Visiting Disaster: Collaboration forging future for public lands

Landscape like this dots land proposed as a wilderness study area. Pam Harrington photo.

By Pam Harrington

What’s in a name? In the case of Disaster Peak it could be wilderness – as in a proposed wilderness area straddling the Nevada/Oregon border.

Trout Unlimited recently led an exploration party into the remote and largely untouched area, which earned its name in 1864 when four prospectors were killed in a skirmish with members of the Bannock Tribe.

The modern day explorers were representing the Humboldt County Local Working Group and included staffers from Nevada Senator Dean Heller’s and Representative Mark Amodei’s offices. Local voices want to be heard and the Nevada delegation embraces our efforts. Diverse but collaborative people forge the future for public lands here.

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The working group stopped to talk about the proposed Disaster Peak Wilderness Study Area. Pam Harrington photo.

Ominous dark clouds gathered against the Montana Mountains as the adventurers mounted side-by-side UTVs to get closer to the mountain.  The cherry stem road allowed for a deeper look into a surreal and wild place with a dark past.

Disaster Peak stands alone against the Trout Creek Mountains with the Montanas flanking it to the southeast. Harboring Lahontan cutthroat trout waters, bighorn sheep and other requisite species of grandeur, this place is to be revered and respected.

While it may be small, McDermitt Creek is considered a great candidate to host Lahonton cutthroat recovery efforts. These fish are in peril and we must work to protect any suitable habitat to help protect and restore their populations.

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Landscape like this dots land proposed as a wilderness study area. Pam Harrington photo.

TU’s role is to provide leadership to the local working group, which will provide recommendations to the Humboldt County Commissioners when promoting a Wilderness Boundary and specifying legislative language to relieve the indeterminate state of the Wilderness Study Area.

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Taking in the scenry during a tour of the proposed Disaster Peak Wilderness Study Area. Pam Harrington photo.

“Experiencing the land first hand and meeting affected stakeholders was invaluable to finding solutions all parties can live with,” said Carl Erquiaga, who was on the tour representing the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Collaboration is key to success.”

Pam Harrington is the Nevada Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited’s Sportmen’s Conservation Project. Her email address is PHarrington@tu.org