The National Park Service Organic Act directs theService to preserve park resources “unimpaired,”while providing for public enjoyment of thoseresources. Because public enjoyment cannot be sus-tained if park resources are damaged or compro-mised, resource protection must necessarily be theService’s paramount responsibility. Within that con-straint, the Service recognizes its obligation to pro-vide for a broad range of educational, healthful,enjoyable, and otherwise appropriate activities thatfoster a continuing public appreciation for parkresources and values.

CARRYING CAPACITY

Park managers are often faced with decisions abouthow much use of a particular area is appropriate,given the need to protect resources. Decisionsregarding buildings, such as museums and historicstructures, are usually dictated by law and the phys-ical capacity of the space to contain people. Visitorsface these limits everywhere they go and they arewidely accepted. Similar decisions regarding naturalspaces are not as easily derived, nor readily accept-ed. Most people understand that there is a need tolimit the number of people that can float theColorado River at the same time, in order to pre-serve the experience. However, determining howmany people can use a particular area of the parkwithout impacting resources or other visitors experi-ence is often more difficult.

A widely accepted definition of carrying capacity is:

“the character of use that can be supportedover a specific time by an area developed at acertain level without causing excessive dam-age to either the physical environment or theexperience of the visitor.”

There are three principal components that relate todetermining the carrying capacity for a national park:

The ecological or physical capabilities of the naturaland cultural resources to sustain certain levels of vis-itor use without reaching unacceptable levels ofdamage. Each landscape may have varying abilitiesto absorb different kinds of and levels of visitor usebefore unacceptable levels of impacts occur.

The sociological carrying capacity is the ability of vis-itors to enjoy and appreciate these resources with-out interference by other visitors. Determining socialcarrying capacity can be one of the most difficultparts of the three components. Sheer numbersrelating to visitation in an area are not a valid deter-minant of a quality visitor experience. Other factorssuch as visitor behavior, preconceived expectationsand social norms of the dominant user group canaffect visitor enjoyment.

The type and amount of NPS management that hasbeen, or can be applied to the activity to mitigateunwanted impacts are also a factor. This compo-nent relates to the management of such things asroads, parking lots, buildings, trails, and visitorinformation. For example, providing interpretiveservices is an effective way to instill in the visitors anunderstanding and appreciation for the parkresources. Such understanding helps implementcarrying capacity for a particular area. Limiting park-ing in certain areas can effectively limit visitation.

General management plans provide NPS managerswith management direction on a broad, prescriptivelevel. Management objectives for carrying capacityare thus written as narrative statements. Thesestatements define the desired future visitor experi-ence and resource conditions in qualitative termssuch as “sense of seclusion,” or “low degree of tol-erance for resource degradation.” These qualitativedescriptors, which have been identified as “desiredvisitor experience and resource conditions,” wouldbe refined and translated into quantitative stan-dards during future implementation planning. Aspreviously mentioned indicators and standards ofquality for both the physical and social environ-ments would be developed within future implemen-tation plans. These products would be quantifiableand measurable aspects of the carrying capacityprocess. Mojave would undertake data-gatheringefforts, including visitor surveys, to help define thevisitor experience and resource protection goals thatshould define the carrying capacity of the Preserve.

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Existing Land Uses and Desired FutureConditions

Mojave National Preserve is a large expanse of natu-ral Mojave Desert ecosystem. Managing the area topreserve this system as a self-sustaining environmentwhere native species thrive is our overall manage-ment goal. Mixed throughout this environment areexisting land uses, both historic and present day, aswell as special management areas (wilderness, criti-cal habitat, state park, etc.). Some of these land usesare important for providing visitor access (roads),help tell the story of human use and occupation, orprotect sensitive resources such as desert tortoisecritical habitat. Some existing land uses (pipelines,electric transmission lines, telephone relay sites,antennas, billboards, etc.) do not conform well withour preservation mission and management goals,but are authorized pre-existing uses. These are iden-tified here to recognize their existence as non-con-forming uses that dissect the park and at times mayinterfere with the visitor experience.

Desired future conditions for natural and culturalresources and the visitor experiences are describedbelow. The descriptions are qualitative in nature andcan be translated into quantitative standards overtime during the implementation of this plan. Somedescriptions could be applied to broad areas such aswilderness, while others apply to smaller areas suchas road corridors and points of development. Thesedescriptions serve as guides for managing the landand facilities to achieve desired carrying capacities.

Natural Environment

The vast majority of Mojave National Preserve is anatural Mojave Desert ecosystem. This desiredfuture condition could be thought of as the primaryland use or zone that underlies all the subsequentuse descriptions that follow. Except for developedareas (roads, railroads, visitor centers, camp-grounds, etc.) the desired future conditions for thenatural environment are the ground floor conditionsthat all the other land classifications build upon.Natural Areas, Wilderness, desert tortoise criti-cal habitat and the Granite Mountains NaturalReserve are all components of the natural envi-ronment where resource protection standards andvisitor experience are altered by additional laws andmanagement goals for these areas.

Natural Areas. Natural areas of the Preserve thatoccur outside of designated wilderness provide aninformal, self-guided desert learning experience forvisitors. People are encouraged to get out of their

vehicles and walk to features. The pace is slow withlow to moderate levels of noise. Visitors typicallyfocus on specific resources with few visual intru-sions. Visitors experience a sense of learningthrough onsite interpretation or other means.

The length of stay at each site is relatively short incomparison to the time visitors spend in thePreserve. There is a moderate amount of socialcrowding and moderate interaction at points ofinterest and along dead-end trails. Guided rangerwalks are occasionally provided for visitors at somelocations. Development is limited to items such aslow interpretive panels, small directional signs, andhardened dirt paths. Fences are used as a last resortto protect resources if other management efforts donot work. The tolerance for resource degradation islow to moderate, depending on the sensitivity ofthe resource. The degree of onsite visitor andresource management is moderate and increases ordecreases with visitation levels.

Wilderness. Wilderness as a desired future condi-tion, is a subset of the natural environment, whereprotection of the natural values and resources is theprimary management goal. Restrictions on use ofthese areas are imposed by law and policy in orderto provide a primitive environment free from mod-ern mechanization and motorized travel.

Visitors in this landscape experience a primitive envi-ronment largely untouched by people. Remnants ofhuman occupation within wilderness areas that areeither on or eligible for the National Register, will beidentified, protected, and preserved as part of thedesert landscape. However, for purposes of protec-tion and because the desired future condition ismaintaining the wilderness values (as required bythe Act), little to no effort would be made to directvisitors to these historic resources. Within MojaveNational Preserve’s wilderness area the level of phys-ical exertion required to hike or ride horseback intothe area varies from an easy walk to a strenuoustrek. A minimal number of hiking trails are present,often requiring a person to travel cross-country toget to a desired destination. Abandoned roads mayalso be used as routes of travel. Some restoration ofpre-existing roads, mines, and dumps will likelyoccur as cultural and natural studies are completed.Opportunities for independence, closeness tonature, tranquility, and the application of outdoorskills are high. Opportunities for social interactionwith other visitors are low, as is the probability ofencountering NPS employees. Likewise, evidence ofother visitors is minimal.

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The landscape offers a high degree of challenge andadventure for visitors. The visual quality of the land-scape contributes significantly to the visitor experi-ence and needs to be protected. The tolerance forresource degradation is low, with the exception ofdesignated trail corridors, where a slightly higherlevel of degradation is allowed within a few feet ofthe trail and at points where camping occurs. Aminimal amount of resource and visitor manage-ment is present. Offsite visitor management (provi-sion of information) is low to moderate.

Desert Tortoise Critical Habitat. Desert tortoisecritical habitat was formally designated by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service in 1994 and identifiesthose areas of the Preserve known to contain thebest quality tortoise habitat at that time. Desert tor-toise critical habitat overlays both wilderness andnatural areas, and is a subset of the natural envi-ronment, where protection of natural values andresources is primary. However, it is dissected byroads and utility corridors. These areas are managedfor protection of the desert tortoise and their habitat.

