Page 60 - 2004 DT 9 Issues

designation added welcome protection event. It began at Willow Spring and for projects, programs, equipment,
to at least part of the Spring Mountain finished near Charleston Blvd. There services, supplies, and staff training.
Range, the most biologically diverse was an entry fee on race day of $10.00. What started out as little more than
range in the U.S. for its size. FORRC was beginning to get public- a support group for the BLM has
With almost a million visitors a ity and recognition in the Las Vegas grown over the years into a vital force
year, the RRCNCA was included in a community. on behalf of Red Rock Canyon. It is
Fee Demonstration Program test in One of the key issues prior to the now a true partnership, and it is hard
1998 that allowed 17 federal sites to formation of FORRC in 1984 lay with to imagine the entire area without the
collect entrance fees. The majority of potential overthrust belt oil and gas Friends, without their day-to-day work
the money would be kept at the site drilling with attendant leasing of Red
during the test with the balance sent Rock land. Understandably, there was
to the U.S. Treasury. The intent was an uproar of public indignation at this
to help parks fund badly needed travesty hanging on the horizon. ©Tom Pfaendler
projects that meager budget allocations Howard Booth notes how the news-
could not. The now “permanent” Pro- papers were filled with articles and
gram is subject to future adjustments letters in opposition. In the end, it was
by Congress. As federal budgets are a victory for the environment and Ne-
increasingly slashed, entrance fees— vadans. So many restrictions were
along with continued help from placed on how and where drilling
RRCIA and FORRC—will become could be conducted that its proponents
ever more vital to the Canyon’s welfare. gave up. It was clear that organizations
Although the Canyon has long ago like FORRC would be needed to guard
given up most of its secrets to legions Red Rock Canyon’s unspoiled beauty
of enthusiasts, it continues to enchant from the despoilers. But nature was
visitors and locals alike with its pri- also in the scene, as a big wildfire
mal beauty and majestic presence. For broke out in 1987 at Mountain
its mute, wild inhabitants however, sur- Springs on the west side of Red Rock
vival depends upon the continuing love Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon
and loyalty of those who will fight to The Sierra Club was also taking
in facilitating a host of management
preserve this Eden from harm an interest in areas around Red Rock
functions as well as keeping Red
into the future. Canyon and sent a letter to the Nature
Rock’s pristine beauty preserved as a
Conservancy, suggesting they acquire
wondrous natural resource. The pres-
land at Oliver Ranch and Blue
ence of the FORRC is more important
Diamond after mining ceased. There
Beginning, continued from p.9 than ever as urban encroachment,
was talk of Nevada State Park authori-
spurred by developers, threatens its
couple fire rings. You had to pay a ties acquiring Oliver Ranch. Although biological diversity. But perhaps the
$5.00 membership fee to do all this, nothing came of this, more and more most significant contribution to Red
but everyone pitched in with public focus was directed at the need Rock Canyon lies in individual com-
enthusiasm. The love affair with Red to protect Red Rock Canyon. By 1990, mitment—in the answer to the
Rock Canyon was worth it. legislation initiated by Senator Harry question, “Why do you do it—work
“Getting people to come to Reid went through to establish the on trails in the heat, spend long hours
meetings was one of our first suc- Red Rock Canyon National on the VC desk and all those
cesses,” says Tepper. “We used to Conservation Area. other tasks?”
have them once a month at the V.C. Today, that original handful of “Because we want to,” responds
and we would serve food . . . but we members in the Friends of Red Rock one volunteer. “That’s the way it
always had a theme.” There was a Canyon has grown to over 750, ful- started.” And to that, Red Rock Can-
Mother’s Day Fun Run in May l985, filling all of those tasks originally yon says, “Thank you!”
sponsored by the Friends and First envisioned . . . and more. Over the last
Interstate Bank. Tee shirts were given 20 years, FORRC has provided over
Happy Birthday Friends!
out and over 700 people came for the 200,000 volunteer hours and $750,000

FORRC/August 2004 Page 11