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Sierra Wilderness Creek will not be poisoned

Friends of Silver King Creek
PO Box 54
Markleeville, CA 96120

A charming stream in Alpine County’s high Sierra wilderness is permanently protected from poisoning, thanks to the actions of federal judge Frank Damrell in a decision issued September 6, 2011.

Silver King Creek, a major tributary of the east fork of the Carson River, which flows through the Carson Iceberg Wilderness, will remain unsullied among this wilderness gem of high peaks, and grassy valleys.

The California Department of Fish and Game proposed poisoning the same section of creek in 2001, to restore a greater length of stream habitat for the threatened Paiute Cutthroat Trout, ostensibly to de-list the fish and allow it to be caught.

The opponents, including Friends of Silver King Creek, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and Wilderness Watch, contested the need for the project since the Paiute Cutthroat Trout has already been restored in the higher reaches of the stream. The trout was and has been kept safe behind a good natural dam in the creek. Further, the fish has been restored to sustainable populations in four other streams in the Sierra.
In his decision, judge Damrell cited the competing values of preserving wilderness character versus restoration the PCT using rotenone, which would wipe out all life in a reach of Silver King Creek, and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

In addition, the County of Alpine protested the poisoning of waters in their county, as a threat to the county’s reputation for famous wild trout wilderness fishing.

Rotenone is a piscicide (suffocates gill breathers) that has been banned for use on land in the US, banned for use in US coastal waters and lagoons, and banned entirely in Europe. But in the US, it is allowed to be used in fresh water lakes and streams, baffling many wilderness users and scientists.

The judge’s decision culminates a multi-year effort by the plaintiffs begun in 2001.

PRESERVING HOPE VALLEY’S BASQUE OVEN

In the early 1900’s Fred Dangberg started a sheep camp in Hope Valley. Seven bands of sheep (2,000 sheep per band) spent the summers there, each tended by a sheepherder. Most sheepherders in the west at that time were Basque, expert sheep tenders who were immigrating to the U.S. from their homelands in northern Spain and southwestern France in search of work.

The Dangberg sheep camp headquarters in Hope Valley, still visible still along Highway 89 partway up the Luther Pass grade, included a Basque tender man named Jesus. It was Jesus who in the 1930s was chiefly responsible for the building of the large, authentic bread oven we now hope to preserve.

To preserve this valued treasure the Friends of Hope Valley has been working with the Alpine County Historical Society on a project to relocate the oven to the Historical Society’s museum in Markleeville. This historic oven is a valued part of the history of Alpine County and the west. It reminds us of the role Basque sheepherders played in the history of the Sierra Nevada; preserving it honors their memory.

Balance is key to acceptability

Friends of Hope Valley believes that if all facets of the Proposed Project were implemented that it would have a net benefit to the non-motorized community. The following pairs of quiet use and snowmobile opportunities are presented to show the balancing.

Quiet-use opportunity. The Forestdale Creek area up to Forestdale Divide will be closed to snowmobiles when there is sufficient snow at the Blue Lakes SnoPark for snowmobile use. This typically is from early or mid-December through early or early or mid-April. Therefore most of the winter season it will be closed. Prior and after the closure period snowmobiles will still be restricted to the road through the Forestdale Creek area.

Snowmobile opportunity. Improve accessibility of the Monitor Pass area to snowmobiles and open portions of the area that are currently closed to snowmobiles. This will include creating a staging area at Loope Canyon, which is above the current road closure point. This will also afford better access for non-motorized users wanting to access the Heenan Lake area that will remain closed to snowmobiles. The south side of Monitor Pass area will remain closed to snowmobiles when deer are present.

Quiet-use opportunity. The north side (actually it is west) of Highway 88 from Carson Pass to Picketts Junction will be closed to snowmobile use with one exception. That means Crater Lake, Scotts Lake,Red Lkae Peak and Stevens Peak will be off-limits to snowmobiles. The exception is that there will be a route on a road through the area that connects the Armstorng Pass area with the lands in Hope Valley south of Highway 88. This is to allow snowmobilers to ride from South Lake Tahoe to Blue Lakes. The route through the area will get minimum grooming. The purpose of the grooming is to define the route but not create a raceway.

Snowmobile opportunity. Improved snowmobile staging at Centerville. Centerville is located at the eastern winter closure of Highway 4. Snowmobiles currently park here but use is low because there is a section of Highway 4 (called the Flintstones) that is avalanche prone much of the winter. An old road that bypasses the Flintstones would be repaired where it was washed out. Highway 4 from Centerville to Ebbetts Pass may be groomed for snowmobile use.

Quiet-use opportunity. Create a parking area at Red Corral on Highway 88 to increase access to quiet-use terrain north and south of Highway 88. Improved parking at Picketts Junction (Burnside Road). These two parking areas may become SnoParks. Shoulder-parking on Highway 88 will be prohibited over a 4-mile stretch except for several turnouts that allow additional access to the north and south sides of Highway 88.

Snowmobile opportunity. Additional parking, including overnight parking, at the Blue Lakes SnoPark.

Snowmobile opportunity. The pruning of trees and installation of markers along the primitive road from Blue Lakes to Highway 4. This divides the Mokelumne Wilderness into two pieces. Snowmobilers occasionally use this route. These improvements are intended to help motorists stay within the non-wilderness corridor. This snowmobile route will not be groomed.

Proposed Action needs details

Friends of Hope Valley 's review of the NOPA revealed that the document needs more details. Therefore it is extremely important that you take the time to write the Forest Service to express the need for improvements to the description of the Proposed Project.

More information
The Notice of Proposed Action is available online at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/carson/2007/Alpine_nopa.pdf
and maps are available online at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/carson/2007/Alpine_Vicinity.pdf
and
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/carson/2007/alpine_proj_map.pdf

Deadline
Your comments must be mailed (postal or email) by COB (close of business) on June30, 2007.

