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Written by Jim Sloan
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Thursday, 10 November 2011 11:51 |
 Nevada’s Pine Forest Range and Gold Butte were among the 18 backcountry areas that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar highlighted today as deserving protection by Congress as national conservation areas or wilderness areas.
Nevada’s Congressional delegation teamed up last week to introduce a bill designating 26,000 acres of the Pine Forest Range as wilderness, and Salazar says it’s time that Gold Butte gets the same treatment as a conservation area with wilderness.
“We handpicked these areas because they’ve been under consideration for a long, long time and there is very little controversy over them,” Salazar said in a telephone press conference, which we sneaked into by flashing outdated press credentials.
The Nevada Wilderness Project even gets a mention in the report, put together by Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes and BLM Director Bob Abbey. We’re named as one of the “wide array” of organizations that support the designation. Also mentioned: Humboldt County Commission; Northern Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association, the Northern Nevada ATV Association, the Nevada Cattleman's Association, Trout Unlimited, Back Country Hunters and Anglers and Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
Nice to see that kind of diversity in a paragraph about wilderness supporters, don't you think?
The report also points out that the Clark County Commission supports the creation of a national conservation area and several wilderness designations in Gold Butte and notes that in 2008, this region was proposed for protection as part of the Gold Butte National Conservation Area and Wilderness Designation Act introduced by Rep. Shelly Berkley, D-Nev.
So, now is Gold Butte’s time. Write a letter or email to Rep. Joe Heck, whose district includes Gold Butte, and let him know how much you would like to see protection for this special area.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Wednesday, 09 November 2011 09:05 |
 We’ve read a lot recently about the “Gold Rush” of renewable energy projects being proposed for California and Nevada.
The Interior Department says it has already approved 20 renewable energy projects, including 13 solar plants, on public land in the West and expects to green-light an additional 14 projects in California, Nevada and Arizona next year alone.
Both Nevada and California have ambitious plans: California Gov. Jerry Brown wants to add 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the Golden State’s portfolio in the next eight to 10 years, and Gov. Brian Sandoval wants Nevada to to become a major solar and geothermal exporter. According to the Interior Department, developers are lining up to help Sandoval reach that goal; there are 25 applications for renewable energy projects pending for Nevada projects on public land.
Since all these Nevada projects are expected to generate way more power than Nevada needs – NV Energy has almost reached its goal of supplying 20 percent of all its energy needs from renewable sources – Sandoval figures his state can export juice next door to California, which is still a long way from its goal of getting 33 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020.
But there are a couple of niggling problems with that plan:
1.California wants to generate its own power. California has a lot of sunshine and a lot of open spaces, and Gov. Brown would like to keep the construction jobs that come with renewable energy development in California.
2.Only a few Nevada companies have successfully contracted with California utilities. Nevada and California haven’t really tried to create a strong network to move power across the state line. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been pushing Western states to plan out some regional transmission and remove other obstacles, like interstate tariffs, but that process is expected to take many years.
One exception is the Valley Electric Association in Pahrump, 60 miles north of Las Vegas. The small utility, formed in the 1960s to support irrigation efforts in the Pahrump and Amargosa valleys, only serves 17,000 customers, but some of its territory includes California.
Thanks to that quirk of geography, Valley Electric has been able to apply to become part of the California Independent System Operator Corporation, which governs the California energy transmission grid. If that application is approved by FERC, Valley Electric and solar power developers in that area of Nevada who work with the utility could find themselves with a nice, smooth paved road into the vast California market.
Valley Electric is already hearing from a lot of energy developers, the Las Vegas Sun reported recently. According to Valley CEO Thomas Husted, the utility’s list of future projects would generate twice the total output of the Hoover Dam.
Gold Rush, indeed.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Thursday, 03 November 2011 07:01 |
 All five members of Nevada’s Congressional delegation have joined together to introduce the Pine Forest Recreation Enhancement Act, which designates 26,000 acres in the northwestern Nevada Pine Forest Range as federally protected wilderness.
The bill still has to clear Congress, but with Nevada Democrats and Republicans both supporting the legislation, its passage is assured.
This is a great victory for Nevada conservation but also for the Nevada Wilderness Project. Our staff wildlife biologist,
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, has been working with various stakeholders in the Winnemucca area for several months to hammer out the agreement reflected in the Pine Forest Act.
“The process that led to this wilderness bill was unique,” Tanner said on Wednesday just minutes after the bill was introduced. “Folks from a variety of perspectives sat down together and came to complete agreement on permanently protecting one of Nevada’s most pristine areas.”
Indeed, the community-based efforts that led to this latest wilderness designation has been held up by Assistant Interior Secretary David Hayes as a prime example of how the process should work. Ranchers, hikers, anglers, miners and ATV enthusiasts worked together – poring over maps and taking field trips into the wilderness – to agree on the 26,000 acres that will now be protected.
