By Lindsey Dalley
I feel compelled to point out the usual false conclusions running rampant in Ms Hall’s letter (Response To Gold Butte Article: Progress July 28, 2010) that continues to plague Public Land issues today. I do not question her sincerity and passion but people often do the wrong things for the right reasons. At some point the blatant inconsistencies of these positions should become apparent.
Ms Hall’s letter is another example of Political Conservation masquerading as actual conservation. We all know the failed template of Political Conservation as the kind of conservation that makes you scratch your head and say; “How does that make sense?” This is not an accident because Political Conservation is agenda driven, not results driven or in other words, politics is the desired result instead of helping wildlife and people. It always sees a glass half empty and chooses to stare at the half empty glass, not do anything and then use this failed effort as a reason that more restriction and closure is needed.
As evidence of my point, Ms. Hall used the very same worn out examples of destruction around Whitney Pockets. This is done time and again without regard to Whitney Pockets’ heavy use and lack of management. Then these same extreme examples are extrapolated throughout all of Gold Butte when the real fact is 90% of all use in Gold Butte occurs within two miles of Whitney Pockets which is just a small portion of the total area. This would be the same as visiting Harlem and using that experience to create policy for all of New York.
The amount of “destruction” that has occurred around Whitney Pockets is statistically small when compared to the large amount of use it receives with little or no management. This constant staring at the half empty glass justifies the Political Conservation agenda of closure, exclusion, and control. Something an NCA with Wilderness could accomplish easily.
The phrase “careless user” was again marched out as the anti-Christ of conservation, insinuating anyone not blessed by the anointed ones are responsible for erasing our ancestral history. In reality it is the Political Conservation crowd that have created a woven web of bureaucracy and regulation so carefully crafted as to pluck our history from Gold Butte forever. It is Ms Hall’s very own BLM that has led the charge using the law of unintended consequences as the double edge sword to accomplish this historical revision.
Two examples of Political Conservationists removing ancestral history from Gold Butte are the Treasure Hawk Mine and the Whitmore Cabin. The web of conservation regulations requires BLM to return mining claims to a “natural state”. This is called “reclaiming”. This sounds good except for the fact that each of these historical treasures were over 50 years old. As small one man operations, they memorialized man’s success against the struggles of the harsh desert environment.
This should classify these sites as archeological treasures worth preserving. The Whitmore Cabin was built in the 20’s by the ancestors of the owners of Ace Hardware in Overton, the Hopkins family, among others. The Treasure Hawk Mine has been there as long as I can remember, and dare I say it, I am 51. Crazy Ed lived there, built three airplanes, and wrote three books about his life in Gold Butte which may not be true but are pure entertainment.
The Whitmore Cabin was “reclaimed” several years ago so there is nothing left except barren earth and the Treasure Hawk Mine is being torn down, uhhh “reclaimed” as we speak.
If Ms. Hall was really a friend of “all of Gold Butte” and not just Whitney Pockets these tragedies would be obvious. But it doesn’t really matter because our pioneer ancestral history is politically incorrect and without value. (Sarcasm intended) A disclaimer for BLM: BLM is required to tear down and “reclaim” these sites by carefully crafted regulation (thanks to Political Conservation) so they are between a rock and a hard spot.
The ultimate false conclusion is that the solution lies in designating a “National Conservation Area (NCA) with Wilderness”. Wilderness Area designations are managed for the express purpose to keep man’s imprint off the land, (Sounds like they are getting a head start on that with the Whitmore Cabin and Treasure Hawk Mine). Wilderness Areas eliminate any chance at real conservation in a desert environment where water sources must be maintained and developed or they will disappear. Nevada Dept. of Wildlife recognizes water developments as crucial and have an extensive system of them in Gold Butte to promote wildlife improvement. This is real conservation and would be illegal under a Wilderness designation.
Think about it. If something does not help the people or wildlife then it is useless, it is Dead Conservation and if it does nothing why are we doing it? An agenda from Washington DC perhaps?
Wilderness is the perfect example of Dead Conservation. It does not allow for living and changing conservation but bitterly clings to what was, not what could be.
I have personally and, through the PLCC, worked extensively with staff members of Rep. Dina Titus’ and Senator Harry Ried’s offices on the politics of Gold Butte. There is a needed perspective that comes from standing next to a spring in 105-degree heat “to be down with the struggle” for the importance of wildlife water beyond Whitney Pockets. At that point politics meets reality and Political Conservation melts away.
I personally watched Dina Titus accept a flyer with a personal invitation to visit Gold Butte. The invitation was extended but never accepted. So I know we are not playing favorites.
Political Conservation promotes restriction and bloated bureaucracy leading to Conservation Tyranny. I embrace and support actual conservation but I reject the “do-nothing” Political Conservation template and refuse to validate it with toleration. I agree and support the need for a better Gold Butte management plan. What I do not agree with is the false conclusions driven by Political Conservation from Washington DC.Political Conservation Vs. Real Conservation
By Lindsey Dalley
