It is up to the U.S. Senate, and specifically Sen. mul Laxalt (R-NV) to decide if the Wheeler Peak arca Nevada's southern Snake Range will become a Great sin National Park. The idea is not a new one. "This oposal hold's the world's record," says park advocate . Robert Starr Waite of the University of Utah. "It s been 62 years now that people have been trying to a park." Park legislation was introduced in 1924 by vada Sen. Key Pittman and in 1955 by Sens. Alan ble and Howard Cannon. The current bill, H.R. 4642, is sponsored by Rep. arry Reid (D-NV) and passed the House of presentatives April 30. It would designate a 129,500 re national park and adjoining 45,500 acre national serve. Reid had originally proposed a 174,000 acre ional park. The "Nevada Wilderness Protection Act 1986 would also designate ten new national forest lderness areas totaling 543,000 acres and enlarge the bidge Wilderness from 64,000 to 113,000 acres. Rep. Barbara Vucanovich (R-NV) is skeptical about move to designate the park and more wilderness in district. A motion by Vucanovich on the House or to amend the Reid bill and strike the park ovisions was defeated. She and Sens. Laxalt and Chic cht (R-NV) back an alternate 137,000 acre Nevada derness bill. The proposed Great Basin National Park and serve would take the place of the one square mile man Caves National Monument, established 1922, the Humboldt National Forest's Wheeler Peak enic Area. Hunting in the preserve and grazing in h the park and preserve would continue under Park vice administration. Support for a park is strong in the Nevada tourism ustry, which wants an antidote to the state's image as uclear testing range where gambling casinos are the y attraction. It is feared that as long as Nevada mains the only western state without a national park, catial visitors will stay away. Chambers of commerce in Ely, Nevada and Delta, h see their communities as gateways to a Great in park and hope for a possible westward extension Interstate 70. The park is considered the centerpiece "Silver Circle" of Great Basin points of interest. Dr. Waite regards park status as the only appropriate of recognition for the unique natural features found me Snake Range. Wheeler Peak is a place where a r can traverse five ecological life zones within five , and the seven peaks in the proposed park hold ntain lakes, trout streams, an impressive natural and significant arcaeological sites. Wheeler Cirque s a small remnant glacier. Several thriving bristlecone pine forests, which have red damage over the years from illegal woodcutting, ld be preserved. Bristlecone Ridge was once the site e world's oldest living tree, which was removed by ge 6 researchers in the 1960's. A cross-section of the 4,000 year old bristlecone is on display at the Lehman Caves visitor center. The limestone caves of the area, some of which are located outside the national monument, are considered unique because of their metamorphic rock and the rare cave formations, such as shields and helictites, that seem to be associated with it. A group of local residents oppose park designation because they see it conflicting with traditional mining and grazing land uses in White Pine County. Six grazing permittees would be affected, and they fear future attempts to phase out grazing in the park. Although no active mines would be included in the park, there are over 400 mining claims in the area and some people hope for a revival in the market for beryllium and tungsten that could reopen some mines. Baker, Nevada rancher Joc Griggs, a member of the Ely-based anti-park group Free Enterprise Associates, thinks that the park is being oversold by supporters like Dr. Waite. In a hearing last month before the State Multiple Use Advisory Committee on Federal Lands, he questioned the capacity of the arca, which already has developed campgrounds and paved roads, to absorb the additional visitation without overcrowding and strict regulations. Griggs and others also resent the implication that Forest Service management is not good enough for the Wheeler Peak area, and point out the success of multiple use management in providing for commercial activities, such as pine nut harvesting, firewood cutting, small-scale gold prospecting and the state fish hatchery on Snake Creek, that might be curtailed by the Park Service. The Wheeler Peak Scenic Area is clearly a source of pride for the Humboldt National Forest and especially for Ely District Ranger Paul DeMeule. While the Forest Service can take no official position on the advisability of a Great Basin National Park, there can be no doubt that the agency would prefer keeping the area as it is or else designating a wilderness or national recreation arca that would remain part of the national forest. The Humboldt draft forest plan will contain a wilderness recommendation for Wheeler Peak. At last month's hearing, DeMeule kidded Lehman Caves Superintendent Al Hendricks about the rivalry of their two agencies, dating back to the early days of the National Park System-- which grew largely by acquiring the most scenic tracts of national