This hard work wasn’t lost on recently elected Rep. Mark Amodei, the Nevada Republican whose district includes the Pine Forest Range north of Winnemucca.
“It's important to recognize that the Pine Forest Wilderness Act is a community-driven plan that represents the consensus of Humboldt County stakeholders on how to preserve this pristine wilderness while protecting and enhancing its historic uses,” Amodei said. “This model approach demonstrates that common sense solutions to our public land designations are possible when Nevadans have a seat at the table.”
Amodei was no doubt convinced of the importance of the Pine Forest Range by the dozens of letters he’s received in recent weeks from NWP members. The Nevada Wilderness Project led the writing campaign, and many, many supporters responded with letters and emails to Amodei.
The designated area embraces two adjoining wilderness study areas – the Blue Lakes region and the Alder Creek area. In addition, the Pine Forest Recreation Enhancement Act introduced Wednesday directs the Bureau of Land Management to exchange federal lands surrounding nearby ranches for private parcels within the designated wilderness area.
The Blue Lakes and Alder Creek areas were designated as Wilderness Study Areas by the BLM in 1980. Blue Lakes is a series of alpine depressions surrounded by limber and whitebark pine forests to create a habitat far different from surrounding ranges. Anglers hiking into the area enjoy fishing for rainbow, brook, cutthroat and tiger trout in one of Nevada’s best trout fisheries.The foothills of the Pine Forest Range back up to the Black Rock Desert, and its peaks climb to 9,000 feet. The highest mountain in the range is Duffer Peak South at 9,428 feet.
"Pine Forest is a special place," NWP Conservation Director
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said. "I don't think anyone would argue that protecting it is not the right thing to do."
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Written by Wild Nevada
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Friday, 28 October 2011 08:28 |
 The Interior Department has released a revised plan for “Solar Energy Zones” on public lands in six Western states, including Nevada, taking the Nevada Wilderness Project’s advice and dramatically scaling back the amount of land it has targeted for utility-scale solar energy developments.
The new plan announced Oct. 27 by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar reduces the number of solar zones in Nevada from seven to five and reduces the amount of acreage included in three of the five remaining zones in the Silver State.
Despite the reductions, Nevada still has more solar zones than most of the other states, including Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Nevada’s 60,400 acres of solar zones is second only to California’s 154,000 acres.
The Interior Department has its fingers crossed that developers of the scores of massive solar energy plants proposed in the West will spot their projects within these zones. Salazar says these zones have the fewest potential environmental and cultural conflicts, are already close to transmission lines and “make sense on a landscape level.” And since they’ve already been extensively studied, developers can save time and money by locating their projects in the zone.
During a telephone press conference, Salazar even adopted a term coined by the Nevada Wilderness Project, saying he thought solar projects opting to build within the solar zones would be “smart from the start.”
“We think locating these solar projects within these particular zones will minimize the effect on wildlife and public lands,” Salazar said. “We want them to be smart from the start.”
The two zones dropped in Nevada included the Delamar Valley zone east of Alamo and the East Mormon Mountain zone near Mesquite. This map shows the location and the original size of the original seven areas proposed for Nevada.
The 17 zones in the West have been carefully studied and reduced in size from 677,000 acres to 285,000 to minimize impacts to wildlife -- something NWP worked hard to ensure. There may be a need for additional zones in the future, Salazar said. “The idea is to encourage additional zones where appropriate,” Salazar said.
Salazar also left open the possibility that developers can make a case for locating a project outside the zones on private land or anywhere on the federal government’s 20 million acres in the West. We are hopeful the incentives to keep them in the zones and off of the other lands will be effective.The developers would have to conduct a battery of studies and deal with a lot of uncertainties – such as mitigation requirements – that have already been ironed out in the zones, so Salazar is hoping that will discourage any kind of solar sprawl.
But the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Interior has already approved 20 renewable energy projects, including 13 solar plants, on public land and another 79 are pending. Those proposed projects cover more than 600,000 acres. Interior officials expect to approve 14 more projects in California, Nevada and Arizona in 2012.
There are 25 applications pending for projects in Nevada covering more than 110,000 acres. All told, these projects could generate more than 6,600 megawatts of power a year.
NWP will continue to be actively involved in the siting and determination of which of these projects are smart from the start.
A lot of media covered Salazar’s press conference. Here are some links:
Build your big solar plant here, please
Feds tweak county's solar zone
Officials identify five prime Nevada areas for solar projects
If you want to read the supplement
Those looking to comment on the Department of the Interior's updated solar plan for public lands in California and other western states.
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Written by Wild Nevada
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Thursday, 27 October 2011 07:50 |
 The San Jose Mercury News has just published an in-depth story about the “energy sprawl” that is threatening California and Nevada desert lands.
