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NFC: Ash Meadows trip..........


Subject:  Ash Meadows Conservaton Trip OCT 1999


--------------- cc:Mail Forwarded ---------------
From:     peter.unmack at asu_edu AT FWS
Date:     07/29/99 07:36 PM
To:       acn-l <acn-l at acn_ca> AT FWS
Cc:       nanfa <nanfa at aquaria_net> AT FWS
Cc:       killies <killies at aquaria_net> AT FWS
Cc:       livebearers at aquaria_net AT FWS
Cc:       dfc-l <dfc-l at lists_cc.utexas.edu> AT FWS
Cc:       rainbowfish <rainbowfish at pcug_org.au> AT FWS
Subject:  Ash Meadows Conservaton Trip OCT 1999




From: James Lawson <jelawson at ix_netcom.com>

G'day Desert Conservationists

Please feel free to reproduce the announcement and post to other
networks.

Desert Springs Action Committee, Martinez, California

Ash Meadows Work Party - OCT. 8-10, 1999

The Desert Springs Action Committee, in conjunction with the
Bay Area Killifish Association, Northern Californian
Killifish Club, North American Native Fishes Association,
and others is happy to presents their latest
conservation field trip to the Nevada desert.

During October 8-10 we will be undertaking conservation work
at the Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, under supervision
of US Fish and Wildlife
Service staff.

Ash Meadows, Nevada is a very special place.  It has a higher number of
endemic
species for its given area than any other place in the United States.
This is
primarily due to the presence of permanent freshwater springs that allow
life to
flourish in the desert.  Ash Meadows was also the
site of one of the longest environmental battles in North America,
(1967-1984).
For a considerable time the area was threatened by ranchers who diverted
spring
outflows and pumped excessive quantities of ground water for irrigation,
threatening the continued existence of the springs.  The
next principal impact was a proposed desert city that would have also
required
large quantities of ground water.  As a
combined result of these
impacts one fish species is extinct, and the remainder are currently
listed as
Endangered species by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Today the area
is a National Wildlife Refuge and despite it's current protective status,
problems still regularly occur, i.e. exotic fish species are still
introduced
into springs threatening native aquatic fauna.

Our primary objective is the removal of non-native organisms including
damnbusia, mollies, largemouth bass, crayfish and bullfrogs. We will
likelyalso
conduct some cattail removal from some springs so bring gloves.  There
will be
ample opportunity to see the native pupfishes and dace close up.
Please note however, no native fish may be removed from the refuge as all
are
fully protected by the Endangered Species Act.

We will be camping at the refuge headquarters, however, alternative
accommodation is also available at the nearby
Longstreet Casino 1 800 508
9493.  Ash Meadows is located a few miles north of the CA-NV border on
Hwy. 373
and is clearly marked with signpost.  A map is available on the web at
http://www.tkphotos.com/ashmed/amapa.htm.  We will gather atthe refuge
office at
8 am on the 8th to organize activities.
DSAC will be coordinating the meal preparation with help from various old
hands.
Bring personal eating utensils and special dietary needs, i.e. sweet n
low,
canned tuna, Doritos chips. Our
stay out there will be similar to a
pot luck sharing both in clean up (K/P duty) and items like chips,
snacks, and
fresh fruit (bring extra to share).  The Desert Springs Action Committee,
however, will provide the main
stay of our foods.  A $24 stipend
towards the food is requested in advance and covers a two-day menu with a
special BAR-B-QUE Friday night. Participants who wish to come for
theBar-B-Que
only will be charged $12.00, in advance.

Please inform us early if you wish to form, or need car pool information.
A very
 comprehensive WEB page of the work we do and past trips is
located at http://www.tkphotos.com/dsac

Contact Peter Unmack <peter.unmack at asu_edu>, 480 965 1578 or Jim Lawson,
802
Arlington Way, Martinez CA 94553,
<jelawson at ix_netcom.com>, 925 335 9346 for
further information, maps, and required registrations forms (cancelled
check).
The non-refundable stipend is due September 15, 1999. Please make checks
payable
to Jim Lawson at the above address.

Thank you all for you time in this matter and I look forward to another
great
Ash Meadows weekend.

J.E.L.

Steele Graphics and WEB Design
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Robert Rice
Help Preserve our Aquatic Heritage join the Native Fish Conservancy
online
 at our website http://www.nativefish.org