Visitors in this landscape encounter the same gen-eral conditions and experiences as described abovefor the natural environment and wilderness,depending on the particular location. They may alsoencounter developed areas, roads, railroads, utilitycorridors or historic features. This subset of the nat-ural area provides the best opportunities for observ-ing and learning about desert tortoise habitat, lifehistory and threats.

Granite Mountains Natural Reserve. The GraniteMountains Natural Reserve is a 9,000-acre area thatoverlays both wilderness and non-wilderness areas.Wilderness designation over the majority of theReserve prevents the use of mechanized equipmentand motorized vehicles. It is a natural environmentwhere continuation of arid lands research and edu-cational activities on desert ecosystems is assured bylegislation. The area is co-managed by the NationalPark Service and the University of California under acooperative agreement. The area is mostly undevel-oped, with only a single trail access corridor alongan old mining road. The university has a few admin-istrative support buildings on their property.

Visitors to this area encounter the same generalconditions and experiences as described above fornatural environment and wilderness. Additionalrestrictions on recreational visitor use may beapplied as necessary to ensure protection of longterm research areas.

Developed Areas

Mixed throughout the natural environment areexisting land uses, both historic and present day.Some of these land uses are important for providingvisitor access (roads), help tell the story of humanuse and occupation or provide facilities for visitorenjoyment. Unlike non-conforming uses, thesedevelopments are considered an important part ofthe Preserve and are managed as such.

Historic Preservation Areas. Historic preservationareas offer visitors a chance to gain a sense of thepast by using as many of their senses possible with-out compromising the integrity of the resource.Often there are opportunities to learn by vicariouslyexperiencing the emotions and thoughts of thosewho lived in the past. The experience is often a visu-al one, with feelings gained by physical spaces,smells, and sounds adding to the whole experience.Interpretive information adds color and meaning tothe experience.

The degree of tolerance for resource degradation islow for historic resources. The chance of seeingother visitors and having social interaction is poten-tially high, depending on the degree of public accessand visitor interest. The opportunity for contact withNPS personnel is high where ranger-led tours areoffered. Visitor behavior is managed to protect thecharacter of each place. NPS onsite management ishigh at sites with high visitation and impact sensitiv-ity. Paved walks, fences, and interpretive panels areused as needed to accommodate public access andinterest in accordance with the Secretary of theInterior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. If interest ishigh, improvements may be needed to allow visitorsto experience these resources while protecting themfrom visitor use impacts. Improvements must not dis-tract from the significance of each location. Somefeatures are convenient and easily accessible with lit-tle need for visitors to exert themselves, apply out-door skills, or make a long time commitment to seethe area. Some features are at remote locations andwould require more effort and skill to experience.Adventure is often a part of the visitor experience atthese places. The way in which people currently gainaccess to these locations should remain unchangedsince this experience contributes to resource protec-tion and its appreciation. Changes in access shouldonly be made if there is strong justification to do so.Remote locations should provide a primitive settingwith opportunities for solitude, exploration, andlearning with minimal amounts of human interven-tion such as signs or interpretive panels.

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Visitor and Administrative Facilities. The visitorexperience in these areas is heavily influenced bystructures and other fabricated features, and they arepart of the visitor experience. The pace is varied, withopportunities to walk and drive. The site often is noisywith vehicles and people nearby. Visitors have oppor-tunities to hike, learn about resources, and receivemany services from facilities. Visual distractions fromother visitors and their vehicles are common andexpected. Buildings and other facilities are predomi-nant, but where exceptional natural elements or cul-tural elements are present, they are part of the visitorexperience. The constructed features are coordinatedby design to reduce the visual contrast with the natu-ral or cultural setting. Although these are developedareas, they still offer a contrast from urban life and achance to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Most facilities are convenient and easily accessibleby the public with little need for visitors to exertthemselves, apply outdoor skills, or make a long-time commitment to see the area. Opportunities foradventure are relatively unimportant. Many areasprovide a strong opportunity for social interaction.Encounters with NPS staff are frequent. The toler-ance for social crowding is high but there are oppor-tunities to learn and experience a change in pacefrom city life. Most facilities are accessible to visitorswith disabilities. Resource impacts at visitor facilitiesare as low as possible, occurrences only when thereis no practicable alternative. Visitors and facilitiesare intensively managed for resource protection, vis-itor management, and safety (that is, there arefences, law enforcement is intensive, and visitoractivities are monitored or restricted).

Paved and Maintained Dirt Roads. Paved andmaintained dirt roads are the dominant experiencefor most visitors. Visitors use these narrow corridorsand roadside pullouts for touring, enjoying scenicoverlooks, and gaining access to natural and cultur-al features. While traveling, visitors may read aboutand understand the features they are seeing. Bicycletravel is allowed, but motorized vehicles are morecommon. Viewing the scenery is very important, butthe views are often of distant landscapes. Vistas areprotected. First-time visitors may have a sense ofexploration, but little physical exertion is needed,and outdoor skills are not necessary. Visitors mayspend a long time in this zone. The probability ofencountering other visitors is high, althoughchances for social interaction are low except at road-side pullouts. The opportunity for direct contact withNPS staff is low unless visitors seek out assistance atvisitor centers or while engaged in a consumptiveresource activity such as hunting and mining.

A moderate to high level of NPS management(highway signs, visitor protection) is needed to pro-vide visitors with a safe and enjoyable experience.Because maintenance work and driving off roadscan cause dirt roads to grow wider, it is necessary tospecify maximum road widths and approved pull-outs. Roads are limited to specified widths unlesswhere strong justification exists. Resources can bemodified for essential visitors and administrativeoperational needs. The tolerance for resourcedegradation in these corridors is moderate.Allowable impacts are restricted to a short distancefrom roads and pullouts.

Unmaintained Dirt and Four-Wheel DriveRoads. Unmaintained dirt roads provide a uniqueexperience for drivers and other users such asmountain bike riders, equestrians, and hikers. Thepredominant use is by visitors in vehicles driving toenjoy the unique desert environment, or to go tohistoric mining sites, or to a specific feature. Somevisitors experience a strong sense of exploration,challenge, and adventure. Travel speeds are slow tomoderate, with the potential of frequent stops.Many of these roads offer a sense of backcountrytravel and give visitors a sense of escape from urbanlife. The areas through which these roads pass arepredominantly natural, but there is evidence of peo-ple having used the area in the past and present.Increased impacts from human use are prevented toprotect the existing qualities of the landscape.Support features such as small directional signs orinterpretive panels are present but infrequently seenand inconspicuous in character.

Visitors need to extend themselves, use outdoorskills, and make a large time commitment. Someroads with rough conditions require specific vehicleswith 4x4 driving skills and more time to completethe route. Opportunities for challenge and adven-ture are available on some 2-wheel drive roads thatrequire high clearance vehicles. Opportunities forsocial interaction are low, unless people are travel-ing in a group.

A moderate level of management is provided onheavily used roads to protect resources and visitors.Most people who use these roads do not want tosee many other vehicles. Speed limits will beenforced using radar and other law enforcementtechniques.

Resource modification is evident, but where possi-ble, it harmonizes with the natural environment.The Preserve’s tolerance for resource degradation in

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this zone is low except that limited signs, road sur-faces and shoulders, pullouts, and camping areasare permitted. It is recognized that some 4-wheeldrive roads have a number of short sections thathave been widened through natural occurrencessuch as washouts.

