The attachment includes Roger Farschon's tacked edits. --M

FBRHR Black Rock Desert Dunes Recovery 2009 2/3/09

DRAFT

Overview:
Friends of Black Rock High Rock (Friends) is a 501(c)(3) organization which helps manage the resources of the Black Rock Desert region and educates the public to foster stewardship and preserve its unique character. Friends promotes the health and welfare of the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA) and neighboring region through direct volunteer management and conservation services, visitor contact, interpretive tours, events, websites, and publications. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the Black Rock NCA. An Act of Congress established the NCA in 2000 to conserve, protect, and enhance the unique values and resources associated with the Applegate-Lassen and Nobles Emigrant Trails corridors and surrounding areas. The Act established special designations for 1.2 million acres of wilderness and NCA public lands.

History of Project:
Coyote Springs 2007 & 2008.

On Wednesday, August 29, and Thursday, August 30, 2007, the Friends of Black Rock convened the first Coyote Springs Restoration project with participation from the BLM, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Nevada Outdoor School, and volunteers recruited by the Earth Guardians.

The first chore was to remove vehicle tracks by raking and sweeping, including the playa surface approaches to some degree (within about 30 feet of the dune slope). Eroded dune material (dirt) was replaced by shoveling the displaced loose material back onto the original mound location. A roadway that had developed from inappropriate vehicle use was removed by working the ground into a very rough, uneven texture, and indigenous vegetation was transplanted into this and other locations to facilitate the retention of wind-blown indigenous seeds and to camouflage the damage. Litter and other detritus were removed from the vicinity, including material (toilet paper) that had been inserted into vacated fox dens near the spring.

After this, sections of buck and pole fence stretching over 500 feet long and about 5 feet high were constructed to prohibit vehicle entry into the recovered areas, and Carsonite signs were installed which indicate that the area is closed to vehicle traffic.

In all, 43 volunteers contributed a total of 306 hours of effort-- also, the Burning Man staff commissary provided lunch for 24 participants on Wednesday. Everyone who participated got a special T-shirt for the event, and Friends of Nevada Wilderness also gave out gift patches. A rain and dust storm on Friday of the event worked to better obscure the impacts of the dunes and make the whole site look more natural.

Then on Sunday, May 25, 2008, construction of buck and pole fencing continued at the next dune just south of the main spring-fed dune. This was again a joint effort of the Friends of Black Rock, Earth Guardians, and Friends of Nevada Wilderness. This dune covers a much larger square area, and the portion of fence built did not completely encircle this dune.

2009 Activities:

The incomplete fence at the southern dune has not diminished impacts from vehicles. Further, signs are needed to educate recreational users to the reasons for not driving on these dunes, namely preventing erosion, preserving primitive historic viewsheds, and encouraging indigenous flora and fauna. Additional fencing will also be required to provide a physical barrier between the open playa and the protected dunes. Finally the project need to start evaluation of other dune sites surrounding the playa for impacts, potential fencing and sign placement.

Specific actions proposed for 2009:

• Dune Monitoring--March
o conduct field trips to Coyote Spring Dune sites and “bays” north of 12 mile
o determine materials list to complete buck & pole fence
o determine alternate sites of noteworthy impact (“bays” north of 12-mile)

• Sign Development—March
o Complete sign layout and contents
• Size of signs – TBD – all standard? All same shape?
• Develop stickers for Carsonite signs
• Carsonite signs supplied by BLM
• verbiage, design, colors, stickers

• Black Rock Rendezvous Projects, Sunday, May 24
o complete buck & pole fence around southern Coyote dune (with Friends of Nevada Wilderness)
o monitor existing fence at spring-fed dune
o install signs at dunes and desert entrance portals

• Follow Up & Monitoring -- Sat., June 13 & Sun. June 14:
o perform any further construction
o complete/monitor fence & signs at both dune sites
o install signs at further dunes or other identified sites

o Black Rock-specific informational brochure about dunes and erosion
o Invite public for “geocache” day/event(s)
o long term maintenance/monitoring plan
o Posts???? (need supplies to set posts)
o BLM & Friends set signs (projects, dates)
o Fencing supplied by BLM, or modification to Agreement?
o Set date(s) for future projects
o FM Radio completion with public service announcements
o “Calthrop” or “Maginot line” style obstructions to draw attention to signs in other areas at edges of the playa