Basin and Range National Monument

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Basin and Range National Monument
Dirt road in the National Monument

The Basin and Range National Monument is an American national monument in Lincoln County and Nye County in southeastern Nevada . It was designated by President Barack Obama by a Presidential Proclamation on July 10, 2015 with an area of ​​704,000 acres (285,000 hectares ). The reserve comprises a large, vacant and unpopulated area with valleys, plains and mountains with large rock formations, including field arches and caves. Remnants of mining activities are in the area. It is only criss-crossed by unpaved roads. The designation as a National Monument is intended to preserve the cultural, prehistoric and historical heritage of the area and to preserve its diverse natural and scientific resources. In the northwest the reserve borders directly on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest .

Designation, administration and land ownership of the National Monument

Tent in the National Monument

Even before it was designated as a National Monument , part of the area was designated as the Wilderness Area Worthington Mountains Wilderness . The Worthington Mountains Wilderness area will remain unchanged even after the Basin and Range National Monument has been designated.

The designation of the Basin and Range National Monument was judged very differently by politicians. While Democratic politicians like Harry Reid , Sally Jewell and Dina Titus were positive, there was criticism from Republicans like Mark Amodei , Joe Heck , Cresent Hardy and Dean Heller .

The Basin and Range National Monument is under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The entire area is federally owned and was looked after by the BLM even before it was designated. Private properties within the boundaries of the National Monument are not part of the protected area. These private properties can only become part of the National Monument if they can be freely acquired by the United States. If the federal government acquires private properties within the National Monument, these properties become part of the protected area. The designation of the National Monument has no influence on the rights of owners of properties that are not owned by the USA in or on the borders of the protected area.

Recreational activities such as climbing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and horse riding are permitted in the area. Only the Worthington Mountains Wilderness is closed to all recreational activities. The protective designation does not affect existing permits for grazing with livestock within the area and may continue to be continued.

The area may continue to be used by military aircraft, including low-level flights. The military may also designate landing and take-off zones. Training with motorized vehicles is permitted both on and off-road. Military exercises are permitted provided they are compatible with the maintenance and area protection.

Animal and plant species

Pacific rattlesnake in the field

A large part of the area is taken up by Sagebrush Steppe (sage steppe). The Joshua tree occurs in the southern part of the area . On the lower slopes of the mountains there are various species of conifers , American quivering aspen and Utah juniper . Ponderosa pines can be found in higher mountains up to almost 2,700 m . Noteworthy are some plant species that are endemic to this protected area.

The area's mammal species include the bobcat , puma , pronghorn , elk , mule deer, and bighorn sheep .

Numerous species of lizards, bats and snakes can be found in the area. There are the birds of prey, the golden eagle , the round-tailed cattle, and the king-footed buzzard . More bird species are burrowing , chukar , Gambel's quail , mountain Mockingbird , Nevadaammer , mountain bluebird , loggerhead shrike and green tail base Ammer .

Archaeological sites

Petroglyphs on Mount Irish

There are numerous archaeological sites in the designated Basin and Range National Monument . Early Indians left petroglyphs on ledges on the edge of some promontories. The earliest petroglyphs are 4,000 years old. The petroglyph design includes animals, hunters, and many types of shapes and abstract figures. The petroglyphs can be found in three main locations, all of which are on the edge of the reserve: White River Narrows , Mount Irish, and Shooting Gallery . The petroglyphs at White River Narrows are in some places mixed in with pioneer signatures from the 18th and early 19th centuries. But there is also quite a bit of modern graffiti there, a result of the easy access, close to the paved road.

Land Art City

The artist Michael Heizer started the Land Art Project City in 1972 on private property in the Garden Valley . City is in the middle of the National Monument.

Others

Landscape shot

A railway line was to be built through the area of ​​the Basin and Range National Monument to transport nuclear waste to a planned repository in the Yucca Mountains . The designation of the protected area was assessed as the nail in the coffin for this planned project.

Web links

Commons : Basin and Range National Monument  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Presidential Proclamation - Establishment of the Basin and Range National Monument
  2. ↑ Quotes about Basin and Range National Monument in Nevada newsok.com dated July 10, 2015
  3. ↑ Lincoln County Residents Outraged Over National Monument Proclamation Moapa Valley Progress, July 15, 2015
  4. ^ The American Southwest: Basin and Range National Monument
  5. ↑ Why new national monument could derail plans for nuke dump at Yucca Las Vegas Sun of July 10, 2015

Coordinates: 37 ° 55 ′ 41 ″  N , 115 ° 23 ′ 50 ″  W.