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Help protect the sensitive habitat and species of the California desert!

Millions of acres of desert wildlands are at stake and your letter is needed!

In February of 2001, the Bureau of Land Management released a draft management plan covering 5.5 million acres of the northern and eastern Colorado desert. The plan, which encompasses the southeasternmost portion of the state, will guide the long-term management of off-road vehicles, grazing, mining, and other types of development. While it include some positive elements, the plan also contains critical shortfalls that, if implemented, would jeopardize critical desert species and wilderness areas.

The plan calls for the development of 137 new water developments to aid in the recovery of desert wildlife. While aiding wildlife is a laudable goal, these development--also known as "guzzlers"-- Swould seriously impact the integrity of existing wilderness areas. Twenty-four water developments are proposed within existing wilderness, even though their impacts and locations are not disclosed or addressed!

BLM's desert management plan of 1980, as well as an Executive Order by President Nixon in 1972, requires the agency to designate legal routes of travel for off-road vehicles. Unfortunately, rather than analyzing the effects that each route has on the environment--as required by BLM's own guidelines--the plan instead creates vast "open wash" zones where riding is allowed in any wash unless future analysis shows it to be harmful. Washes provide habitat for many sensitive species, such as the desert tortoise, and such a broad exception imperils the recovery of this ancient and sensitive species.

Finally, the plan fails to provide adequate planning guidance for the 25 wilderness areas within the planning region. Many of these areas do not have management plans, and yet are proposed for water developments and other activities. Further, several areas receive continual trespass by motorized vehicles, and the plan does not address these effects.

What you can do

Your letter could make a huge difference in helping to guide the future management of over 5% of California's land area. Please, write today!

Write to: Lead, Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan, Bureau of Land Management, 6221 Box Springs Blvd., Riverside, CA 92507-0714.

Tell the BLM that you appreciate their efforts to update desert plans and protect sensitive species such as the desert tortoise. Ask them to improve the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan (NECO plan) by:

* Eliminating all proposed "guzzlers" and other water developments within designated wilderness areas. Such developments are not appropriate within wilderness.

* Incorporating a complete route designation process that analyzes ALL routes--including washesÑaccording to the criteria outlined in previous Executive Orders and that does not give blanket authorization to riding in washes without proper environmental analysis.

* Completing adequate management plans for the 25 wilderness areas within the planning regions, and specifying actions to prevent motorized incursions into wilderness. The BLM should not authorize any new developments within wilderness areas.

Your letter must be received by November 1, 2001. Thanks!

To help in other critically important campaigns, see the California Wilderness Coalition's list of current and urgent action alerts.