USER GROUPS

Association of Experimental Rocketry of the Pacific (AERO-PAC) has roots in the earliest times of high-power rocketry and is currently the Northern California and Northern Nevada prefecture of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. They hold three high-power rocketry launches a year in the Black Rock Desert.

AmeriCorps is a national program which provides support to nonprofits, public agencies, and community organizations to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. They provide human resources to regional nonprofits through the VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) and National Civilian Community Corps programs.

Backcountry Horsemen perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America's backcountry and wilderness, work to insure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use, and assist the various government and private agencies in the maintenance and management of resources.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency within the Department of Interior which manages the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA). The NCA was established by an Act of Congress in 2000 to conserve, protect, and enhance the unique values and resources associated with the Applegate-Lassen and Nobles Trails corridors and surrounding areas. The Act established special designations for 1.2 million acres of wilderness and NCA public lands.

Desert Research Institute conducts environmental research and fosters scientific talent for the advancement and integration of terrestrial, hydrologic, atmospheric, and anthropologic sciences. Don Sada and Ken Adams' Black Rock Playa dynamics project is addressing specific questions about the dynamic physical processes that occur on the playa, how these processes affect the ecology of the playa, and how humans are affecting these processes.

Desert Survivors is a non-profit organization founded in 1981 with the mission of experiencing, sharing and protecting desert wilderness. Originally set up in 1981 by a group of U.C. Berkeley Law students, its activities and direction have evolved in many ways since then. Recognizing that the places they love to explore will not remain wild unless they give others the opportunity to experience them, Desert Survivors is committed to actively monitoring and preserving desert wilderness. In addition to its advocacy work, Desert Survivors leads free backpacking trips and car camps for people of all levels of skill and fitness, as well as offering courses in beginning backpacking. Desert Survivors has 700+ members primarily in California and Nevada, and is based out of Oakland, CA.

Earth Guardians inform, inspire and encourage Burning Man participants to apply Leave No Trace (LNT) principles to life in their temporary desert home and beyond. They communicate LNT tips and techniques to the Burning Man community, minimize waste with recycling efforts, patrol the event and sensitive areas like hot springs, and initiate clean-up activities during the event. They also work year-round to ensure the conservation of the Black Rock Desert's unique resources - biological, cultural, and historical.

Friends of Black Rock / High Rock (FBRHR) promotes the health and welfare of the NCA and neighboring region through direct volunteer management and conservation services, visitor contact, interpretive tours, events, websites, and publications.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness is dedicated to preserving all qualified Nevada public lands as wilderness, protecting all present and potential wilderness from ongoing threats, educating the public about the values of and need for wilderness, and improving the management and restoration of public wild lands.

Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West. The Institute advances ecological literacy and habitat restoration through educational outreach and direct service programs.

High Rock Trekkers four-wheel drive club promotes Tread Lightly principles and works to ensure that trails and roads remain open for motorized access.

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, preserves, manages and restores wildlife and its habitat for their aesthetic, scientific, educational, recreational, and economic benefits.

Nevada Outdoor School (NOS) fosters knowledge and respect for all living and non-living things, increases scientific literacy, and promotes ecological stewardship in rural Nevada and beyond.

Nevada Rock Art Foundation identifies, documents, preserves, and protects rock art and promotes public awareness and appreciation of Nevada rock art and other heritage resources.

Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA) is dedicated to the preservation and protection of overland emigrant trails and the emigrant experience. OCTA members place markers on the trails, maintain existing markers, and protect the trails to prevent the destruction of trail remnants, graves and other trail-related sites. The historic Lassen-Applegate and Nobles Trails run through the Black Rock NCA.

Reno Gem and Mineral Society develops and fosters interest in the rock, gem, and mineral hobbies as well as locating and identifying various material through field trips.

Sierra Club is a grassroots environmental organization which promotes conservation and preservation of wilderness and conducts hikes and outings.

Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch is a 500,000 acre cattle ranch located at Mud Meadows near the geographic center of the NCA. The first buildings at ranch headquarters were constructed by the U.S. Calvary and were known in 1865 as Camp McGarry. Today the ranch provides guest services, and the hot springs are home to the threatened desert dace fish.

Summit Lake Paiute Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe with approximately 115 members located within the NCA in Humboldt County, Nevada. Established on January 14, 1913, the reservation comprises 12,573 acres and contains Summit Lake, one of the last habitats for the endangered Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

Trails West, Inc. is a working group of volunteers who are dedicated to locating and marking the California Trail from its beginning in southern Idaho to its various destinations in California.

National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) The Black Rock Desert - High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is a part of the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System: a diverse program that incorporates National Scenic and Historic Trails, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Wilderness Areas, and National Monuments and Conservation Areas, to name a few. The mission of the Conservation System is to conserve, protect and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological and scientific values for present and future generations of Americans. This 27 million acre Conservation System is said to be the most innovative U.S. land-management program in the last 50 years, joining together the crown jewels of the BLM's cultural, natural and scientific assets. Quietly revolutionary, instead of protecting "islands" of special land it conserves whole landscapes.