Non-Conforming Uses. Some existing land uses(pipelines, electric transmission lines, telephonerelay sites, antennas, billboards, etc.) do not con-form well with the NPS preservation mission andmanagement goals, but are pre-existing uses. Theseare identified here to recognize their existence asnon-conforming uses that dissect the park and attimes may interfere with the visitor experience. Themanagement philosophy towards these develop-ments is to minimize their intrusion and managetowards their eventual elimination, either throughtechnological improvements or acquisition. Many ofthese uses will likely remain intact throughout thelife of this plan, but as opportunities arise to mini-mize or eliminate them, the park would worktowards that end.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Background

Mojave National Preserve has long provided recre-ational opportunities for people from all over theworld. Its nearness to major population centers suchas Los Angeles and Las Vegas, combined with majorinterstate highways, gives residents the opportunityfor relatively easy access to many parts of thedesert. Most of the landscape is open, with broadvistas of relatively undeveloped land. The vastnessof the landscape offers visitors an opportunity forseclusion and a sense of wilderness, even while in avehicle. Early miners and ranchers developed roadsthat today offer visitors a chance to drive into manyremote locations where informal camping has tradi-tionally occurred. There are several major sand dunesystems. Hikers play on and explore the KelsoDunes. There are many cultural sites such as aban-doned mining districts, which many people love tovisit. The mountain ranges, such as the New Yorkand Providence Mountains, offer a contrast to thedry hot valleys, attracting many people in summerwith cooler temperatures and forested areas.Volcanic cinder cones, lava flows, rock outcrops,and unique wildlife and vegetation are other ele-ments that attract people. The land has manyextremes and contrasts that people come to experi-ence, such as the high summer temperatures. Mostvisitors come to the desert simply to see the out-standing scenery of this diverse landscape.

Most visitation to the Preserve occurs betweenOctober and May. It is estimated that 72% ofovernight visitation occurs at this time. In July 1996,12,842 vehicles entered the Preserve, compared to14,617 in March 1997. While the numbers are veryclose, relatively few people stay more than a fewhours in the summer. Campground use statisticsshow a different picture of summer visitation.During July 1996 there were 35-user days, and dur-ing March 1997, there were 1,412. These numbersreflect use of all developed campgrounds.Campground use has increased over the years; theBureau of Land Management recorded 960 user-daysduring April 1991; while the National Park Servicerecorded 1,252 in 1996 and 1,500 in 1997. Thesenumbers may reflect having campground hosts anddifferent BLM and NPS collection processes.

Visitation to the Preserve over the life of this plancould increase by 50–60 percent (assuming 3–4 per-cent increase per year), resulting in an annual visitorincrease of perhaps 200,000 visitors by 2016. Theseprojections are based on our local experience since1994, and the trends reflected nationally at NPS units.

The 1997 visitor study revealed that 64% of the vis-itors were from California and 11% were fromNevada. Most people started from Las Vegas,Nevada or from Twentynine Palms or Barstow,California on the day of their visit to the Preserve.There may also be a large number of visitors whoare taking a scenic route between Joshua TreeNational Park and Death Valley. The most concen-trated use periods are the first two or three week-ends of the upland bird and deer seasons in Octoberand November, and the Thanksgiving and Easterweekends. April had the highest visitation record ofany month during 1996.

Many residents of adjacent communities such asNeedles, Laughlin and Bullhead City come to thehigher elevations in the Preserve during the summer

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to escape the heat and enjoy a change of scenery.Most visitation to the Preserve occurs on weekendswhen residents of California, Arizona and Nevadaarrive. Daytime recreational use is expected to con-tinue to increase as the populations of Clark Countyand Laughlin, Nevada, Bullhead City and Kingman,Arizona, Barstow and Needles, California continueto grow.

Traffic counters and field observations indicate thatmany people are using roads in the Preserve as aroute between Las Vegas and Twentynine Palms.Most use in the Preserve is sightseeing and drivingfor recreation, but the diverse landscape offersmany other forms of recreation including activitiessuch as hunting, nature study, rock-climbing, moun-tain biking, exploring by 4WD vehicle, and hiking.

Plan ActionsIt is recognized that recreational trends continue tochange and that specific, detailed directions on cer-tain activities need to be placed under a guidingstatement providing overall direction. NPSManagement Policies provides guidance for deter-mining the appropriateness of recreational activitiesin units of the national park system.

Unless the activity is mandated by statute, theNational Park Service will not allow a recreationalactivity within a park if it will involve any of the fol-lowing results:

■ inconsistency with the park’s enabling legisla-tion or proclamation or derogation of the valuesor purposes for which the park was established

■ unacceptable impacts on visitor enjoyment dueto interference or conflict with other visitor useactivities

■ consumptive use of park resources (does notapply to certain traditional activities specificallyauthorized by NPS general regulations)

■ unacceptable impacts on park resources or nat-ural processes

■ unacceptable levels of danger to the welfare orsafety of the public, including participants

NPS Management Policies also states that each unitof the national park system is responsible for deter-mining which recreational activities are appropriateor inappropriate, based upon the unit’s purposesand values (see the purpose and significance state-ments for Mojave National Preserve).

Rock-Climbing

Background

There are potential or actual rock-climbingresources in the following areas: Clark Mountain,the Granite Mountains, the New York Mountains,Mid Hills, Teutonia Peak, and the Hole-in-the-Wallarea. With the exception of Clark Mountain, theselocations are lightly utilized for technical rock-climb-ing, and contain few fixed anchors (climbing boltsand other devices not removed after each climb).The climbing areas at Clark Mountain, TeutoniaPeak and the New York Mountains are within des-ignated wilderness. Climbing areas at Mid Hills andGranite Mountains are both within and outsidewilderness, and potential climbing at Hole-in-the-Wall is outside wilderness.

Access to the climbing resources at the GraniteMountains, New York Mountains, Mid Hills,Teutonia Peak, and Hole-in-the-Wall requires a vari-ety of two-wheel drive, high clearance, and four-wheel drive vehicles depending upon one’s destina-tion. In addition, accessing all these areas requireshiking. Hole-in-the-Wall is the most accessibleresource, requiring only a two-wheel drive vehicle,and a short, easy hike. Climbing in the New YorkMountains is likely the most remote, requiring afour-wheel drive vehicle and long, strenuous hikingto the mountain’s upper elevations.

Mojave has a substantial, high-quality climbingresource at Clark Mountain. Visits by park staff, per-sonal communications, and lay publications suggestthat the Clark Mountain area provides numerousclimbing routes at a high degree of difficulty. Most orall of these routes rely on bolts for protection. It isunknown if more routes have been developed. Theuse of a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle isnecessary to reach the Clark Mountain trailhead.Accessing the various climbing routes requires 30 to90 minutes of strenuous hiking and rock scrambling.The climbing area on Clark Mountain also lies com-pletely within designated wilderness.

Plan Actions

The management goal will be to allow climbers toenjoy their experience with a sense of challenge in amanner that will leave the environment relativelyunchanged and not impacted, allowing futureclimbers an opportunity for a similar experience.Climbing will be managed for the following objectives:

■ protecting cultural resources such as rock artand historic or prehistoric sites

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■ protecting natural resources, including threatenedand endangered plants and animals

■ protecting wilderness resources and values fromvisual and physical impacts

■ protecting the outdoor recreational experiencesof visitors not participating in rock-climbing

■ developing an open communication line withthe climbing community to promote a spirit ofcooperation in achieving objectives and resolv-ing problems

■ promoting clean climbing methods and environ-mentally-friendly climbing equipment

■ All wilderness areas within Mojave will beclosed to any further placement of new boltsand other types of fixed anchors. Fixed anchorsin wilderness will only be allowed if they cur-rently exist (at the time of the signing of thegeneral management plan), if they are placedas a rappel anchor at the top of a route, or ifthey are an in-kind replacement of an existingbolt or anchor for safety purposes.

■ The area immediately behind and within sight(within 500 feet) of the Hole-in-the-Wall visitorcenter will be closed to technical rock-climbing,including the placement of permanent climbinganchors.

■ Mojave will study climbing impacts on sheep, andif warranted, close climbing at Clark Mountainduring sheep lambing season.

The National Park Service will seek ways to educatethe public on proper climbing ethics and outdoorskills such as those promoted by the NationalOutdoor Leadership School’s “Leave No Trace” pro-gram for climbing. Mojave will work with groupssuch as the Access Fund to educate the park’s climb-ing community. Mojave will monitor rock-climbinguse levels and related activities in the coming yearsto determine the effectiveness of current manage-ment in achieving the previously mentioned goalsand objectives.

Power drills will be not be allowed in the Preserve atany time. Chipping of rock faces and gluing of holdsonto the rock will be prohibited, as will intentionalremoval of vegetation from climbing routes.Climbing will not be permitted within 500 feet ofany prehistoric or historic rock art site or other cul-tural resource.

