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Campaign Unavailable We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit Inactive - Center for Biological Diversity - Biodiversity Activist.The short explanation of this alert was: Tell the Bureau of Land Management Your comments needed by Furnace Creek is a rare and delicate desert creek ecosystem located on the east side of the White Mountains near the California-Nevada border. Furnace Creek provides riparian habitat used by the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher during migration and provides breeding habitat for Costa's Hummingbird and eight other species of conservation concern. In 2001, as a result of a lawsuit brought by the Center, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) agreed to close Furnace Creek Canyon to stop ongoing off-road vehicle abuse. In reality, the BLM finally closed the area in 2003, putting an end to ORVs riding in the creek bed. The closure helped end damage to fragile riparian vegetation in the creek and illegal road proliferation onto Tres Plumas Flats in the Inyo National Forest. Since the closure, the riparian area has recovered significantly, and use of the canyon by many rare and imperiled species has increased. Now the BLM has issued a new Environmental Assessment and seeks to amend the California Desert Conservation Area Plan to determine whether Furnace Creek Canyon should remain closed to motorized vehicles. Only if this precious area remains closed will the riparian habitat continue its remarkable recovery. The Environmental Assessment includes alternatives that would allow ORV use again in Furnace Creek Canyon-and more specifically would permit 14 stream crossings within only 4.5 miles along the creek! The BLM knows that resuming ORV use in the canyon would be devastating to the creek, the riparian woodlands, and the species that depend on this fragile habitat. The preferred alternative, therefore, is to designate the road as CLOSED and allow nature to continue to restore this unique riparian corridor. Despite inadequacies, the revised Environmental Assessment issued in November makes it abundantly clear that continued closure of Furnace Creek to motorized vehicles is the environmentally preferred alternative and the best course of action. Contact the BLM and voice your support for protection of Furnace Creek and the wilderness character of the White Mountains. Please mail, fax or e-mail a personalized letter or the attached sample letter below to the following address: Hector Villalobos Deadline for all comments is Monday, January 15, 2007. Questions? Contact Chris Kassar, Wildlife Biologist, Center for Biological Diversity, ckassar@biologicaldiversity.org. More Furnace Creek information and photos: www.endangeredearth.org/orv Read the Environmental Assessment: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/projects/furnacecrk.shtml If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here. |
