|
 | The U.S. Army is proposing to expand the
Fort Irwin National Training Center in California's Mojave Desert. The expansion would devastate two Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) in the
Mojave. The entire South Avawatz Mountains WSA and the lower portion
of the Avawatz Mountains WSA would be lost. |
| In
1994 Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. Several WSAs were left out of the act to remain under
"wilderness review" pending a decision on the expansion of the
Fort Irwin National Training center. Areas
that were left out include the Avawatz Mountains, South
Avawatz Mountains, and Kingston Range. |
| Now, the entire 27,580 acres of the South
Avawatz Mountains WSA would be engulfed by the expansion of Fort Irwin. This vast and largely undisturbed area offers views of both the Soda
and Avawatz Mountains. This
area is habitat for desert bighorn sheep and has cultural values which
include The Old Spanish Emigrant Trail that crosses the WSA. |
| About
15,000 acres would be taken from the southern portion of the 108,992 acre
Avawatz Mountains WSA. According
to the BLM The Avawatz Mountains WSA contains
colorful slopes and rugged ridges as well as steep and narrow canyons. This area contains 75 square miles of a seasonal bighorn sheep range
in addition to traditional Shoshone materials. |
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