Existing bolts and other fixed anchors that aredeemed unsafe by climbers could be replaced on apiece-by-piece basis. Replacement of existing bolts

will be accomplished in a manner that removes theold bolt with minimum damage to the rock.Whenever possible for the safe replacement of anexisting bolt, the existing bolt hole will be utilizedfor the replacement bolt. If use of the existing holeis not possible, the old hole will be filled with a nat-ural colored rock material blended with bondingagents to permanently fill the hole.

The NPS will require that all bolts and other fixedanchors, chalk, slings, quick draws, and any otherpiece of equipment that will be left on the rock foran extended period, be of an environmentally-friendly color. Leaving fixed ropes for extended peri-ods for the purpose of ascending and descending(rappelling) rock walls is not allowed.

The Clark Mountains are also heavily used by desertbighorn sheep. Questions exist as to the potentialfor climbers to impact the Clark Mountain sheeppopulation, especially during lambing season(February–June). Mojave will study climbing impactsto sheep, and if necessary, impose seasonal closuresto Clark Mountain in order to protect the bighorn.The study itself could include a temporary closureon visitation to Clark Mountain to serve as a scien-tific control period.

Those lands in the Granite Mountains NaturalReserve that are owned by the University ofCalifornia are dedicated to the purposes of scientif-ic study and education. The university prohibitsrock-climbing on their lands because they considerthis use to be incompatible with their scientific mis-sion and due to the potential for damage to long-term research plots.

The NPS will discourage multiple social trails andheavily impacted zones at the base of climbs, andwill employ barriers, revegetation, and possible clo-sures as a means to prevent these impacts. Mojavemay close any area, rock feature, or climbing routeto protect wildlife, natural or cultural resources, orwilderness experiences. NPS authority for closures isgranted in 36 CFR 1.5.

Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping

Background

The California Desert Protection Act permits hunt-ing, fishing, and trapping on lands and waters with-in the Preserve in accordance with applicable federaland state laws. However, the Secretary of the Interiormay designate areas where, and establish periodswhen, no hunting, fishing, or trapping will be per-

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mitted for reasons of public safety, administration, orcompliance with provisions of applicable law. TheNational Park Service authority extends not only tofederal lands, but to private inholdings and adjacentprivate land where activities carried out on thoselands interfere with the designated use of the feder-al lands. The National Park Service consults with theCalifornia Department of Fish and Game prior to theNPS designation of closed seasons or areas.

Hunting on federal and all private lands within thePreserve is allowed and administered by CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game and NPS regulations.Commonly hunted game species include mourningdoves, quail, chukar, rabbits, bighorn sheep, andmule deer. Nongame species are also hunted withinthe Preserve. These game and nongame species arenot uniformly distributed in the Mojave NationalPreserve. The bighorn sheep prefer steep, moun-tainous, open terrain; the Rocky Mountain muledeer’s preference is high elevation Great Basin habi-tats; and the game birds’ habitat of choice is nearsprings or guzzlers.

Mojave National Preserve is one of the few places inCalifornia where bighorn sheep hunting is allowed.Limited hunting of bighorns began in 1987 (BLM1988). A limited number of permits to hunt bighornsheep are issued each year through a lottery system.One other permit in addition to the permits issued bythe lottery system is awarded each year to the high-est bidder, allowing him/her to hunt one animal.

Chukar have been introduced throughout most ofthe Preserve. Rocky Mountain mule deer were intro-duced in the New York Mountains of the Preserve inthe late 1940s (see “Introduced Species” section).

Plan Actions

Section 506(b) of the CDPA provides for hunting,fishing and trapping within Mojave NationalPreserve, in accordance with applicable Federal andState laws. Congress also clearly provided the NPSwith a mandate in our 1916 Organic Act, to preservewildlife, and other resources within park units. Theyalso reiterated in the CDPA our mandate to preservewildlife by affording the new Preserve full recogni-tion and statutory protection to establish periodswhen, no hunting, fishing, or trapping will be per-mitted for reasons of public safety, administration, orcompliance with provisions of applicable law.

Therefore, it is appropriate to recognize public safe-ty and resource protection issues and to balance themandate from the CDPA with the NPS resource

preservation and visitor enjoyment mission. Thegoal is to provide better protection to desert tortoiseand other park resources and to enhance visitorsafety. It is also to strike a balance with the missionof the park, which is preservation of resources. TheNPS goal is to provide opportunities for hunters totake game species during the fall and winter, whilealso providing a park experience with no hunting orshooting during the spring and summer.

Hunting will follow California Department of Fishand Game (CDF&G) regulations. The Preserve willseek the following special regulations:

■ In accordance with the Desert Tortoise RecoveryPlan hunting would be limited to upland gamebirds (mourning dove, quail, chukar), cotton-tails, jackrabbits, and big game (deer andbighorn sheep) during their designated CDF&Gseasons. Cottontails and jackrabbits may behunted only from September through January.

■ The hunting season for the Preserve will be fromSeptember 1 to January 31 (except through thefirst Sunday in February for bighorn sheep). Thisis the same season as the Providence MountainsState Recreation Area (Section 260.1 CaliforniaHunting Regulations, 1999).

■ Use of hunting dogs will be allowed in accor-dance with State hunting regulations, and toprotect visitors and wildlife, dogs must be in theowner’s control at all times.

■ For public safety, shooting of rifles will not beallowed within one mile of Kelso Depot andKelso Dunes.

■ CDF&G regulations regarding shooting nearpublic buildings and paved roads would apply.

■ Target or random shooting (plinking) is notallowed anywhere in the Preserve.

Trapping within the Preserve will follow California’s1998 Proposition 4 to the extent that it does notconflict with federal wildlife management. In verylimited circumstances the superintendent will allowtrapping by designated individuals to remove (trapor shoot) animals that are a hazard to visitors orpark resources under the authority provided by16.U.S.C.3.

The collection of amphibians and reptiles with afishing license will not be allowed in MojaveNational Preserve since it is in conflict with adminis-tration of the area. Fishing will follow existingCDF&G fishing regulations, except the collection ofnongame birds, reptiles, amphibians, and inverte-

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brates will not be permitted without a valid NPS sci-entific collection permit issued under NPS regula-tions (CFR 36 2.2 b.4 & 2.5.a).

Hiking

Background

Many opportunities for day and overnight hikingexist. There are two developed trails: one betweenMid Hills and Hole-in-the-Wall campgrounds, andthe second a two-mile roundtrip to Teutonia Peakfrom Cima Road. There are other hiking opportuni-ties — an abandoned road in Caruthers Canyonleads to an old gold mine, Kelso Dunes, and a trailin Piute Canyon leads along sections of the originalMojave Road and into the wash and eventually endsat Piute Gorge. Several former roads now in wilder-ness areas are closed to vehicle use; such roads mayoffer opportunities for hiking into Cow Cove, CastlePeaks, and other areas.

Plan Actions

Hiking is encouraged throughout the Preserve, bothon developed trails and cross-country. Groups andorganized events will need to obtain a permit. Thebackcountry/wilderness management plan willaddress trail use by hikers, equestrians, bicycles, andvisitors with disabilities. The plan will be guided bythe goal of increasing the diversity of recreationalopportunities for the above activities in appropriatelocations. Until completion of the plan, all trails willbe open for use by hikers and equestrians, exceptwhere management problems were identified andrestrictions needed to be established.

Equestrian Use

Background

Horseback riding occurs in the Preserve at severallocations. A group called the East Mojave ScenicArea Trail Riders has defined routes out of the Hole-in-the-Wall area that lead into Round, Pinto, Goldand Lanfair Valleys. Watson and Woods washes alsoserve as routes to Caruthers and Black canyons. Trailsoften follow old roads or washes or go cross-coun-try. These routes are not marked by signs, so theexperience of using them is an informal adventure.The amount of use is unknown at this time.

Plan Actions

All trails will be open for use by hikers and equestri-ans, except where management problems wereidentified and restrictions needed to be established.Horses may also travel cross-country. Groups and

organized events will need to obtain a permit. Largehorse groups may be restricted to existing roads.