Although the piece doesn’t mention the Nevada Wilderness Project, it does talk about “critics and grass-roots organizations” that want projects to be “smart from the start” – a term that the Nevada Wilderness Project coined.
‘Smart from the start’ describes renewable energy projects that are located on already-disturbed lands near existing transmission lines so as not to interfere with protected lands and wildlife habitat needs.
The story mentions some of our colleagues, including Solar Done Right and Defenders of Wildlife, who are concerned about certain solar projects that threaten desert tortoise, bighorn sheep and burrowing owls.
California under Gov. Jerry Brown wants to add 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy generation – a third of what California consumes – over the next eight to 10 years. Many of these projects are supported by billions from federal stimulus funds, and as of August there were 17 plants trying to wheedle permits out of the Bureau of Land Management in California alone.
One activist noted that there are so many proposals cropping up that it’s hard to keep track of them all.
The issue is that many of these projects are enormous and call for the clearing of thousands of acres of desert land. Although many of the projects include hefty budgets for land conservation and ongoing biological monitoring – something we at NWP support – the risk is that destructive projects will gain approval simply because:
1. Our country is so eager to wean itself from fossil fuel and use more solar power;
2. The construction of these massive plants create jobs, and politicians will do almost anything to create jobs; and
3. Most of the plants would be located in remote deserts that don’t get a lot of visitors to notice how damaging the plants can be to the landscape and its wildlife.
It’s reassuring that groups like Basin and Range Watch, Center for Biological Diversity, Solar Done Right and Defenders of Wildlife are helping us pay attention to these developments. Keeping track of the ramifications of this solar “Gold Rush” is not easy, but someone’s got to do it.
Photo: When completed, Ivanpah will be the largest plant of its kind in the world.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Tuesday, 25 October 2011 07:55 |
 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is giving citizens until Nov. 8 to comment on the proposed Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.
The USFWS is considering three alternatives, including two that call for the gradual removal of feral horses and burros, closing certain off-road routes and moving campgrounds out of riparian areas. Its preferred plan of action is to remove the horses and burros over the next five years in an effort to restore natural riparian areas that are being damaged by the non-native animals.
The Sheldon Wildlife Refuge is located in the northwest corner of Nevada, about 14 miles west of Denio. It covers more than a half million acres or rugged high-desert habitat that was set aside in the 1930s for the conservation of pronghorn antelope, scattered bands of bighorn sheep and a variety of other wildlife.
The landscape features narrow gorges, waterfalls, rolling countryside and large tracks of sagebrush and mountain mahogany steppes. It also contains the abandoned mining district of Virgin Valley, which still attracts rock hounds interested in finding fire opals, and forgotten homesteads falling into decay. Visitors also like to soak in the geothermal hot springs and take pictures of the more than 300 species of birds that spend at least part of the time there.
Sheldon and its sister refuge, the Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge to the north in Oregon, combine for a massive, unfragmented habitat – including some wilderness study areas – that are critical to combating the dangers of climate change. These sprawling landscapes can help mitigate the effects of climate change by providing more and better habitat for animals to migrate into. That’s one reason why its crucial that they be managed carefully.
A male pronghorn on the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge. (John Tull photo)
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Sunday, 16 October 2011 12:51 |
 There is a new video on YouTube about Gold Butte that gives a great overview of the area and some of the challenges it faces. The video, called "This is Gold Butte!" explores the history of the area, how it got its name from early gold miners and why now, long after the miners have left, the name still makes sense for this stunning area. The project includes interviews with Tom Cluff and Nancy Hall and some great still photography of the geology, petroglyphs (including those that have tragically been vandalized) and wildlife of the area.
It's not too late to write to your Nevada Congressman asking for legislation creating a Gold Butte National Conservation Area and Wilderness. We've posted a sample letter you can use to ask your federal lawmakers to protect this area.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Thursday, 13 October 2011 12:44 |
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 The Obama Administration wants to streamline the permit process for seven power transmission line projects, including one in Nevada.
The president’s goal is to boost the nation’s grid capacity but also create jobs. The projects are also supposed to make it easier to integrate renewable energy resources into the grid.
The new streamlined permitting system outlined last week by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar would supposedly benefit the Transwest Express transmission line, a 700-mile, 600-kilovolt conduit running through Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. That project – designed to carry power from new wind farms in Wyoming – is supposed to create up to 1,500 jobs.
It’s hard to find a point of contention in proposals that support renewable energy and create jobs, so the Salazar announcement didn’t get much traction during this season of presidential politics. But as more details come out about the streamlining of transmission lines in the West, let’s hope that sufficient thought is given to the impact these projects have on wild lands and wildlife habitat in the Great Basin and beyond.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 07:39 |
 September 24 is National Public Lands Day, and this is an excellent opportunity for you to urge your Congressional representatives to designate Gold Butte as a National Conservation Area with Wilderness.
