by Deb Murphy

Friends of the Amargosa Basin Going for National Monument Status

Death Valley and the Amargosa Basin are acquired tastes. For travelers from the east side of the White and Inyo Mountains, the first glance is a barren landscape. But, once visitors drop down into the desert floor, the intricate beauty of the area is intoxicating, at least for some visitors.

Susan Sorrells and Cameron Mayer, president and executive director of Friends of the Amargosa Basin respectively, made the reverse trek to last week’s Inyo County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to make their case for a National Monument designation to protect the environment. That environment includes the residents and their contributions to the eco-system: a date farm, breweries, a saloon, cafe and bakery. Unlike more rigid environmental designations, the National Monument Act allows for cultural aspects of the landscape, including all the above.

Sorrells described the Amargosa Basin as “a wonderland” of public lands, all with an array of designations and restrictions drifting down on the area from above. The group’s choice of going the route outlined in the National Monument Act would give “a greater voice in land management” to those who lived there.

The Friends took some of their cues from the effort to identify the Alabama Hills as a National Scenic Area. Both efforts involved a “from the ground up” effort spearheaded by residents with the goal of protection for an area that included valued landscapes, multiple government agencies’ oversight as well as some development. As Sorrells explained, the 2009 Act acknowledges that the residents “give richness to the area and are integrated with the natural landscape.” The group’s bottom-up approach is a realization the designation has to allow for eco-tourism to be economically viable. She noted a National Monument designation in New Mexico increased eco-tourism to the tune of an additional $13 million into the local economy.

The Supervisors were all supportive of the effort. Supervisor Matt Kingsley, whose Fifth District includes the Basin, described the area as a “unique, important and fun” part of the County, noting that the designation would recognize past practices and include OHV use.  Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths felt the designation would give the community the chance to educate visitors to tread lightly but emphasized the importance of a good management plan.