Bicycling

Background

Mountain bike use in the Preserve is unknown atthis time. Bicyclists have recorded their names in theMojave Road register, indicating their use of thisroute. Mountain biking is the third fastest growingequipment-related outdoor activity in the country,as of 1995. Offroad ridership has increased nation-ally by 20% every year since 1990. In 1995, an esti-mated 2.5 million to 3 million of those riders wereclassified as avid trail cyclists.

Plan Actions

Bicycles will be allowed on all open roads, but noton single-track trails, in wilderness, or off existingroads. The backcountry/wilderness managementplan will consider the feasibility of designating dirtroads as bicycle routes. Groups and organizedevents will need to obtain a permit.

Motorcycles and ATVs

Background

Occasional illegal use occurs on the Kelso Dunesand the Soda Lake area, adjacent to the BLM’s offhighway vehicle area at Rasor. The Preserve hasundertaken a number of activities to try and elimi-nate these illegal uses. Street legal motorcycles doutilize park roads regularly, including both pave-ment and backcountry dirt roads. Organized groupshave been permitted to ride the Mojave Road.

Plan Actions

Street legal and licensed vehicles are permitted onroads in the Preserve, when operated by a licenseddriver in accordance with State law and NPS regula-tions. All terrain vehicles are not permitted on anypaved roads in the Preserve. Motorcycles must havemufflers that permit normal conversation when theengine is idling. Groups and organized events willneed to obtain a permit.

Aircraft

Background

There are no designated airstrips in the Preserve onpublic lands.

Plan Actions

Landing of aircraft on roads, dry lakes, or other

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areas of the Preserve is not allowed. Use of privateaircraft must be in accordance with FAA regulations,which provide for a recommended minimum alti-tude over parks of 2,000 feet.

Backcountry Use and Roadside VehicleCamping

Background

Camping out of a vehicle has always been permit-ted in the Mojave, and has continued since theNational Park Service began administering the areain 1994. This activity has resulted in an unknownnumber of traditionally used backcountry roadsidecampsites scattered throughout the Preserve.Roadside vehicle camping is allowed at previouslydisturbed campsites outside of wilderness. Noimprovements (such as trash containers or metal firerings) have been made to these sites, although sev-eral contain rock fire rings.

Several abandoned structures exist on public land inthe backcountry of the park and some have tradi-tionally been used by the public for overnight camp-ing. A good example is the Winkler Cabin off ofWildhorse Canyon road. This small, one room shackis maintained and stocked with basic emergencymaterials by the users. The park has not inventoriedall of these structures nor determined their historicsignificance and value.

Plan Actions

Roadside vehicle camping will continue to beallowed only in previously used areas along openroutes of travel, outside of wilderness. Vehicles maynot leave the road surface at any time or park onvegetation. There are many of these existing camp-sites along dirt roads.

Mojave will inventory previously used campsites andprepare a backcountry/wilderness managementplan that may provide additional restrictions. Untilthe plan is completed, the Preserve will manageroadside camping with the following conditions:

■ Roadside camping will be allowed in previouslyused sites outside the no camping areas.

■ Campsites must be more than 200 yards from anynatural or constructed water source.

■ Groups and organized events will need toobtain a permit.

■ Vehicles must remain in previously disturbedareas. The creation of new campsites will not beallowed. Driving off roads will not be permitted.

■ Campfires will be allowed in existing fire rings,or in a fire pan. Visitors are not allowed to col-lect firewood in the Preserve.

■ Backcountry structures on public lands willremain available to the public on a first comebasis.

Backcountry campers may camp anywhere in thePreserve outside of designated day use only areasbut must erect their tent out of sight of paved roads.

Camping in High Use Areas

Background

Although some information is available to identifypotentially heavily used sites such as CaruthersCanyon, Cima Dome, Cinder Cones, ClarkMountain, Granite Pass (Kelbaker Road), and GrottoHills, no systematic inventory of site conditions anduse exists. Certainly some sites along the MojaveRoad are routinely used because they have beenused by organized groups for years, and/or are iden-tified in the guidebook as good camping areas.

Plan Actions

It is proposed that designation and marking of spe-cific campsites in locations that are consistently heav-ily used by individuals or groups be undertaken.Resource conditions and visitor use will be monitoredto determine the need for designating sites such asCaruthers Canyon, Cima Dome, Cinder Cones, ClarkMountain, Granite Pass (Kelbaker Road), and GrottoHills. Other locations could be identified as informa-tion on visitor use is gathered. Campsites will bemarked for easy identification, but other improve-ments will be avoided unless they will help protectresources.

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Camping in Desert Tortoise Critical Habitat

Background

An inventory of previously used roadside campingsites that exist in desert tortoise critical habitat hasnot been compiled.

Plan Actions

In sensitive areas designated as critical habitat forthe desert tortoise, vehicle-based roadside campingwill be confined to a limited number of designatedcampsites with metal fire rings or campsite markersto identify them for use. Previously used areas willbe considered first for designation. The designationof campsites will come after an inventory of naturaland cultural resource conditions and existing camp-sites to determine the best locations.

The primary issue with roadside vehicle camping isto ensure that visitors do not disturb tortoises theyencounter and, to prevent tortoises from beingcrushed, ensure that campers inspect underneaththeir vehicles before moving them to ensure tortois-es have not crawled under them for shade. The parkliterature on camping in the backcountry will bemodified to include information about the deserttortoise and actions the public should take whencamping in desert tortoise habitat.

No Camping Areas

Background

Certain areas are designated to prohibit roadsidevehicle camping to protect the Preserve’s naturaland cultural resources, protect the viewsheds, andreduce conflicts in visitor activities or other manage-ment objectives.

Plan Actions

The following areas will be designated as no camp-ing areas to avoid potential conflicts between recre-ational day visitors and overnight campers.

■ All areas within ¼ mile of paved roads, unless for-mally designated as a camping area.

■ The access road to the Kelso Dunes, the parkinglot, and the area north of the road to the crestof the dunes, or a distance of 1 mile, and thearea ¼ mile south of the road.

■ All areas within ¼ mile of the access road toZzyzx, including the visitor parking lot.

■ All areas within ½ mile of Fort Piute.

■ All areas within ½ mile of the Kelso Depot.

Groups and Organized Events

Background

Mojave National Preserve has permitted several groupactivities and organized events in the last few years,including Search and Rescue Training, mounted horsetrail rides, Mojave Road historical driving tours, BoyScout groups, and running/bike relay races.

Plan Actions

A permit is required for all organized events in thePreserve, and for group activities over a certain size.Organized events may include school groups, hikingclubs, jeep tour groups, bicycle rides, motorcycleclubs, hunting clubs, scouting groups, and othersimilar types of group gatherings. Organized eventsmay be required by NPS regulations (36 CFR 2.50c)to: (1) post a bond covering the costs of the event,such as restoration, rehabilitation cleanup and othercosts, and (2) provide liability insurance to protectthe United States against liability arising from theevent. Casual group activities (non-organized) mayalso require a permit depending on the number ofvehicles (including motorcycles, bicycles and horses)and individuals involved in the activity.

The NPS requires a permit for group activities andorganized events because of several issues and con-cerns that may arise when groups travel and/or camptogether. The purpose of the permit is to provideinformation to the group regarding potential impactsof their activities on park resources, private propertyor other park visitors. The NPS is also responsible forreviewing the environmental impacts of the activityand ensuring protection of park resources, includingthreatened and endangered species. The permitserves as the means of requiring information neededfor the environmental review, and to stipulate certainconditions to prevent impacts.

The following questions will be reviewed to deter-mine whether a permit is needed:

1. Is the group activity an “organized event”? Ifyes, a special use permit is needed. If no, go toquestion 2.

2. Are 15 or less individuals participating in thegroup activity? If yes, go to question 4. If no, goto question 3.

3. Are more than 25 individuals involved in thegroup activity? If yes, a special use permit isneeded. If no, go to question 4.

4. Are more than seven vehicles being used by thegroup? If yes, a special use permit is needed. Ifno, a permit is not needed.

