If the Nature Conservancy and the BLM plant ecologist for the area have their way, 1,000 acres at the Sand Mountain Recreation Area near Fallon, Nevada will be closed to OHV recreation to protect 5 plant species, 17 species of bees, 6 beetles, the Dune Honey Ant and the Blue Butterfly - none of which are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The biologists stated that many of these species are "only known to exist at Sand Mountain." No studies are available to prove that they exist only at Sand Mountain. Shades of Glamis!

ORBA President Denner, accompanied by attorney, Josh Mackenroth, attended a Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Meeting in Fallon to support Jon Crowley, President of Friends of Sand Mountain. Representatives from CORVA, BRC, Cal4WD and ASA were also present. After a presentation by the local BLM biologist showing that OHV use is destroying Sand Mountain (and probably the rest of the known universe), a tour of Sand Mountain was conducted to prove the point. The group was shown how OHV use is destroying the Kearney Buckwheat plant (an unlisted plant species) that is the habitat for the Blue Butterfly (an unlisted species). According to BLM manager Terry Reed, it is important that the BLM take action now (closures) to protect the butterfly so it doesn't get proposed for listing under the ESA. Mr. Reed is the ex-manager of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA - AKA Glamis).

Denner and Mackenroth made it clear to the BLM and the RAC that any closures that are proposed need to be supported by good, peer-reviewed, scientific evidence that the closures are necessary. Closures implemented because it "feels like the thing to do" will only result in legal action against the BLM.

At the end of the day it was decided that immediate closures would be premature. Instead, a sub-group was formed to evaluate the information available and make recommendations to the RAC - which would then make recommendations to the BLM. BLM representative, Elayn Briggs, was designated to coordinate the sub-group. Ms. Briggs is an ex-employee of the ISDRA/Glamis BLM area.

The BLM acknowledged that Sand Mountain is the most popular OHV recreation area in Nevada. Its popularity has grown tremendously over the last decade. Sand Mountain is the single largest tourist draw to Churchill county and vital to the local economy. The BLM managers in this area were encouraged to consider the net benefit to recreation as well as the positive impact the popularity of this area has on the economy of local communities. These factors were not even mentioned during the BLM's presentation.

During a recent trip to Washington, DC, ORBA's President described the Sand Mountain closure effort to members of the Department of the Interior as well as many Congressional representatives - most of whom expressed concern about more BLM managed public land being closed to public access.

If you are concerned about the potential closures in this area and the potential negative impact on your business, write a letter on your company's letterhead expressing your concern and mail it to: Mr. Robert Abbey, Nevada State Director, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 12000, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, Nevada 89502.

Click here to read L.A. Times story on this subject.