Public land users split over Bryan’s Black Rock Desert plan

Martin Griffith

Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 | 4 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Sen. Richard Bryan's proposal to protect the Black Rock Desert is drawing mixed reactions from public land users and a variety of critics are already organizing opposition.

Conservationists and history buffs are embracing his proposal to protect a historic covered-wagon trail corridor and parts of nearly a dozen adjoining Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas.

But ranchers, off-road vehicle enthusiasts and hunters have come out against the plan, saying they fear they could lose their access to the region known for its sprawling ancient dry lakebeds, multicolored mountains and sheer-walled canyons.

"With visitor numbers to the area growing exponentially, it is clear we have to come up with a plan to properly protect this area for future generations," said Bryan, who plans to introduce the bill next month.

Bryan's release of the proposed legislation Thursday touched off these developments:

- A coalition of users calling itself the Public Lands Access Network will meet Saturday in Reno to discuss its strategy to fight the plan.

- Burning Man leaders plan to meet with Bryan's staff to ensure continued access to the Black Rock Desert for their counter-culture festival.

- Some opponents of the plan say the Nevada Mining Association has reached a deal with Bryan to support it, but association leaders insist they have taken no stance yet.

Conservationists and history buffs support Bryan's plan to create a 600,000-acre National Conservation Area along the Applegate-Lassen Trail, saying it would help preserve the wildest remaining 19th century trail in the West.

Plans call for the NCA to stretch 120 miles from near Lovelock - where the trail branched off the main California Trail - to Long Valley near Cedarville, Calif.

To give future visitors a chance to see the same sights as the pioneers, conservationists are urging Bryan to designate 684,000 acres in adjoining wilderness study areas as wilderness. Bryan has provided no specific acreage figures yet.

"We're very encouraged by his effort," said Anne Martin of the Friends of Nevada Wilderness. "Our proposal would protect the wild character of the area and keep it the way the pioneers saw it."

The Oregon-California Trails Association supports the wilderness designation for the same reason, spokesman Chuck Dodd said.

"This is the best place in the country to recreate the emigrant experience," he said. "We can still go along the trail and see what they saw 150 years ago and we want to protect that."

But other users, including ranchers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts, said they fear Bryan's plan would lead to grazing restrictions and road closures.

"I could cite case after case where NCAs take multiple use out of the picture," said rancher John Estill, who plans to attend opponents' Saturday meeting in Reno. "In eight existing NCAs, grazing has either been completely eliminated or curtailed."

Humboldt County Commissioner Buster Dufurrena questioned the need for the plan.

"Do you see where any damage has been done to the desert?" he asked. "The desert is a very self-healing area ... Rain and wind erase any sign of humans. If you close any roads, it will cut access."

Burning Man founder Larry Harvey also expressed concerns, saying the site he wants for this year's festival would fall in the proposed NCA.

"I would very much like to believe what they say - that we can still hold it out there - but we don't want to end up where we're found to be in conflict with the main intent of the NCA," he said.

Bryan press secretary said Dave Lemmon said the legislation calls for the BLM to continue managing the area for multiple use.

The proposal would ban new mining and geothermal activity, but would allow grazing, off-road travel and the Burning Man festival. Only a few roads would be closed to protect the trail, he said.

Estill said the Nevada Mining Association has agreed to support the bill, but group leaders denied that.

"We support much of the concept of protecting the historic area and even beyond that," said Russell Fields, association president. "But until we see the boundaries, we're really not ready to comment."

The association's opposition derailed a similar protection plan by Bryan in 1993.