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If the group size or activity requires that a specialuse permit be issued (see questions above), thenNPS regulations require a fee be charged. Fees for aspecial use permit are required by regulations to besufficient to cover all administrative costs in pro-cessing them and vary depending on the nature andpurpose of the activity and the complexity of thepermitting process. Organized events and groupactivities where the permit process, environmentalreview and stipulations are fairly simple and noonsite monitoring by NPS staff is deemed necessarywill be charged between $50–200. Organizedevents and group activities that require extensivestipulations, completion of an environmental assess-ment or impact statement, and/or require onsiteNPS monitoring will be charged the full cost of per-mit processing and compliance, NPS monitoringcosts and may be required to post a bond and showproof of liability insurance. Nonprofit events orgroup activities that provide education on naturaland cultural resources of the desert may be eligiblefor a partial fee waiver.

Visitor Use Fees

BackgroundFees and their use are determined in accordancewith the criteria and procedures of the Land andWater Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (sec. 4, 16U.S.C.A. 4601-6a (Supp., 1974) and section 3, Actof July 11, 1972, 86 Stat. 461), the Recreational FeeDemonstration Program (P.L. 104-134), and regula-tions in 36 CFR 71. No entrance fees are collectedat Mojave. Campground fees of $12 per site pernight are gathered. In addition, the park chargesspecial use permit fees for groups and organizedevents, and for commercial filming. In April 2000,the National Park Service, in a partnership with theNational Park Foundation, announced a newNational Parks Pass. A parks pass provides entranceto all national parks for one year at a cost of $50.Parks selling the pass will be allowed to retain $35for use on projects at that park. These passes aresold at all national parks and over the internet viaseveral retail partners. Mojave sells this pass as apublic service, even though an entrance fee is notrequired to enter the Preserve.

Plan Actions

The Preserve will continue to explore options for feecollection revenues consistent with congressionaldirection. An entrance fee study will be prepared inthe future.

Mojave continues to sell a National Parks Pass as apublic service, even though an entrance fee is not

required to enter the Preserve. The only other visitoruse fees collected in Mojave National Preserve arecamping fees for developed campgrounds and thegroup area at Hole-in-the-Wall. Fees are also col-lected for special use permits (such as filming,organized group outings, etc.).

RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Research and education are core mission elementsof the NPS national goals and of the Preserve’senabling legislation. Congress highlighted theseissues in the CDPA with following passages:

These desert wildlands display unique scenic,historical, archeological, environmental, ecologi-cal, wildlife, cultural, scientific, educationaland recreational values used and enjoyed by mil-lions of Americans for hiking and camping, sci-entific study and scenic appreciation. (empha-sis added)

Retain and enhance opportunities for scientificresearch in undisturbed ecosystems.

Education

Background

One of the missions of the NPS is to conduct educa-tional outreach on natural and cultural resourcepreservation and management. These outreachefforts extend beyond the park boundary to includeclassrooms of local schools in and around the parkunit. Reaching youth in the classroom and educatingthem on resource preservation and managementserves to protect parks from impacts associated withuniformed visitors pursuing activities that may harmpark resources. This effort can do more to protectparks through education than an equivalent numberof staff simply enforcing regulations in the park.

Parks also serve as ideal classrooms for students tolearn about the natural and cultural resource valuesof the desert. Setting foot on sand dunes, or a cin-der cone, or hiking through the Joshua tree foreston Cima Dome, are experiences that cannot beduplicated with video, slides or other means.Mojave National Preserve is an ideal natural class-room for school groups anywhere to experience andstudy the Mojave Desert.

Plan Actions

Mojave will maintain an active presence in localclassrooms throughout the high desert. Park staff inNeedles, Baker and Barstow will be made availableto make presentations on particular resource topics

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or to teach natural or cultural resource sessions aspart of a resource preservation curriculum.

To encourage school use, Mojave will provide staffto lead specific ranger walks and talks for schoolgroups as requested. The park will also offer educa-tional activities for school groups at the Kelso Depotvisitor center when this facility is operational.Schools will also be encouraged to utilize the parkfor extended classroom work, such as week longclasses over spring break, where schools may bringa class and conduct an entire field class focusing ondesert resources.

The University of California through the GraniteMountains Natural Reserve, and California Stateuniversities through the Soda Springs Desert StudyCenter, already promote school educational activi-ties and offer specific classes for students and thegeneral public via cooperative agreements with thepark. These efforts will be encouraged and support-ed by the park by offering staff to assist in conduct-ing specific activities for school groups, providingranger led walks and talks, and by seeking grants toassist in offering these activities, particularly for loweconomic areas where schools would normally notbe able to afford field trips.

Research and Permits

Background

Mojave has long served as a scientific research areafor scientists worldwide. Dozens of research studieshave been conducted in the Preserve.

Plan Actions

In recognition of the legislative direction and the sci-entific value of parks as natural laboratories,researchers will be encouraged to use the parks forscientific studies, whenever such use is consistentwith NPS policies and law. The Preserve will promotecooperative relationships with educational and sci-entific institutions and qualified individuals withspecialized expertise that can provide significantassistance to the park. To the extent they are avail-able, NPS facilities and staff assistance may be madeavailable to qualified researchers and educationalinstitutions conducting authorized studies or fieldclasses. Mojave will cooperate with researchers anduniversities to identify methods and techniques thatmay be employed to ensure protection of researchequipment and plots.

Non-NPS studies are not required to address specif-ically identified NPS management issues or informa-tion needs. However, these studies, including data

and specimen collection, require an NPS research/collecting permit. The studies must conform to NPSpolicies and guidelines regarding publication ofdata, conduct of studies, wilderness restrictions,and park-specific requirements pursuant to theterms and conditions of the permit. Projects must beadministered and conducted only by fully qualifiedpersonnel, and conform to current standards ofscholarship. NPS research/collecting permits mayinclude requirements that permittees provide forparks, within certain timeframes, the appropriatefield notes, data, information about the data,progress reports, interim and final reports, and pub-lications derived from the permitted activities.

The National Park Service will be responsible for thereview and approval of all proposals for research onPreserve lands to ensure that they conform to themanagement policies and the provisions of 36 CFR2.5. The superintendent will issue permits for allresearch and collection. Research that conflicts withcurrent approved research, including long-term studyplots that failed to meet NPS standards, would not beapproved. All specimens collected from the parkmust be appropriately curated and have adequatedocumentation of the specimen, the locality, the geo-logic context, and other pertinent data. Publishedresearch results are required to be provided to thepark as a condition of all permits and be made avail-able for use by park staff and the public. In FY 2000the park issued 28 research and collecting permits.

Natural Resource Collections

Background

Natural resource collections, including non-livingand living specimens, and their associated fieldrecords, are managed as NPS museum collections.Guidance for collecting and managing specimensand associated field records is found in 36 CFR 2.5and NPS guidance documents, including the muse-um handbook.

Plan Actions

Generally, collecting in Mojave would not be per-mitted if specimens could be obtained elsewhere.Living collections will be managed in accordancewith the provisions of a park’s resource manage-ment plan (when developed), the Federal AnimalWelfare Act, and other appropriate requirements.With respect to paleontological resources, any rareor scientifically significant specimens would be col-lected, or stabilized and protected in situ. Associatedscientific data, including geographic, geologic, andstratigraphic information, would be documented

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with all fossil collecting activities. Paleontologicalspecimens are also subject to the treatment policiesfor museum objects.

Commercial application of any specimens, includingany components of specimens (natural organisms,enzymes, genetic materials or seeds) collectedunder an NPS collecting permit must be done inaccordance with a cooperative research and devel-opment agreement (CRADA). Research resultsderived from collected specimens are to be used forscientific or educational purposes only and may notbe used for commercial purposes unless the permit-tee has entered into a CRADA with the park. Anycommercial products produced will be subject to aroyalty of 10%. Sale of collected research specimensor other transfer to third parties is prohibited(Solicitor Memo date 11/3/98).