forest land. Both men work together closely to provide visitor services in the Wheeler Peak area, but DeMeule wondered out loud if his friend was already repainting the Forest Service trucks with NPS insignia. Park proponents such as John Lampros, chairman of the White Pine County Commission, maintain that only national park status will produce the sought-for tourism growth in the area. National parks receive far more free publicity than other recreation areas, according to Farrell Hansen of the White Pine Chamber of Commerce, and the number of visitors to Lehman. Caves has risen recently just as a result of speculation in the media about a park. ON PUBLIC LANDS May 1986 The Great Basin National Park and Preserve In the House-passed bill Includes the existing Lehman Caves National Monument (shaded area) and adjoining Forest Service Wheeler Peak Scenic Area. The cross-hatched area would be managed as a national preserve. Ely Mayor Barlow White countered the park opponents at the hearing by saying that the county's economy has declined in the last 25 years, with the loss of 2,168 residents, and that the loss of jobs in the mining and grazing sectors was the reason. He favors a park as a way to strengthen tourism. While Ely-arca residents are divided, a statewide public opinion survey of 2,000 randomly-selected Nevadans, conducted by the state division of state parks," has found 84% in favor of a Great Basin National Park. With that kind of public pressure, both Rep. Vucanovich and Sen. Laxalt have agreed in principle to support a park-- though at last report their preference was for the smallest possible proposal of about 40,000 acres. Some kind of agreement with Reid may resolve the issue. ON PUBLIC LANDS May 1986 Dr. Waite believes that this time the decision on a Great Basin National Park is crucial. "It must go through this year or we won't get it." The park debate may be far from over. Vucanovich, Laxalt and Hecht remain opposed to Reid's proposal. All three of Utah's representatives voted against the bill on April 30. Reps. Jim Hansen and Howard Nielson spoke against the measure in a mixture of anti-park rhetoric and objections to the way the bill was pushed through committce without the support of Vucanovich even though the acreage involved lics entirely in her Second Congressional District. But despite claims that designation is being rushed through Congress, the proposed Great Basin National Park and Preserve is clearly the leading candidate to be the first new national park in the lower 48 states in 15 years. It has been recommended in study after study for the ecological significance of the area, the unique limestone cave system (largest in the West), the wildnis values for deer and bighorn sheep, the suitability e Wheeler Peak as a tourist attraction. The evidence, in the choice between conservation under the Forest Service and preservation under Park Service management, weighs heavily in favor of preservation. "The 200,000-square-mile area known as the Greal Basin is not represented in the National Park System." says Rep. Reid. "The need for this park not only continues but is greater than it has ever been." Senator HECHT. Thank you. It is always good to see you, Doctor. Let us go right on. Mr. Darwin Lambert. STATEMENT OF DARWIN LAMBERT, LURAY, VA Mr. LAMBERT. I have been enjoying the Wheeler Peak area ever since I was a boy. In the 1950's, I had a part in originating the actually first Great Basin National Park proposal that was a small previous proposal, but it did not intend to represent the Great Basin. I am a bit concerned here. I know there have been three different rather heavy studies of this area by the Park Service, by the Government, by the Department of the Interior, and we seem to have almost none of the results of their studies before us. I am really quite impressed, or I should say tremendously impressed by the ability of you and Senator Laxalt to put almost all the truly outstandingly known, ones that are known, points of interest in 44,000 acres. I think it is tremendous, and I hope the park is established, and I hope that all of those 44,000 acres are in it. But plus some other things which I will try to put reason behind. The primary function of a National Park-I just wish there had been a lot of witnesses from the Park Service with all their information. They have vast amounts. The Park System is an inspirational and recreational resource. It is also to a great degree an educational resource, and it has a primary function as a Great Basin National Park where you assign a responsibility to the agency by giving them an area of that name. The Great Basin is an area which has, we talked about 19 themes awhile ago, but to put it in a nutshell there are really 3 themes. The Great Basin is a place from which the streams do not reach the ocean. It is an area of interior drainage. The Great Basin is a place with all these 300 mountain ranges that are created by a block vault system. You have high sharp mountain ranges and broad, rather level valleys. The third main characteristic of the Great Basin is this