This is a new 15-year plan for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge and 3 others in southern Nevada-
Massive desert wildlife refuge effort nears OK. By Stephanie Tavares. Las Vegas Sun.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan for the largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 would regenerate springs in the desert, streamside areas and some upland over thousands of acres of the 1.6 million acre complex to benefit threatened and endangered species, non-threatened wildlife, including migratory birds. Illegal roads would be closed. There would also be a greater effort at halting and reversing the spread of alien plants and animals.
Here is a link to the plan, which is set to be final on Sept. 21, 2009
The largest portion of the Refuge was established primarily to conserve desert bighorn sheep.
The four refuges are the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.
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Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is President of the Western Watersheds Project.
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The big question is: Will there be any water after the Pat Mulroy Southern Nevada Water Authority builds pipelines to deplete the aquifers underneath this area dry?
I wonder if part of the reason this ie being done is that it will be easier to control what (in terms of resistance to de-watering or other assaults – like solar plants built right up to a Refuge’s edge) Managers say about serious environmental threats to this landscape?
I agree that this has got to be tired up in Southern Nevada Water politics in some fashion.