Why Do Fieldwork?
People often ask why do fieldwork, haven't the agencies that manage our public lands done that already? Well yes, and no. Our federal land managers have in fact "inventoried" our public lands for their wilderness potential. But they did it in some rather odd ways. The BLM for instance "inventoried" millions of acres of our public lands without ever going out on the land! Then, when they felt they had a good handle on things, they "inventoried" the rest with camera and notebook in hand. This time they actually went to the locations they were talking about. A great start (?), but hold on. In some cases they must not have gotten very far out of the truck or actually looked up from their boots, because they missed some pretty interesting things. Take the case of an area that has a few Joshua Trees in it. Well, let's be honest and say the area has thousands of Joshua Trees, some over 30feet tall and over 300 years old. Kind of hard to miss a forest of thirty foot tall, very old trees with daggers for leaves, don't you think?

The Story
The BLM engaged in an Initial Inventory of our public lands starting in 1978. This was the "inventory" that took place from the office and dropped millions of acres from further Wilderness review. According to the BLM, the inventory went like this: "Based on existing information, take an initial look at the public lands and determine which obviously and clearly do NOT meet the mandated Wilderness criteria." This statement of agency direction alone should cause you to wonder about what "obviously" and "clearly" mean, especially when those statements come from any agency that several years earlier had to be forced to actually do this wilderness inventory!

The remaining areas were then "intensively inventoried" (Intensive Inventory). According to the BLM: "All the remaining lands are intensively field surveyed to determine if they contain the wilderness characteristics described in the Wilderness Act. If wilderness characteristics do exist, the areas are designated Wilderness Study Areas. If they do not exist, the areas area removed from any further study and all wilderness related management restrictions imposed by law are lifted."

So that is how the BLM largely came up with the current system of Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs). Oh, by the way, this all took place in less than two years. Yes, almost every acre of BLM land in Nevada was "inventoried" for wilderness qualities in less than two years. They must have been quite busy. The problem is that they missed some areas, well quite a few areas, well how about millions of acres!

Now back to the Joshua Trees. Today, Wee Thump-Joshua Tree Forest Wilderness is a jewel in the National Wilderness Preservation System. It was never a WSA. It came about because people cared and then cared enough to ask the tough questions and to take the time to do a real field inventory. While this area was part of the BLM Initial Inventory (it "passed") and then went on to the Intensive Inventory (it "failed") remember the one that says, "Intensively field surveyed to determine...", it is a classic case of missed opportunities.

Remember all those amazing trees, the forest in southern Nevada's Mojave Desert? Well, to many folks who know the area, it is one of the most unique and inspiring landscapes in a state with many areas that fit that bill. To some the area rivals that Joshua Tree forests of a certain well-known National Park in California! To the BLM it was just another area to intensively inventory.

In an otherwise short report on the area, the BLM described the area in the following way:

" J. General vegetation and topographic features: The primary vegetation consists of scattered low-growing desert shrubs and grasses. The topography of the area is flat sloping valleys and alluvial fans with gently rolling hills." (BLM, "Wilderness Inventory Situation Evaluation", Inventory Unit NV-050-046-19)

Now how would you describe the area after viewing the following photos?

If the BLM can miss the forest AND the trees, what else are they missing?

Conclusion
It's simple really, you CAN make a difference. This spectacular area, home to gilded flicker, rattlesnake, coyote, desert tortoise, is now protected forever as Wilderness because we took the time to do our homework and do the fieldwork. This is just ONE example of the many special Nevada places that deserved to be given a thorough field inventory and analysis. It got that thorough inventory and is now recognized by Congress as one place in the 106 million acres in the nation that are called Wilderness. Our federal land managers did not make that happen, you did. It can be done again.

So what is fieldwork all about?
The gallery includes the best and the worst of what working in Nevada's backcountry can offer. Do you think you have what it takes, send us an email, to check on the status of work and where you might be able to help us. Volunteer opportunities are available, and limited term paid positions are also available at times.

You should have your own vehicle (4wd high clearance preferred, but not required), camera, and general backcountry/car camping gear. Patience and sense of humor are also required.

Fieldworkers have been at the forefront of the Wilderness resurgence in Nevada and across the West. The work is far from over however. As our friends and colleagues have traversed the great basin and range country of Nevada, they have had more than their fair share of "interesting" experiences and stories to tell. What might you see or hear in the wilds of Nevada?