Las Vegas Bicycling Community Website

I received an email from one of the local bicycling meetup.com organizers today that definitely threw me for a loop!!  The email stated that he received an email from Kathy August of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) in which “She has asked us not to plan any cycling events at Red Rock Canyon unless you contact her first.”  You can imagine my shock when I read this.  After all, we just went head to head with the BLM on entry fees for road cyclists at the Red Rock Scenic Loop.  Certainly, there has to be some reason why she would request that we contact her first if we decide to ride up in Red Rock.  So, I called her personally to find out the scoop.

Here’s the response I received from Kathy:

“We have seen a tremendous growth of use at Red Rock Canyon NCA over the last ten years. Not just the scenic drive but the entire NCA. Part of BLM’s management strategy is to work with local commercial and organized groups to make sure the recreationist experience can be a good one and that our resources, the reason folks come out to Red Rock Canyon, are conserved. One management tool we have for that are permits.

BLM, nation-wide, has three types of Special Recreation Permits which we issue, Commercial, Competitive, and Organized Groups. With each of these the event/outing are analyzed to determine if the event falls within the General Management Plan for the Conservation Area, and if this event with the cumulative impacts of other events and other groups, will have a positive,neutral or negative impact on the resources, natural, cultural, and others. This process requires input minimally from our resource specialists .

Due to the popularity of our areas, trails, and facilities at Red Rock Canyon, we are asking groups of more than 12 individuals, to contact us to see if their event would require a Special Recreation Permit or not. Another option we have is to issue a “Letter of Agreement” for groups which fall into the “grey area”. This letter gives groups, such as small hiking, biking, or church groups, guidance on how to make sure their group can visit the area and still not need a permit.

At this time, unless overlooks, parking areas, or other facilities are utilized, this does not necessarily apply to highway 159 or 160.

Information on this process can be found at the following websites:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_information/permits.html

or

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_information/permits/special_recreation.html

and on the Red Rock Canyon Website’s ” Planning your Visit” page :for “organized Groups”:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_nca/planning_your_visit.html

We are working hard to insure all visitors have a pleasant and enjoyable time and to make sure all the things that make Red Rock Canyon unique and special are there for years to come.

Please feel free to contact us to Preserve this jewel of a resource.

Lee Kirk or Kathy August at 515-5000″

So…what does this mean for our group rides? It means, for example, that if we plan on having 44 riders in a group at Cottonwood, that we instead, find a way to break up the group into smaller groups of 10-12 riders at a time. Or, we ask for a Letter of Agreement that will have stipulations in it that we must abide by to ride in a larger group, without a permit. Or, if it is a special event or for a commercial purpose, that we apply for the permits needed. No matter what, Kathy did say to me that they are willing to work with us to insure our continued enjoyment of the Red Rock National Conservation Area, but they ask that we work with them and notify them if we plan on having a group that consists of more than 12 people using the trails or riding the scenic loop.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Southern Nevada District Office (SNDO), has developed the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Business Plan and would like the public’s view on the proposed fees/plan.

According to the plan, “The draft business plan demonstrates the functional responsibilities, operational standards and financial picture of Red Rock. Its goal is to provide comprehensive information about Red Rock’s operations and finances. It seeks to clearly analyze where revenue shortfalls exist and to address strategies for addressing these shortfalls. Comments will be accepted on the draft business plan from August 14 to November 16, 2009.”

As you can see, the newly proposed fees in their draft business plan is to charge bicyclists and pedestrians a $3 day fee to access the scenic loop. What’s more interesting is they actually have a line item for accessing the Red Rock Overlook on SR-159!   Wow…they may not charge a fee to visit the overlook on this draft, but it must be something they are thinking of doing in the future.

Why do they want to charge these fees? According to their plan, “The additional revenue will be used to meet project goals in three categories: provide for public enjoyment and visitor experience, enhance recreational opportunities and Red Rock resource protection. The proposed fee increase will cover 100 percent of these costs.

Projects that would be accomplished with the additional funding include: maintenaince for the 13-Mile Scenic Drive, parking lots, new and original visitor centers and Mojave Discovery Center; road signs and informational kiosks, treatment of dirt roads, law enforcement patrols, expanded visitor service hours, rehabilitate present high-use recreation areas, add recreational vehicle dumping station at the campground, rehabilitate Oliver Ranch area to remove public safety hazards and enable public use, plan and develop Ash Springs area, complete a comprehensive trail plan, include graffiti removal program, restore plant productivity on disturbed areas, eradicate non-native species with an emphasis on tamarisk removal, create and implement a comprehensive cultural Resource Management Plan, protect and rehabilitate Garland in-holding.”

Send in your comments and let the BLM know how you feel about the new fees.
You need to send your comments to the BLM and let them know what you think.  They are asking for our public comments in the form of mail, email & fax letters.  Here’s how you should submit your comments if you are interested:

You may submit your comments in writing in the following ways:

• Mail or hand-deliver comments to:

BLM Southern Nevada District Office
Attn: Mark Tanaka-Sanders
4701 North Torrey Pines
Las Vegas, Nevada 89130

• Submit comments via email to redrockbp@blm.gov

Remember, they are only accepting public comments until November 16th, 2009.  So if you want to address your concern for the newly proposed fees in this draft business plan, now is the time to do it!

Read the entire Red Rock Canyon Business Plan on the BLM Website here:
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/blm_programs/blm_special_areas/red_rock_canyon_business.html