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

Mineral Development

Background

The Preserve was established by Congress with theprovision that mining activities may occur on validexisting claims under all applicable laws and regula-tions administered by the National Park Service (sec.508). The Mining in the Parks Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-429) prescribes that all activities resulting from theexercise of valid existing rights on patented andunpatented mining claims within any unit of thenational park system shall be subject to regulationsdeveloped and administered by the National ParkService. The regulations governing mining on allpatented and unpatented claims in park units arefound at 36 CFR Part 9A, which requires operatorsto file a plan of operations with the National ParkService for all mineral related activities. Proposedmining operations must also meet the approvalstandards provided in the regulations and post aperformance bond equivalent to the cost of recla-mation before an operation may proceed.

Congress closed Mojave to all new mining claimlocation and all other forms of appropriation and dis-posal. Section 507 of the California DesertProtection Act withdrew the area from all forms ofentry, appropriation or disposal under the public landlaws; from location, entry and patent under theUnited States mining laws; and from dispositionunder all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermalleasing and the sale of mineral materials. This provi-sion of the act is subject to valid existing rights.

The California Desert Protection Act also imposes arequirement that validity of unpatented claims bedetermined prior to approval of any operation (sec.509). This section also requires an analysis of theenvironmental consequences of mineral extraction,a determination of the estimated acquisition costs,and the submission to Congress of recommenda-tions on whether any valid or patented claimsshould be acquired. The park has certified mineralexaminers and is reviewing all unpatented miningclaims to determine their valid existing rights and, ifnecessary, to conduct a validity examination todetermine if a valuable, economic discovery of min-eral exists on the claims.

Currently, there are no active mining operationsinside Mojave National Preserve. Two large-scale sur-face mining operations exist just outside the bound-aries of the Preserve. The Molycorp mine, inMountain Pass, between Clark Mountain and theMescal Range, is a rare earths mine. Molycorp hasoperated since the 1950s and recently, issues withcontaminated lands as a result of pipeline leakageand spills have surfaced. Molycorp is currently under-going a revised mining plan environmental impactprocess, with the Bureau of Land Management asthe lead agency.

Viceroy is the other large scale open pit surfacemine adjacent to the park, just north of the PiuteRange, in the Castle/Hart Mountain area. This verylarge scale, open pit and cyanide heap leaching goldmine is very visible from the Lanfair Valley area.Although the Bureau of Land Managementapproved a ten-year extension of the mine in 1998,recently Viceroy has indicated their intention to ter-minate mining within the next two years.

Plan Actions

The Preserve will manage mineral developmentactivities under existing laws and regulations appli-cable to such activities.

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During the evaluation of the mining proposal, a sen-sitive resource analysis based on an objective analy-sis of physical, biological, cultural and visitor use val-ues relative to the project mining impacts wouldalso be initiated. No specific mining is authorized bythis general management plan. Each mining pro-posal is required to submit a detailed mining andreclamation plan and undergo separate environ-mental impact analysis. Consultation for listedspecies and cultural resources will occur at thattime. When mining is authorized, full reclamation ofthe site is required upon cessation of mining activity.

The National Park Service also regulates mineraldevelopment on valid nonfederal oil and gas inter-ests in accordance with 36 CFR Part 9B. Thisinvolves the review of plans, impact analysis, andpermitting of the proposed extraction of oil or gason property where the surface is held by the feder-al government, but the mineral rights were retainedby the private party when the land was acquired.Whenever a proposed mineral development fails tomeet the regulatory approval standards and noalternative development scenario is feasible, theNational Park Service will seek funding to initiateacquisition of the mineral rights.

Cattle Grazing

Background

Cattle grazing has been a continuing activity in theMojave Desert for well over a century. The NPSissued permits to the ranchers in 1995 to allow forcontinuation of grazing while the general manage-ment plan was being prepared. In FY 2001, cattlegrazing on over 536,000 acres on portions of 6 pre-vious BLM grazing allotments. Until a grazing man-agement plan is developed, grazing is administeredunder an allotment management plan developed bythe Bureau of Land Management. These plans inte-grate grazing management on the Preserve and onprivate and state of California parcels that areleased by the rancher. The plans establishes a graz-ing system for each allotment, determines the needfor range developments (primarily for water), anddescribes a system for adjusting cattle numbersbased on current range conditions. The grazing sys-tem is designed to allocate forage based on theamount and type of plant cover, moisture, andother range conditions and forage allocations forother wildlife and burros.

As of March 2001, the Crescent Peaks allotment(1,276 AUMs), the Granite Mountains allotment andpermit (4,475 AUMs), the Lanfair Valley allotment

(11,560 AUMs), and the Kessler Springs allotment(7,615 AUMs) have been permanently retired, result-ing in a reduction of grazing in the Preserve by 24,926AUMs (65%) since the Preserve was established.

Four of the remaining grazing permits as of October2001 in the Mojave National Preserve have adjoin-ing BLM allotments that are managed by the Bureauof Land Management. These are Valley View, ValleyWells, Clark Mountain, and Piute Valley. In anamendment decision to their California DesertConservation Area plan in late 1999, BLM agreed toretire the remnant portions of the Lanfair Valley andPiute Valley allotment if the permit is acquired andthe adjoining NPS grazing permit is retired. The fateof potential remnants of the Valley View, ValleyWells, and Clark Mountain allotments are beingevaluated by the BLM in a separate plan amend-ment EIS.

Plan Actions

Mojave’s overall management goal is to achieve thepermanent retirement of grazing. The CaliforniaDesert Protection Act directs the Secretary of theInterior to make the acquisition of “base property”from willing sellers a priority above all other acquisi-tions in the Preserve. If ranchers notify the superin-tendent of their willingness to sell base property, thesuperintendent will immediately notify the Secretaryof the Interior of the priority acquisition and requestLand and Water Conservation Fund funding fromCongress. The Preserve will also work with conser-vation organizations to purchase grazing permitsand/or fee property from willing sellers. Once agrazing permit is purchased and the new owners(i.e. conservation organizations) requested retire-ment, it will be permanently retired. Cattle livestockgrazing will no longer be an authorized use inretired areas for any reason.

When grazing permits are retired, ranching devel-opments eventually be removed and site restorationundertaken, subject to environmental and cultural

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compliance, including a determination of nationalregister eligibility and section 106 compliance on allcultural features over 50 years old. The park willwork with conservation organizations to ensure thatwilling seller grazing permits in desert tortoise criti-cal habitat receive first consideration and that waterrights are acquired with the permit.

The NPS portions of the Clark Mountain and ValleyWells grazing allotments will be acquired via thirdparty conservation groups and retired. Cattle graz-ing will be removed from the area and the bound-ary of the Clark Mountain unit will be fenced. Thesepermits are small pieces (about 20%) of larger BLMgrazing allotments that mostly lie outside thePreserve. The Clark Mountain permit contains 371AUMs and covers 17,500 acres. The Valley Wellspermit contains 853 AUMs and covers 43,600 acres.Ranching developments would be removed andnatural springs would be restored.

While acquisitions are being pursued, and for per-mit holders unwilling to sell, the privilege of grazingcattle on lands in the Preserve will otherwise contin-ue to be exercised at no more than the current level(as of October 31, 1994). Grazing will be managedover the short-term under existing BLM allotmentmanagement plans, and subject to applicable NPSregulations and policies, relevant FWS BiologicalOpinions, and under the following conditions:

■ Emphasis will be on the preservation and pro-tection of resources and the reduction ofimpacts. Resource protection would be givenpriority over grazing activities. Grazing may beexcluded from some areas if needed to protectsensitive species or habitat.

■ Additional cattle grazing using an ephemeralpreference above the perennial AUMs identifiedbelow for each permit will not be considered.

■ Grazing will not be allowed where perennialplant utilization exceeds 30%. Grazing shall becurtailed to protect perennial plants duringsevere or prolonged drought.

■ Grazing use will be restricted in desert tortoisecritical habitat from March 15 to June 15, if ade-quate precipitation has not occurred to produceephemeral plant production of 230 lbs. per acre(air dry weight). This number may be adjusted ifadditional research suggests a need to do so.