Nevada has a new senator (former Rep. Dean Heller) and a new representative (Rep. Mark Amodei), and it’s important to help them understand that Nevada’s public lands are valuable resources that provide critical wildlife habitat and outstanding recreation, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and a lot more.
Remind Nevada’s representatives that Gold Butte protection has been endorsed by prominent local leaders – including Caesars Entertainment Group, the Clark County Commission, the Mesquite City Council and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians. Gold Butte provides recreation and tourism jobs and is increasingly important to the Southern Nevada economy.
Studies have shown that Western counties with protected public lands have greater success at attracting new business, new residents and tourists than areas without conservation areas or national monuments. These protected areas also help maintain property values.
But even without these economic benefits, Gold Butte would be worth further protection.
Located northeast of Las Vegas, Gold Butte is a 350,000-acre treasure trove of rare geologic formations, prehistoric rock art, historical mining districts and sensitive wildlife habitat for desert tortoise and dozens of other plant and animal species. The area contains two small areas of designated wilderness – Lime Canyon and Jumbo Springs – but there are large tracts of sensitive land that also deserve protection before their biological, cultural, scenic and historical qualities are compromised or lost.
So please write a letter or send an email to your Congressional representative today to express your support for designating Gold Butte as a National Conservation Area with Wilderness.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Tuesday, 13 September 2011 11:31 |
 Reno resident Jeneane Harter, a former chairwoman of Nevada Conservation League C-4 board of directors, has been named the new executive director of the Nevada Wilderness Project.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring on a person of Jeneane’s caliber to lead our efforts,” said NWP board chairwoman Debra Bookout in a press release issued today. “She truly understands how the intersection of wild lands and energy development in Nevada will be a critical issue in the coming years.”
While chair of the conservation league’s board, Harter helped lead a nonprofit organization that worked with public interest groups, businesses, labor organizations, government agencies and many others to promote sensible conservation policies through education and advocacy.
Harter is also the founder and president of HiTech Communications, which since 2002 has specialized in developing and communicating clean energy policies for a variety of clients, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the Nevada State Office of Energy and several Nevada cities and counties. She’s also served as a consultant to the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Task Force and as Wind Powering America’s Nevada representative.
Harter said she was drawn to the Nevada Wilderness Project’s “Smart from the Start” program, which advocates renewable energy projects that are sited on already-disturbed lands that have minimal value for wildlife and are near existing transmission lines. NWP launched its “smart from the start” program three years ago.
“I’ve always admired the approach NWP advocates because it mirrors my own beliefs about the right way to do renewable energy projects,” Harter said. “The Nevada Wilderness Project has worked to assemble a complex of wildlands that can one day become a mosaic of global significance. We need to protect that.”
Harter was selected to the executive director’s position after an exhaustive national search. Nevada Wilderness Project staff and its board of directors both unanimously endorsed Harter’s selection.
“Jeneane was clearly the best person for leading the Nevada Wilderness Project into the future,” said NWP Conservation Director John Tull. “She’s well-known throughout Nevada and has the respect and credibility needed to make sure we can reach our strategic goals. We’re excited to begin this new chapter at the wilderness project.”
Harter is a member of Sen. Harry Reid’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Energy, served on Gov. Jim Gibbons’ Renewable Energy Transmission Access Advisory Committee and sits on the Nevada Pinyon-Juniper Partnership steering committee. She also has extensive executive experience in the computer industry, holding various high-level positions in public education, marketing, licensing and communications.
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Written by Jim Sloan
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Wednesday, 07 September 2011 19:38 |
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 The New York Times reported today that Nevada’s Bureau of Land Management office has “apparently” forwarded to the Interior Department our recommendations that Gold Butte, Pine Forest and other areas in Nevada be designated as wilderness areas.
The Interior Department is considering more than a dozen areas in the West for wilderness designation, the highest protection Congress can give to public lands.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to submit his recommendations to Congress in mid-October, and the number and size of wilderness areas will be formally revealed at that time.
For 10 years now, the Nevada Wilderness Project has been working with a coalition of other conservation groups on getting Gold Butte designated as wilderness. The area is about 70 miles northeast of Las Vegas and home to bighorn sheep, Joshua trees, lofty ponderosa pines and ancient rock art. It’s a truly special place – and an economic driver for Nevada – that deserves the kind of protections that ensures it will always be there for hikers, hunters and wildlife.
Meanwhile, NWP staff biologist Gregg Tanner has been part of a working group considering whether parts of the Pine Forest Range in northwestern Humboldt County should be designated wilderness. Last year, the Humboldt County Commission unanimously supported a recommendation that Congress designate 27,000 acres of wilderness in the Pine Forest Range. Gregg and other members of the working group are already drafting language for the bill.
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