From The Sublime to the Surreal – East of Joshua Tree National Park
Energy proposals have run amok in the Chuckwalla Valley. This almost seems like a fairy tale from the Dark Side, with Joshua Tree National Park and Desert Communities hanging in the balance. All in one community about 24,000 acres of solar panels on BLM lands, a hydro-electric pumped storage project, and the World’s largest garbage dump.

The Eagle Crest Energy Company (ECEC) is a planning to pump ground water from designated water wells in the Chuckwalla Valley to the massive east pit at Kaiser's old mine to be stored until low peak energy times when the water will be pumped to Kaiser's Central Pit. When electricity demands are at peak times, the water in the central pit is released through huge tunnels heading to the east pit, where very large underground turbines will spin, creating electricity. How much water you ask? According to the Pre-Application Document Volume I (“PDA”), the energy company will have to initially pump 6 BILLION 500 MILLION GALLONS OF CHUCKWALLA VALLEY AQUIFER. These numbers are simple arithmetic, to wit; the upper reservoir capacity is 20,000 acre feet (af) of water. An af is roughly 325,000 gallons of water. Just multiply the two. The company indicated it will use 2,300 af of water yearly to make up for evaporation and seepage. If approved, it would be constructed under the massive Eagle Mountain dump if the 9th Circuit reverses the lower court’s ruling. ECEC convened its first formal meeting with stakeholders on April 8th per FERC requirements. See : www.eaglemountainenergy.us for more info and to comment.

Of the solar projects, a company named OptiSolar is the furthest in the process. There is very sketchy information on this as the BLM will not provide information requested by FOIA. We do know Kaiser is partners with them to provide water. The panels will abut Joshua Tree National Park.

No community or National Park should have to absorb this abuse.

Economic Benefits of Wilderness
Rural communities are well aware of the economic benefits touted by extractive industries: mining, ranching, and off-road recreation. The benefits that are available from preserving the natural and wild character of a landscape are less well known. The Wilderness Society recently (2007) completed a study of benefits which the Carrizo Plain National Monument offers to its neighbors - Kern, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Tourism is an obvious source of income for neighboring cities. Although more subtle, the proximity of the national monument increases property values, encourages businesses to locate in the area, and draws retirees to settle nearby. Trends in population, incomes, visitation, employment, and quality of live indices are presented in support of the conclusion. While the study is specifically concerned with the Carrizo Plain, the message has implications for conservation efforts throughout the southern California deserts and beyond.

A copy of the full report, “The Carrizo Plain National Monument: A Stunning Natural Area Sustaining Vibrant Communities,� is available in pdf format on the Wilderness Society Web site at www.wilderness.org.

Nevada Wilderness
The Nevada Wilderness Coalition, which includes the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, the Nevada Wilderness Project, and Red Rock Audubon, is now working on getting wilderness designation for qualified areas in Lyon, Mineral, and Esmeralda Counties.

No legislation has been written yet, but the Coalition has been meeting with the staff of Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, the County Commissioners, business interests, ranchers, and other constituents to put together a proposal. Fact sheets and maps are being prepared for the general public. Participants in Nevada are excited about the great opportunity to add some wonderful new wilderness to our present 3.5 million acres.

Desert Cleanup in Surprise Canyon
Although the future of Surprise Canyon in the Panamint Mountains remains contentious, a large and varied group was in recent agreement concerning the need to remove trash and restore a historic camp at the mouth of the Canyon. On February 2nd environmentalists, off-road enthusiasts, members of the Student Conservation Association, and BLM staff worked for a second time to clean the area and to remove trashed vehicles and other debris from the historic Chris Wicht camp. While a few remaining items will require a Hazmat team for removal, the project is otherwise complete.

Nevada’s Piece of the Grand Canyon Puzzle
The Gold Butte complex is located between the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument. It is recognized as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) for sensitive species and increasingly threatened cultural resources. Overlooked in the 2002 Clark County bill, Gold Butte is now a destination for off road recreation. There is insufficient law enforcement and management for the high number of visitors. The result is increasing off road damage, vandalism, theft of cultural resources, and degradation of habitat.

National Conservation Area (NCA) designation is being sought to protect Gold Butte’s resources and bring the rural communities together in stewardship. NCA with Wilderness designation will provide a clear management plan, education, and encourage non-motorized recreation.

The Friends of Gold Butte conducts meetings in Las Vegas and Mesquite and leads monthly service trips and hikes. The Nevada Wilderness Project also leads wilderness value hikes into Gold Butte’s backcountry and continues to work with the BLM on management issues. Please express your concern for Gold Butte to Nevada Congressional delegates Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter. More information is available at www.wildnevada.org or email nancy.hall@wildnevada.org.

Geothermal Leasing in Imperial County
On February 1 2008, The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management has noticed the Availabiliy of the Final EIS for the Truckhaven Geothermal leasing area, which encompasses approximately 14,731 acres of Federal land in western Imperial County, CA, north of State Route 78 and generally west and south of County Highway S-22. The area is part of the California Desert Conservation Area. The main issues addressed in the Final EIS are geothermal resource leasing, recreation, and special status species. Three alternatives were analyzed in the Final EIS: (1) No action, which would not lease any geothermal resources; (2) leasing only lands with existing noncompetitive lease applications; and (3) the proposed action, which would offer all BLM managed lands within this area for lease, subject to certain stipulations and mitigation measures.

The most likely foreseeable development scenario projects a potential for two 25-Megawatt geothermal power plants, with a total surface disturbance of 502.25 acres of the 14,731 acres proposed for leasing. The FEIS can be viewed at Imperial County EIS Web site: http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro. The BLM will issue a “Record of Decision� 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. FOR FURTHER IINFORMATION CONTACT: John Dalton, Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area EIS Project Manager:(951) 691-5200, john_dalton@ca.blm.gov.