Wilderness Study Area definition and discussion (1 Viewer)

[spressomon]

I figured it would be better to have this as a stand alone thread (also cross posted in my "Eco-Fascists at work again in Jarbidge" thread).


Being a hunter I purchase the Water Management Maps aka "guzzler" maps from the Nevada Department of Wildlife. The NDOW, just a couple months ago, released their new guzzler book and they did an outstanding job I must say. http://www.ndow.org/wild/habitat/guzzler/index.shtm

One of the keys in this book of topo maps is color coded ID of WSA areas within the State of Nevada (apparently all areas regardless of the managing Federal agency are summarized). And it is SHOCKING and ALARMING all the (Wilderness Study Area) WSA areas depicted for Nevada. I knew, from all my explore travels in Nevada, it was bad but I had no idea it was worse than I originally thought!


So that prompted a search for the definition of a WSA: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wilderness/wsa.html

And per the current BLM website's depiction map of all Wilderness Areas + Wilderness Study Areas here: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/media....File.dat/nlcs_ae_07-2010_6_letter_wsa-wa.jpg

The above BLM maps apparently only portray BLM managed Wilderness and WSA areas and does not accurately portray all the wilderness and WSA land in Nevada (and other states) currently being managed and/or created by other Federal agencies such as the US Forest Service, etc.

I've done a preliminary search for an all encompassing digital/on-line map of Nevada's Wilderness Areas and WSA but so far have yet to find one that depicts all the Federal managing agency's respective boundaries for same within Nevada (and all states). The NDOW Water Management book of maps depicts these areas map section by map section which is helpful but I think it would be important to see 100% of the Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas color coded for Nevada (and all states especially Western US).

 

[spressomon]

I remember, a number of years ago, a suit that was brought against the BLM and possibly other Federal agencies over their long term WSA land boundaries and whether or not these boundaries were in the spirit of the original directive by Congress. I'm continuing to search for this info...

The State of Utah is on record supporting motorized access...I found this interesting: http://www.doi.gov/wilderness/summary.html

Unfortunately our Senator Harry Reid is a big time Wilderness Area and WSA supporter. I believe the vast proliferation and aggressive strategy to rope off areas within Nevada have been instigated and propelled by Mr. Reid. He apparently sees this as his legacy...unfortunately he doesn't apply the same level of ecology conservation when it comes to his support of mining activities including very destructive large scale open pit mining. Some would call him an environmental hypocrite

 

[rusty_tlc]

....Some would call him an environmental hypocrite

That would be one of the nicer things he has been called.

 

[DirtyHarry]

.unfortunately he doesn't apply the same level of ecology conservation when it comes to his support of mining activities including very destructive large scale open pit mining. Some would call him an environmental hypocrite

But that makes the state money, I think that is how he rationalizes it. 4wheeling doesn't really make the state any money.

Unfortunately nothing these days is done in the spirit of the original laws, just look at the endangered species act. Nothing is more American than the loophole, and exploiting it.