■ Water developments will be turned off in deserttortoise critical habitat when not in use, or tomove cattle off areas not having sufficientperennial or ephemeral forage. Modifications to

discourage raven use may be required.■ In cooperation with the BLM, USGS and park

research communities, annual precipitationamounts and timing would be monitored in rec-ommended locations to determine if ephemer-al plant production can reasonably be expectedto produce forage sufficient to allow cattlegrazing. If not, cattle will be removed fromdesert tortoise critical habitat by March 15 ofeach year. The Preserve will evaluate the effec-tiveness of using predictive models developedby USGS and other researchers.

■ Supplemental feeding (using hay or other feed)will not be allowed in accordance with existingBiological Opinions for desert tortoise. Use offeeding supplements (protein and/or salt) willbe considered on a case-by-case basis.

■ Water developments on acquired permits willbe assessed for removal and the area restoredto natural conditions.

■ Ranching developments on retired permits willbe removed unless determined to have histori-cal or other value, and do not otherwise impactnative wildlife.

■ Ranching developments in wilderness will bereviewed for their historical significance andcurrent need. If developments are determinednecessary for current grazing permits, accesswill normally be allowed only via foot or horse-back. Motorized access will be determined on acase-by-case basis using the minimal tool analy-sis described under the wilderness section.

■ Permittees will be required to maintain allranching developments associated with theirgrazing permits, including corrals, fences,pipelines, windmills, cattle guards, tanks, etc. attheir expense. Abandoned property must beremoved from the Preserve by the permittee. Ifnot removed within timeframe identified, theNPS may charge the permittee for removalcosts. No new ranching developments will bepermitted unless it was determined to be bene-ficial to the flora and fauna, and not result in anincrease in grazing over the levels current as ofOctober 31, 1994.

■ Until the grazing management plan is finalized,grazing fees will be charged on a per AUM basisusing the same formula as the BLM, which issubject to annual review. In addition, a fee willbe assessed for NPS costs in reviewing and issu-ing of a special use permit in accordance withNPS policy. Fees collected as reimbursement forspecial use permit issuance may be used to off-

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set costs related to park management of thespecial use permit. Fees collected based onAUMs will be used for any purpose reasonablyrelated to management of the grazing pro-gram, with priority given desert tortoise conser-vation efforts.

■ Grazing permits will be reissued annually forone-year terms.

■ NPS will monitor range conditions and longterm plant community changes using locationsand methodology currently being evaluated.Cattle may be removed from an area for anextended period if monitoring indicates thattype conversion of the plant community may beoccurring.

■ NPS will not increase AUMs when Catellus andState lands within the permit area are acquired.However, no fencing will be required to excludeexisting authorized cattle from using theacquired parcels.

Any permit that is not retired will be managed pur-suant to an NPS grazing management plan. This activ-ity plan will tier from the overall management strate-gy presented herein and will address specific grazingmanagement strategies, conditions, standards,resource protection criteria, range developments,monitoring, and other program needs. Separate envi-ronmental compliance will be prepared on this plan.

Filming

Background

Permits for commercial operations such asmoviemaking and guided recreational tours havebeen applied for and granted within the Preserve.At this time, the number of permits applied for isrelatively low. For instance, in FY99 only one filmingpermit was issued.

Plan Actions

Filming for commercial or educational purposes maybe authorized, subject to NPS policies and regula-tions governing such activities, including wildernessrestrictions. A special use permit is required for allfilming activities and a fee will be assessed. Filmingactivities will be subject to the same rules and regu-lations as other activities, including no offroad driv-ing. Filming may not be allowed in desert tortoisecritical habitat during the active periods in thespring and fall, depending on the nature of the par-ticular film shoot. All costs associated with deserttortoise surveys and onsite monitors during filmingwill be borne by the permittee.

Solid Waste Disposal

Background

Federal law and NPS regulations (36 CFR Part 6) pro-hibit solid waste disposal, including existing andnew landfills, in all units of the national park system.The park hauls all solid waste generated by visitorsand park operations to an approved site outside thePreserve. The Baker landfill was closed by state lawin 1997. The site was recontoured and fenced(including tortoise proof fencing) and is being mon-itored by the county. Small private dumps and illegaldumping has occurred at a number of sites through-out the Preserve. Several of these have been cleanedup by the National Park Service and this process isongoing as cultural clearance is completed.

Plan Actions

The park will continue to haul solid waste generat-ed by visitors and park operations to an approvedsite outside the Preserve. Recycling opportunitieswill be fully explored and implemented whereverfeasible. Mojave will work cooperatively with Bakerand the county to find locations outside thePreserve to relocate the existing transfer site andsewage lagoons.

Visitor Services

Background

At this time, the Cima Store is the only facility-basedcommercial operation in the Preserve. The privatelyoperated store on private land has a limited numberof items and continues to serve customers travelingon the Kelso-Cima Road.

Special use permits are issued for commercial servic-es such as guided tours and hunting guide services.Currently, the park issues permits annually to 2licensed hunting guides to provide guiding servicefor bighorn sheep hunts.

Several commercial facilities outside the Preserveoffer lodging, food, and other items. The town ofBaker has several motels, gas stations, restaurants,fast-food services, and markets. Small facilities atHalloran Summit and the Cima Road exits offInterstate 15 offer various visitor services. Primm,Nevada, about 15 miles from the Preserve’s northboundary, contains a major resort/casino. Niptonoffers a small amount of lodging and a few camp-ing spaces. Goffs has a small restaurant and Fennerhas a gas station/market. Needles offers a broadrange of services to visitors.

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The Plan

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Plan Actions

A concession contract to operate a small food serv-ice facility in the Kelso Depot is being considered. Asvisitation increases, a facility may be desirable out-side the Depot in another building that will offerlimited emergency grocery items. No other foodservice facilities are being considered on park lands.The park will not develop lodging facilities for visi-tors on park lands, but will rely on gateway com-munities to provide these services.

Some level of commercial services may be sought inthe Kelso Depot, Cima and Hole-in-the-Wall areasto provide compatible recreation services and equip-ment for visitors. Services might include backcoun-try jeep tours (including the Mojave Road) andhorseback rides. Equipment rentals that could pro-vide for enhanced visitor use might include bicycleand camping equipment rentals. Currently, the parkissues permits annually to two licensed huntingguides who provide guiding service for bighornsheep hunts. Commercial towing services thatdesire to provide service inside the park boundarywill need to apply for a commercial use license andpost a performance bond.

MILITARY ACTIVITIES

Background

The Preserve is within 100 miles of five U.S.Department of Defense facilities having air opera-tions: National Training Center at Fort Irwin, ChinaLake Naval Air Weapons Station, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, and Air Force Bases atEdwards and Nellis. Military aircraft from these facil-ities occasionally use airspace over the Preserve.

Mojave is subject to irregular and occasional suchuse along specified training routes. A small area ofthe park near Baker is under FAA designated specialuse airspace, called the “Silver” military operationsarea (MOA). This special use airspace and IR (instru-ment) and VR (visual) routes and are created by theFederal Aviation Administration to warn other civilaviation pilots that high speed (over 250 knots), lowlevel (down to 200 feet above ground level) aircraftmay be encountered. Slower military aircraft, such ashelicopters, may be encountered anywhere over thePreserve. The Desert Managers Group has estab-lished an interagency Overflight Working Groupcomprised of land managers and military staff toidentify and attempt to resolve overflight issues.

Plan Actions

The California Desert Protection Act (CDPA) author-izes continued low-level overflights by military air-craft over new parks and wilderness areas. Section802 provides:

Nothing in this Act, the Wilderness Act, or otherland management laws generally applicable tothe new units of the National Park or WildernessPreservation Systems (or any additions to exist-ing units) designated by this Act, shall restrict orpreclude low-level overflights of military aircraftover such units, including military overflightsthat can be seen or heard within such units.

Mojave will monitor military overflights and attemptto document where conflicts with visitor use orresource protection may exist. The park will seek tominimize such conflicts wherever possible, whilerecognizing the military’s mission and authorizeduse. The park will work closely with the airspacemanager and the Overflight Working Group toidentify conflicts and implement solutions.