
- Secretary - Doug Holcomb
- Directors - Trona Holcomb, Nate Littrell
Douglas Co. Lands Bill
Last month Doug Holcomb and Pat Schmid had a meeting with The Coalition for Public Access, Douglas Co. Commissioner Doug Johnson
were we on a conference call with a staffer from Congressman Dean Heller's office to discuss the wliderness area being proposed
as a part of a possible Douglas County Lands Bill. The goal of the Lands Bill is to maintain open space along the Carson River
corredir. To acheive this goal Douglas Co. will need to aquire the rights to various pacels of BLM and USFS lands, that would then
be sold or swapped with other individuals. Without being told how it woulkd help maintain open space along the Carson River, the
Lands Bill would be used to grant two parcels of land to the Washoe Tribe: one parcel on the east side of the river just south of
Indian Dam that would be used by the tribe to perform rite of passage ceremonies; and one parcel at the north end of the valley
along the river opposite the Topsy Lane shopping center.
Our Congressional Delegation has told Douglas Co. that the Lands Bill must include a wilderness component. Possible
components could include designation of wilderess areas US 50 and Kingsbury Grade, the designation of the Carson River from Indian
Dam south to the Califormia State Line as a wild and scenic river (the river is designated as a wild and scenic in California) or
the Burbank Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Heller's office told us the bill would need to include a wilderness proposal if it was to
pass in congress. Doug Johnson told us that it was not acceptable to the county to designate the Carson River as being wild and
scenic, nor would it be acceptable to designate any wilderness areas along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Doug honestly admitted that since
the Burbank Canyon was already a WSA the county thought it was a slam dunk to make this area wilderness.
The Coalition for Public Access explained that designatiing this area as wilderness would not work. First there is a private air
strip at the mouth of Burbank Canyon and that the wilderness area overflight restrictions would make this airstip unusable, that
it would prevent take offs and landings. There is also the problem with this WSA bordering on private lands in Smith Valley. It
would also create conflicts with existing grazing rights held on the eastern side of the PIne Nut Mountains. Doug and Pat added the
comment that designating the Burbank WSA as a wilderness area was counter to Senate Joint Resolution 2, passed in the 2009 Nevada
Legislative Session. The BLM had already determined this area did not qualify for wilderness designation and that SJR2 has
instructed our Congressional Delegation to work for the release of this WSA. Heeler's office and Douglas Co. were then informed
the Coaliation for Public Access, the Pine Nut Mountains Trail Association and the Sierra Stompers were united in their opposition
to any Douglas Co. Lands Bill that included designation of a wilderness area in the Pine Nut Mountains. In our opinion, if we
allowed the designation of the Burbank WSA as a wilderness area that within a couple of years the extreme evironmental groups would be
asking for the closure of Red Canyon and Rickey Canyon Roads to protect the wilderness area.
Congressman Heller's office said this could be prevented, that the bill would include wording that would keep these roads open. When
asked how this wording would prevent a future bill from enlarging the wilderness and closing these roads Heller's office answered that
as long as Heeler was a congressman he would not let this happen, which wormy wording for the Lands Bill could not prevent this from
happening. Then we were told that by supporting a Burbank Canyon Wilderness area we could make a groups stronger. Our answer was that
our groups had all voted to oppose any wilderness desigation, how could we as elected representatives give our support? To do so would
destroy our organizations, not make them stronger.
We need to keep our eye on how this proposal progresses.
Grant with Great Basin Institute
We reviewed the money breakdown for the grant. After looking at what Americorps will receive for the labor of putting up the new
kiosks, gateway signs and flexible road markers we decided we need to talk to Dave. For the next grant, the one that finish marking
the major routes, we want the PNMTA to be providing that labor so we can roll the money back into other projects.
Pine Nut Mountains Travel Plan
Doug Holcomb meet with Arthur Calan the BLM, the Dave Mensing from the GBI. They toured the east side of the Pine Nut Mountains.
They were looking for possible staging areas, places to locate kiosks and gateway signs, as well as to give Dave a looksee at
what is out there. Discussions continued on using the 2010 travel Plan to indicate all existing trails are opened unless marked
closed. Arthur also mentioned that the Pine Nut Mountains could be designated as a OHV area, used to attract outside tourism to
help the local economy. We are still looking for people to take a major role in working with the BLM and Dave Mensing on the
Travel Plan.
The locked gate on Buckeye Rd
No new incidents have been reported to any of the members present. Pat had some general info about the lock being a combination
with BIA, Sheriff, SAR, BLM, etc having the combination. Also heard that SAR always includes Washoe Tribe Deputies when called out
into the Pine Nuts because of confrontations with local tribal members. Indian Joe apparently claims to be the caretaker of some
adjoining parcels. The up to date info must be out there, just need more digging to find it. Anyone with any concrete info on
confrontations, or parcel ownership, contact Pat.
Blue Ribbon Coalition
The BRC monthly magazine will be published online. The paper edition is being discontinued to fuinnel more money into the legal
fights to keep public lands open for motorized recreation. As the online edition begins we will set up a web page to link to
the various articles. Once again we whole heartedly recommend everyone who has not joined, to join the BRC.
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