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090317 NCSF Black Rock Dune project proposalMarch 17, 2009 Julie Thibodeau Dear Julie: The Friends of Black Rock High Rock is pleased to present this Black Rock Desert Dune Conservation project proposal for the Opportunities Fund of the National Conservation System Foundation. We are requesting $6000.00 to support an ongoing project to protect sensitive dunes in the Black Rock Desert from off highway vehicle impacts. The full proposal narrative and supporting documents are attached. I am confident that this proposal meets the requirements of the Foundation and will further the conservation of the natural, historic, and cultural values of the Conservation System generally and the Black Rock Desert - High Rock Canyon - Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area specifically. Thank you for your consideration and please contact me if you require anything further. Sincerely, Matthew J. Ebert ME Black Rock Desert Dune Conservation Project Proposal The Friends of Black Rock High Rock is requesting $6,0000.00 from the National Conservation System Foundation to support ongoing dune conservation activities in the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. The funds will be spent on fence materials to prohibit vehicle traffic on sensitive dunes, and to produce signs for the fence and posters for entry points to educate the public about the resources that are being protected. The most popular and most frequently used portion of the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is known as the "playa," a 160,000 acre dry lakebed devoid of vegetation which stretches nearly 35 miles towards the northeast from the community of Gerlach, NV, and in places is as wide as 15 miles. This flat, featureless surface is open for off highway vehicle traffic in the dry seasons, and the experience of driving on the playa is much like piloting a boat. The dunes and hummocks along the edges of this playa surface, however, are off limits to vehicle traffic. There are significant dune features, known as Coyote Dunes, which are along the Nobles Cutoff of the historic Lassen Applegate Emigrant Trail. Aside from their historical importance as features described in Emigrant diaries, some of these have springs within them or otherwise support desert wildlife habitat, including grasses, brush, and even kit foxes. Since the Coyote Dunes stand out on the featureless playa, they attract off-highway vehicle traffic more than other areas, especially because they are adjacent to a designated route that heads toward a railroad crossing. This traffic erodes the dunes, creates a barren and unsightly condition, and destroys any chance for habitat to thrive. These dunes present a fantastic opportunity to educate users to the prohibitions of off highway vehicle use in dunes and hummocks throughout the Black Rock Desert playa region because they stand out clearly and are a focal point of traffic to other popular sites nearby. In 2007 and 2008, the Friends of Black Rock conducted two separate projects to address vehicle impacts. In the first year, we built fence most of the way around the most significant spring-fed dune, and volunteers worked with rakes and shovels to repair the erosion caused by vehicle tracks. This was successful in prohibiting most vehicle traffic. Then in the next year, we built fence only part way around the next larger dune. This did not contribute significantly to abate traffic. In the latter instance, we need to further enclose the dune to make it clear that traffic is prohibited, and in both instances, installing signs will further explain to vehicle users why it is important to respect closed areas. We will also develop posters to install at desert entrance kiosks and visitor information points in Gerlach to further promote responsibility and publicize our efforts. These methods have been discussed and approved in consultation with Bureau of Land Management staff, and accomplishing this work is one element of the strategic plan of the board of Friends of Black Rock High Rock developed earlier this year. The project itself is planned to occur at our premier event, the Black Rock Rendezvous, over Memorial Day weekend. Around 300 people are expected to attend the event for a series of tours, interpretive talks, food, music, and fun. By holding this conservation project as a part of the event we will instill wilderness ethics into a wide range of participants. Publicity around this project will spread the message that it is not acceptable to drive in prohibited areas and help establish the Friends of Black Rock and our partner organizations as responsible citizen-based advocates of the region in the minds of area visitors. It will also further educate people to the existence and parallel mission of the Conservation System. Project success will be measured by monitoring the area to determine whether the fence does indeed stop people from driving on the protected dunes. Another measure of success will be in recognizing less vehicle use in other prohibited areas. Since the playa is so large, it will take continued monitoring of this site and other problem areas to determine whether illegal uses are continuing or abating. It will not be possible to fence all of the prohibited areas in the Black Rock Desert-that is why it is so important to make an example of these particular sensitive and highly visible resources so that users recognize that it is important to not only comply with regulations, but to encourage others to do the same. Future efforts will concentrate on repeating and amplifying this message through various media. We further intend to replicate this methodology of partial fencing and signage in other problem areas when they are identified. The work on the project will commence as follows: April 25, 2009: order fence pole materials Budget: Project match: Black Rock Rendezvous budget = $8,000.00 (promotion, food, event costs) Estimated staff and volunteer effort:
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