Just wanted to remind everyone that the schedule of meetings are still a go and have not been rescheduled.
I still plan on attending the San Diego Meeting.



==============================================

News Release
For Release: June 11, 2002
Contact: Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220; E-MAIL: dasanche@ca.blm.gov
</ym/Compose?To=dasanche@ca.blm.gov>
CA-610-02-61

BLM Schedules Public Meetings to Prepare Draft EIS

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled five public scoping
meetings to gather public comments and recommendations on the preparation of
draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and proposed amendment to the
1980 California Desert Conservation Area Plan that will establish or revise
off-highway vehicle route designation for Surprise Canyon, located in the
Panamint Mountains in Inyo County, CA.

Each meeting will include two sessions that will be held from 3:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

<b>
July 29
Desert Empire Fairgrounds
Mesquite Hall
530 South Richmond Road
Ridgecrest, CA. 93555

July 30
Doubletree Hotel
3100 Camino Del Rio Court
Bakersfield, CA. 93308

July 31
Boulder Creek RV Resort Clubhouse
2550 South Highway 395
Lone Pine, CA. 93545

August 5
Sheraton Pasadena Hotel
303 East Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

August 6
Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
901 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, CA. 92108

</b>
The Draft EIS will evaluate a full range of alternatives regarding access
into the Surprise Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Upon
completion of the EIS and decision processes, BLM will issue a Record of
Decision that will amend the 1980 California Desert Conservation Area Plan.

Written comments will be accepted through Friday, August 30, 2002. Comments
should be mailed Hector Villalobos, Field Manager, Bureau of Land
Management, 300 South Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

For more information contact the BLM Ridgecresst Field Office at (760)
384-5400.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office - 6221 Box Springs Blvd, Riverside,
California - (909) 697-5220

==============================================

I will be at the Pasadena gathering.

shit i just realized i have a dentist appointment for the day of the SD meeting. Time to call and reschedule. The teeth can wait a few days, our trails cant.

Dallas

Make sure you read the biologists report (the link is from a post on the Landuse forum).

here is a page that has some info of the enviro work being done at surprise canyon

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/d...prise%20cyn.htm



Happy Trails!

More to read (these folks have been busy)

The full Surprise Canyon report html address.

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/reports/surprise%20cyn.htm


The greater project:

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/


The listing of projects:

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/contents.htm


The researchers holistic motivation:

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/holistic.htm

"Our goals, in short, include discovering this power of awareness that things (natural processes, peoples’ values) are interconnected,
seeing the beauty in this natural world that is so complex yet observable, and attempting to pass on to others this way of perception,
namely that everyone has the power to become aware of the complex beauty of the web of life and their own relationship to it. The
methods by which this power is gained are collaboration with our fellows, patience, openness, the ability to listen and the ability to
communicate, which we strive to do in our relations with friends and family, as well as those we work with and meet along the way."



Where OHV is mentioned:

http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/elgaria/project.htm

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Elgaria panamintina is known from less than three dozen
specimens drawn from 27 remote localities, associated with montane pinion
juniper woodlands, talus slopes, and desertoriparian habitats. Much of its
ecogeographical distribution, phylogeography, genetics, life history and
conservation status remain unknown. Because a majority of known sites are on
private lands, the risk of habitat degradation is high and may include water
diversion, water pollution associated with mining, OHV damage to vegetation,
and overgrazing. Furthermore, the habitats of E. panamintina are "sky
islands", glaciopluvial refugia, harboring many regional endemics: amphibians
(including toads related to FWS nominated Bufo nelsoni), reptiles (including
the FWS nominated Gila Monster) bird, arthropod, and plant taxa. A better
understanding of E. panamintina could provide insights to the management of
the entire biodiverse refugia in which they occur.

Having the potential "threat" of "OHV" in the RESEARCH OBJECTIVE should provide a clue of the predisposed direction of the research...

Any Biologists out there that can help?

Happy Trails!

http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-31-09.html

BLM CLOSES SURPRISE CANYON TO OFF ROAD VEHICLES

SURPRISE CANYON, California, May 31, 2001 (ENS) - The unique, lush
riparian habitats of the Surprise Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern
were protected this week when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a
protective closure notice.

The protective measures to ban motor vehicle use in the canyon will remain in
effect at least until the BLM completes its National Environmental Policy Act
and California Desert Conservation Area Plan amendment processes. The
vehicle closures may remain in place for good, as permanent protection of
Surprise Canyon will be a top option considered by BLM.

For years, the BLM allowed unregulated off road vehicles in Surprise Canyon to
winch up waterfalls, cut native vegetation and spill oil and gas into the water. In
its closure notice, the BLM states, "The canyon riparian zone currently does not
meet the BLM's minimum standards for a properly functioning riparian system
due to soil erosion and streambed alterations caused by off highway vehicle
use."

This conservation action arises from a settlement between the Center for
Biological Diversity, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the
Sierra Club to protect the California Desert Conservation Area.

"Protecting Surprise Canyon guards the essence of biological diversity in the
California Desert," said Daniel Patterson, a desert ecologist at the Center for
Biological Diversity. "Surprise Canyon is a crown jewel desert riparian area and it
will now be allowed to thrive, and be sustainably enjoyed by people, without the
constant attack and pollution of off roading."

Surprise Canyon, adjacent to Death Valley National Park, is an important habitat
and water source for wildlife in this arid part of California. It is known to harbor
the rare native Panamint alligator lizard and is potential habitat for endangered
birds such as the Southwestern willow flycatcher and Least Bell's vireo.

More information on the California Desert Conservation Area is available at:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/goldenstate/cdca/index.html

http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/ActionAlert.asp?strAction=link&lngAlertID=166&G=1

Keep ORVs out of Death Valley's Surprise Canyon

Posted: June 21, 2002

Off-roading is extremely harmful to highly sensitive desert riparian areas. Nevertheless
the Bureau of Land Management is considering whether to allow the activity in
Surprise Canyon, a California desert valley that includes a rare desert stream that flows
from Death Valley National Park. You can save the canyon from this onslaught by
taking action by August 6.

Surprise Canyon's perennial stream, in the Panamint Range of Inyo County, California
flows gracefully from Death Valley National Park down to the Bureau of Land
Management's Surprise Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern within the
California Desert Conservation Area. This desert stream is home to many rare and
endangered species, including the Least Bells vireo and Panamint alligator lizard. It is
also a mecca for extreme off-roading, which damages the riparian environment and
wilderness experience it offers to visitors.

Extreme off-roading involves highly modified 4x4s winching up waterfalls and riders
chainsawing big riparian trees, spilling oil and gas into streams, scarring the slickrock
with black skid marks, and in other ways ruining highly sensitive landscape.

Surprise Canyon was closed to off-road vehicle use in Spring 2001, thanks to a lawsuit
settlement filed under the California Desert Conservation Act. This is a significant
victory, and we need your help to hold on to it. The Bureau of Land Management is
preparing an environmental impact statement to decide future vehicle use in Surprise
Canyon. You have an opportunity to stop off-roading before it starts again.

Take Action! You can help protect Death Valley's Surprise Canyon from motorized
abuse in two ways:
1. Please personalize the letter below to let the BLM know you don't want Surpise
Canyon to be reopened to damaging ORV use.
2. California residents: Make your voice heard at a public comment hearing. Keep
damaging off-road vehicles out before they get in.