Page 2 - 2001 DT 4 issues

Listing Freeze Imperils Species School professor and authority on the given out at the fee booth, in the amount
endangered species law. He argues that of 60,000 units.
he San Miguel Island fox, a resi- Congress is likely to continue to starve • A motion was passed to donate
dent of one of Southern the ESA enforcement effort through the $100 to the Red Rock Canyon Kids’Art
TCalifornia’s Channel Islands, budget process. The law is up for reau- Contest on April 28.

is perilously close to extinction due to thorization this year. • Volunteers with 40 hours or more
predation by non-native golden eagles, — High Country News of service will receive a Friends Training
which supplanted fish-eating bald eagles, Manual free of charge. The manual covers
and by canine distemper from domestic extensive information on the flora, fauna
dogs. Biologists have captured all but Sagebrush Rustlers and geology of Red Rock Canyon.
one of the remaining 15 foxes in hope of • The BLM reviewed their plan
rescuing the animal with a captive breed- new breed of outlaw has hit the for the Memorial Walkway around the
ing program. West—rustlers who rip off sage
r
A ush seeds. Last year’s wildfires Tortoise Habitat. Details are available at
b
destroyed thousands of acres of sage- the Visitor Center.
brush across the Great Basin, sending • Jim Cribbs will have a list of
federal agencies scouting for scarce seed volunteer tasks at his desk for those who
to replenish the sagelands. Rustlers have would like to perform small projects.
been stealing seed from public lands,
then selling it back to the people they
stole it from. When cleaned and dried,
the tiny seeds can bring as much as $100 General Meeting Held
The Center for Biological Diversity a pound.
petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife — High Country News he first general membership meet
Service to add the fox to the list of endan- Art Contest ing for the 2000-2001 fiscal year
gered species but on Nov. 15, the USFWS Twas held at the Visitor Center
told the Center that budget problems he 1st Annual Red Rock Canyon at noon on February 17. There were 43
would delay processing the request for at Art Contest for students in grades members in attendance.
least a year. Two days later, the agency T6 - 12 will be held this spring A Chili and Fixin’s lunch was served
froze all new listing decisions not already at the Visitor Center. Artwork must by Hospitality Chair, Lenola McClure in
backed by court orders. Meanwhile, a represent plants and animals native to the Friend’s Room.
host of imperiled plants and animals sit the Mojave Desert. Each grade level President Chuck Williams made
in limbo. will be awarded Best of Show ($100 three proposals requiring a member vote.
Listings have slowed significantly gift certificate) and 1st place ($25 gift All proposals were approved by the mem-
in the past four years and now Fish and certificate). bership as follows:
Wildlife claims it has no money to list All entries must be received at —The current mission statement,
new species. Every year since 1996, of- the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center “Friends of Red Rock Canyon shall
ficials have asked Congress to put a cap or the School-Community Partnership provide trained volunteers to support
on the listing budget. The agency says the Program, Clark County School District the conservation, protection and en-
cap is needed to prevent federal judges no later than April 6, 2001. The awards hancement of the Red Rock Canyon
from ordering the agency to take money ceremony will be held at the Canyon on National Conservation Area for present
from other programs to spend more on Saturday, April, 28, 2001 from 12:00 and future generations” will be changed
listing. p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Contact Ranger Kate to: “The mission of the Friends of Red
Compromises made with Congress for details. Rock Canyon is to support the Bureau
over the last four years by former Interior of Land Management in the protection
Secretary Bruce Babbitt, allowing habitat Board Notes and enrichment of Red Rock Canyon
conservation but favoring private rights National Conservation Area.” The vote
and development, have seriously weak- • A motion was passed to provide a was unanimous in favor.
ened the Endangered Species Act accord- donation to support the Nevada Wildlife —The budget for the fiscal year will
ing to Patrick Parentaeu, a Vermont Law Federation Achievement Awards. be increased by $50,000 at the request
Page 2 FORRC/March, 2001 • A motion was passed to replen-
ish the supply of Friends’ logo trashbags

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