Great Basin National Park is a modest gem. Set in
Nevada, within a stone’s throw of Utah, deep in the stillness of
the Great Basin, the park was formed out of other public land in
1986. Like many parks, it was the child of compromise: Cattle were
permitted to continue to graze the alpine meadows and the slopes of
13,063 foot-high Wheeler Peak that tourists also visit. But that
may be changing. The Conservation Fund has entered into contracts
with three ranchers to remove 2,203 head of cattle from 101,000
acres of the park and adjacent Humboldt National Forest and Mt.
Moriah Wilderness Area. Everyone, from the Nevada Cattleman’s
Association to the State of Nevada, supports the buy-out. All
that’s needed is $220,300 by Oct. 15. If you can help, contact
David Kirk, The Conservation Fund, 1942 Broadway, Ste. 323,
Boulder, CO 80302; 303/444-4369; e-mail:
dkirk@tcf-colorado.org.
* Ed
Marston
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A gem of a park.
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