tremendous diversity of vegetation from the lowland on up to the Arctic tundra, the area above timberline. You have got a beautiful park, a beautiful area in the 44,000 acres, but you do not reach out to the essence of any of these three themes. The block faults are out farther, primarily out farther on the edge. The place to drain is down some, as pointed out here maybe sarcastically, we need an alluvial fan. We need a sink hole. We need a dry lake, or an alkali flat. Now maybe you cannot get it inside the area, but you could get it as a detached unit to give to the Park Service, and again it would be already Federal land and not private property that needs to be bought. Well, I have got a map with my written statement. Senator HECHT. Yes, it will be a part of the record. Mr. LAMBERT. The map, and my written statement will be in, because I am just going hastily on the high points. Senator HECHT. Thank you. Mr. LAMBERT. When the study was made by the National Park Service in the 1950's, one of the principal men doing the studying was a Dr. Adolph Murie, and he recognized what we people of the Great Basin had long realized that you go up a canyon to enjoy the Great Basin Mountains, you go up the canyon. OK, we left out Snake Canyon. We need Snake Canyon, Mr. Chairman, all the way to the edge of the Forest Service area to represent that full sweep of Great Basin vegetation. We need the Mount Washington cliffs. Your mines can continue if they have to, but the way that thing is set up you mind from down under in the bottom of Pole Canyon. You mill down there. You do not up on this platform Senator HECHT. Excuse me. I will have to ask you to summarize. Your whole statement will be a part of the record. Mr. LAMBERT. Yes, sir. One more little bit to finish this up. Senator HECHT. Finish up the sentence. Mr. LAMBERT. The plateau up there where the great bristlecone forests are is rather covered with mining claims, but the tunnel goes in underneath and we need those cliffs. I think the essence of what I have said is evident. I do not need to summarize. [The prepared statement of Mr. Lambert follows:] Statement of Darwin Lambert to Senate Committee Hearing in Washington on 7/18/86 in Relation to S.2506 for Establishing Great Basin National Park, Nevada I'm not representing any organization or agency here today, though I've been cooperating with National Parks & Conservation Association in Washington and with White Pine Chamber of Commerce at Ely, Nevada, and have had informal contact with people in the Federal and Nevada State governments. My testimony grows primarily from personal experience and study. I enjoyed Mt. Wheeler as a boy. In the 1950s I helped originate the first proposal for a "Great Basin National Park" as such, and in those years I explored this Wheeler Country quite thoroughly--by car and a jeep pickup with a horse in back, by horse-packing and backpacking, often camping out alone. My pertinent experience includes positions as chamber of commerce manager at Ely, as Nevada state legislator, as editor of Ely Daily Times, as president of a Great Basin National Park Association with members in 17 states, also 24 years as a trustee of NPCA meeting in Washington, five years as chairman or member of Nevada Board of Economic Development, and 22 years as a freelance writer dealing mostly with nature and conservation. I've visited most of our country's national parks. Much has been published about the proposed Great Basin park during the last 30 years--in conservation and scientific journals and elsewhere --and I assume this Committee has access to as much of this material as members or staff want to read. I assume, further, that other witnesses are discussing scientific facts and recreational potential, ranching, mining and hunting, and the economic pros and cons. My aim is to discuss the function of a Great Basin National Park and what acreage and features are needed to perform this function properly and thus serve the hundreds of thousands of the land's owners who will come to visit. The suitability of the South Snake Range to serve this purpose has been nationally accepted ever since April 1959 when the appropriate Advisory Board of the Interior Department judged Wheeler and vicinity possessed abundantly the necessary qualifications. In August 1961 I testified for a Senate Committee here in favor of S. 1760. In January 1962 the full Senate passed that bill to establish a Great Basin National Park of 123,360 acres. The bill never came to a hearing or a vote in the House, but support for the idea never died either in Washington or in Nevada. As you know, the National Park System is not only an inspirational and recreational resource but also a resource for education in America's natural and cultural heritage. The millions of people using it have continued to multiply until there's overcrowding that sometimes hampers the primary function. More places of suitable quality have been needed at intervals. Ideally, the system includes a superlative example of each and every distinctive geographic region in our country. The Great Basin has long |