Save The Desert National Wildlife Refuge #DontBombTheBighorn

Save The Desert National Wildlife Refuge #DontBombTheBighorn

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The Desert National Wildlife Refuge, just outside the city lights of Las Vegas, is nearly 1.6 million acres and home to one of Nevada’s largest desert bighorn sheep populations. In 1971, about 1.2 million acres of the Desert Refuge were proposed as Wilderness by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Unfortunately, most of that proposed Wilderness is being immediately threatened by this round of military expansion including the broader Sheep Range proposed Wilderness (Sheep Range, Las Vegas Range, Gass Peak).

On December 7, 2017, the military released their Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) with details on how much ...

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge, just outside the city lights of Las Vegas, is nearly 1.6 million acres and home to one of Nevada’s largest desert bighorn sheep populations. In 1971, about 1.2 million acres of the Desert Refuge were proposed as Wilderness by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Unfortunately, most of that proposed Wilderness is being immediately threatened by this round of military expansion including the broader Sheep Range proposed Wilderness (Sheep Range, Las Vegas Range, Gass Peak).

On December 7, 2017, the military released their Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) with details on how much more of the refuge and proposed Wilderness they want to take over - it was A LOT!  Hundreds of supporters turned out to the military's public meetings in January and 32,000 comments were submitted to the military opposing their expansion by the end of the comment period in March 2018. Since then, we have been working feverishly to ensure that the word is out about what is happening just north of Las Vegas in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

The Final LEIS for the proposed expansion of the Nellis Air Force Base into the Desert National Wildlife Refuge was officially released October 26, 2018. Since it has been released, a motion for congressional vote on which alternatives to pass can be introduced at any time! We are determined to put the pressure on our Nevada elected officials to stand up for the Desert Refuge by exercising the status quo alternative which keeps the refuge open for public access. Join us in our fight to Save The Desert!

 

#DontBombtheBighorn

 

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#DontBombTheBighorn

Our goal is to unite voices for the cause of Saving the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The Air Force's proposed 300,000 acre land withdrawal that would potentially annex a critical part of the Desert Refuge that includes Alamo Road and its connection with Paranaghat National Wildlife Refuge, a dry lake, sand dunes, petroglyphs, historic cattle corrals, wildlife habitat and proposed Wilderness including the Broader Sheep Range Complex, home ...

Our goal is to unite voices for the cause of Saving the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. The Air Force's proposed 300,000 acre land withdrawal that would potentially annex a critical part of the Desert Refuge that includes Alamo Road and its connection with Paranaghat National Wildlife Refuge, a dry lake, sand dunes, petroglyphs, historic cattle corrals, wildlife habitat and proposed Wilderness including the Broader Sheep Range Complex, home to many bighorn sheep, must be stopped! Together we can take a stand and make sure the Desert National Wildlife Refuge stays protected and intact!

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Dear Nevada Congressional Delegation,

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is a pristine, wild landscape that must be preserved for the sake of public access and the wildlife it was created to protect and not ultimately destroyed by unchecked military use. I am adamantly opposed to the Air Force’s proposal of gutting an additional 227,000 acres from the most wild section of the Desert Refuge to add to the enormous 2.9 million-acre Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The American people, vehemently opposed this expansion, poured in 32,000 comments urging the military to cease their plans for further incursion into the Desert Refuge during the public comment period in early 2018. The military has ignored the public and local and state officials on this over-reach proposal.

As a supporter of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, I find it infuriating that a National Wildlife Refuge would be considered fair game for military exploitation.The proposed land withdrawal area includes hundreds of thousands of acres of land managed as Wilderness. Wilderness is not something that can be recreated once destroyed by bomb craters, man-made infrastructure and aircraft runways. Once it is lost, it is lost forever. Obliterating proposed Wilderness in the name of practicing warfare drills should not be considered, ever. The US Fish & Wildlife Service should continue to retain full management of all sections of the Desert Refuge, including areas currently closed to public access. Opening up more land for the potential bombing of bighorn sheep and sacred Native American sites violates the freedoms our military was designed to protect. Additionally, these are public lands and should be enjoyed by everyone. The NTTR already has 2.9 million areas that are off limit to the public. Please don’t let them lock the American people out of the remainder of this incredible wildlife refuge. It is simply un-American and a miscarriage of justice.

While national defense is important to all of us, a balance must be established with cultural and historical preservation and conservation of habitat and wildlife. The proposed Wilderness sections of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge should not be permanently damaged for the advancement of temporary military exercises. The Desert Refuge is not a barren wasteland. It is teeming with life with hundreds of species of plants and animals calling it home. I am appalled by the military’s blatant disregard of the American people’s wish to keep the remaining Desert Refuge open for public enjoyment. The NTTR’s over-reach needs to stop now. I am calling for the status quo alternative to be exercised for the interest of the public who visit and/or monitor wildlife in the refuge as well as the wildlife who call the Desert Refuge home, including the bighorn sheep, our state animal. When the time comes, please vote in the interest of the public who has consistently asked for continued access to the Desert National Wildlife Refuge as it stands today.



CC: House Natural Resource Committee, House Armed Service Committee, Senate Natural Resource Committee, Senate Armed Service Committee

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