The rare poppies seem to be enjoying their protected habitat, now that there’s a fence [...]]]> The endangered Bear Poppies have been enjoying the Spring rains this year.

I wandered out to the poppy zone with Julie DeStefano and other interested folk on May 2nd to view the last stages of the 2010 bloom.

The rare poppies seem to be enjoying their protected habitat, now that there’s a fence around them which discourages but unfortunately does not eliminate offroad vehicles from mashing them. In the distance in the above picture, you can just make out the Clark County Gun Park. None in our party suffered bullet wounds, I’m pleased to report.

What a difference since my last visit in 2008. Plans for a huge freeway and massive housing development in the area seem safely dead to be supplanted by a very-likely fossil beds national monument.

So, any suggestions for whom should wear a crown of Nor’Town poppies this year?

Besides that guy, I mean.

Well, the baby has arrived!!! Baby being the BLM supplemental environmental impact study DRAFT!

The actual document is 2″ thick and having just received the hard copy this AM, I have not read every word. However, the preferred alternative is 11,007 acres! Three [...]]]> From Jill DeStefano for Protectors of Tule Springs:

Well, the baby has arrived!!! Baby being the BLM supplemental environmental impact study DRAFT!

The actual document is 2″ thick and having just received the hard copy this AM, I have not read every word.
However, the preferred alternative is 11,007 acres! Three years ago, when Protectors of Tule Springs was formed and began to get involved in this process, I was actually told by an unnamed person that we might as well not bother….that only 2900 acres would be saved or maybe 5500 acres if we worked real hard. Well, out of 12,900 acres studied, even the BLM is recommending protecting 11,007!

Now, we have 60 days to comment before the BLM publishes their FINAL decision. We will be turning in the 10,000 signatures collected over a year ago at the upcoming public meetings.

Of course, we are still pushing for another 10-14,000 acres of fossil bearing acres to be protected north of this studied area. This would give 20-27,000 acres of land protected as a National Monument. This will need to be legislation that our Congressional delegation submits to Congress! But, what an incredible benefit to the Las Vegas Valley for tourism and open space for our families!

The Protectors of Tule Springs will be having a meeting on Wednesday night, February 17th from 6-8pm. Location to be announced but we are trying to get the Sun City Aliante Clubhouse. Agenda as follows:

• We will discuss the public meetings scheduled for February 22, 23, and 24th. (locations and time to be determined)
• Gayle Marrs-Smith of the BLM will give us a presentation of the preferred alternative and the process from here on. She will also tell you how to comment, and even have forms with her for comment.
• Kathleen Springer of the San Bernardino County Museum will be coming to take a vote on when the site steward/paleontological classes will start as we learn to help the paleontologists in the field and help protect the fossil sites.
• An exciting and IMPORTANT guest, to be announced if schedules work out!

So, I have CD’s of the DRAFT to check out if you want one….. or please go to:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html Click on link on right that says EIS draft. The document is divided into chapters. The executive summary is vital along with chapter 2, alternatives A&B

Thanks and happy reading!!

Click here for the Upper Las Vegas Wash Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

Ooo. While your reading stuff, here’s some BLM docs on the Shooting Park.

The Las Vegas Sun had a fair chunk of its Sunday offering filled up with the prospect that grounds filled with fossils in northern Nor'Town may be protected as a national monument under the National Park Service.

One might wonder why Greenspun, Inc., would be so excited. After [...]]]> Nothing shifts faster than a political wind.

The Las Vegas Sun had a fair chunk of its Sunday offering filled up with the prospect that grounds filled with fossils in northern Nor'Town may be protected as a national monument under the National Park Service.

One might wonder why Greenspun, Inc., would be so excited. After all, if you have a gander at the proposed map, the proposed park would severely cut into the usual casino/tenement construction/home-building carpet-bombing that seems to be at the heart of the company's plans for the city.

But then, the map tells another story, too, since the Greenspun/Aliante Station casino and hotel would be at the front door of a national monument. The joint would be nicely poised to rent rooms and bingo cards to Ice Age groupies.

Some of the latter-day converts to the plan were a bit surprising.The Nor'Townie mayor seemed unperturbed by the possible loss of casino/tenement land. All the more surprising given just as recently as a week or so ago she was trying to shove that half-baked plan for a tenement city around the "island" at Lake Mead near I-15 down the throats of her fellow councilfolk. They, however, ignored the siren call of the lawyer-lobbyist for the developer and decided to put out an open request for proposals for the area. (Sun)

The mayor, too, is spearheading the movement to build a pipeline from the central counties in a effort to turn Utah into a dustbowl so the valley can grow and grow and grow with rhyme or reason.

Maybe she didn't like her stint at BYU? Left some enemies back in Utah?

And, say, anybody wonder about having a shooting park right smack in the middle of the monument? Isn't that where the Clark County Shooting Park will be? With all that left over lead leeching into the wash?

Oh, well, all such concerns will be labeled sour grapes by the publisher-developer-industrial complex running the city. Nonetheless, kudos to the Tule Springs Protectorate for their success and Godspeed to the memorial.

Let's just hope they don't end up calling Sheepdip Drive "Memorial Parkway" and blast it right through the park.

And, gee, do you think a McCain administration would have been as supportive?