Please don’t put it off. Write NOW!

Carson Ranger District
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Attn: District Ranger Gary Schiff
1536 South Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89703
or email to comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-carson@fs.fed.us

What to write
We do not give you a sample letter because we want you to put your comments in your own words. We have provided points that are critical and additional points that are also important. Pick and choose depending on your feelings.

Critical points

• State that you are commenting on the NOPA for the Alpine County Winter Recreation Project.
  
• State that you are a skier (or snowshoer or hiker) and why you enjoy the sport. For example, you may backcountry ski because you enjoy the solitude of the mountains in winter and to get away from the noise and pollution of the city.
  
• State that you find snowmobile use incompatible with your enjoyment of you winter backcountry. For example, the noise of snowmobiles destroys the solitude, the smell of snowmobile exhaust pollutes the pristine environment that you come to enjoy, and that snowmobiles tear-up the snowscape quickly leaving behind frozen ruts that are dangerous for skiers and snowshoers. Maybe you feel unsafe when you have to be in close proximity with snowmobiles (explain why).
  
• The lack of details such as to the location of the snowmobile boundary in the Monitor Pass area, the lack of details regarding how the various components of the Project will be implemented, and no indication as to what alternatives may be considered in the Environmental Analysis make it impossible to effectively comment on some aspects of the NOPA. Therefore a comment period after the EA and before a decision must be provided.
  
• The closure of the Forestdale Creek area to snowmobile use is the most important part of the Proposed Project.
  
• The resource protection measures in the Proposed Project are inadequate to deter snowmobile trespass into areas closed to their use. The Project must include new, innovative techniques, such as remote sensing and a fast response team, in order to provide enhanced enforcement.
  
• The Proposed Project must provide for an annual review of snowmobile compliance and there must be penalties for non-compliance.
  
• How the components of the Proposed Project are implemented is critical. Implementation must be done in balanced pairs of motorized and non-motorized benefits.-- Thank the Forest Service for working with all recreation user groups to come up with an equitable plan.

Winter Recreation Plan
The Winter Recreation Plan for Eastern Alpine County now is in the hands of the Forest Service and is presently going through NEPA funding procedures while input and coordination with other agencies is being developed. This project would improve winter recreation experience for both motorized and non-motorized users in eastern Alpine County.
Friends of Hope Valley, in conjunction with other user groups, individuals and agencies, participated in the formulation of this plan, and indeed, our Board President, Debbi Waldear, was instrumental in the genesis of this plan. Essentially, this plan would delineate areas of use, address parking and camping issues as it seeks to enhance the experience for all winter users by presenting a good balance of opportunities.
During the recent comment period, Friends urged the Forest Service to act with all possible speed on the implementation of this plan as well as the need for enforcement once the plan is in place. This winter’s light snowpack and motorized growth has resulted in chaotic use of Hope Valley by snowmobiles. Wilderness incursions in the Forestdale Creek headwaters have been frequent, and the concentration of use by machines is resulting in environmental degradation as well as unacceptable noise levels. Snowmobiles are now being seen in areas where they’ve never been seen before.
Although the initial scoping comment period is over you can still let the Forest Service know how you feel. Ask them to act quickly and stress the need for designated areas for motorized and non motorized users. Express outrage that motorized users are violating wilderness boundaries.
What you can do: view the plan
Send comments to: alpine_winter_recreation@fs.fed.us or write to Marnie Bonesteel, Carson Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1536 So. Carson St., Carson City, Nev., 89701.

Annual Work Party Day

Friends of Hope Valley Newsletter Fall06/Winter07 (PDF)

Work Of Friends: Updates

• Federal agencies have proposed corridors for electricity transmission and gas lines across the Sierra. One of these corridors may impact the Mokelumne Wilderness; another may follow Hwy 88, a designated scenic highway. The Friends participated in the public scoping process for the environmental impact statement addressing the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and will continue to monitor this situation. http://corridoreis.anl.gov/documents/index.cfm
  
• FOHV submitted comments and questions in response to the DEIR for Mahalee Village, a proposed project consisting of approximately 200,000 square feet of commercial space, fractional ownership cabins, and a lodge to be built on 36 acres in Markleeville. The issues addressed were of water, wastewater, aesthetics, and the sheer size of the project.
  
• The Sierra Nevada Alliance www.sierranevadaalliance.org called together its conservation allies in the Eastern Sierra subregion to discuss the role of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy www.sierraconservancy.org and the services it could provide. The FOHV, with other conservation groups, land trusts and watershed groups, including the Alpine County Watershed Group, created a document discussing the unique context of the Eastern Sierra subregion and the services they would like the Conservancy to bring to bear on priority issues: water resources, recreation and tourism, community development, and land use.
  
• The Friends and Snowlands Network have collaborated on a proposal designating areas for motorized and non-motorized winter use in eastern Alpine County. This document was recently submitted to the Forest Service. The process has involved many meetings with all parties, in an attempt to reach an amiable agreement.
  
• FOHV donated $2,300 to the Alpine County Watershed Group. The money is to be used for clerical support, enabling its director Laura Leuders to proceed more efficiently with the watershed group¹s projects.

 

Hope Valley needs your Help! Decisions of public officials threaten the scenic beauty of Alpine County. The winter repose of the Sierra, free from the gas driven mechanized vehicle, is vanishing. Become an Activist of the Friends of Hope Valley. We need a battalion of interested individuals to attend critical meetings and write letters. Be willing to attend meetings held during the week in Alpine County. Give us your email address. We will alert you to important meetings and provide background information for issues of interest to you that will be discussed. Alpine County's policy makers must hear our voice. We must be proactive, rather than just reactive!