In the BURNED AREA EMERGENCY REHABILITATION PLAN AND ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT the BLM were to install this heavy duty cable fence (as Mojavegreen has mentioned) along Juniper Flats Road. This was called: JUNIPER FLATS CULTURAL PROTECTION FENCE As Mojavegreen has mentioned this fence was never put in by the BLM. The BLM were allocated $77,714.40 for the cost of completing this project. This heavy duty fence would have protected the area where the Indian Cultural Artifacts and Cottonwood Springs are located. BLM BAER REPORT "Illegal offroad vehicular activity has already occurred with the burn area in the BLM Juniper Flats ACEC. The highest values 'core' cultural area (including eight known sites, four of which contain burials and/or cremations) and the natural revegetation of the surrounding slopes would be severly compromised with continued incursions. Looting of the now exposed sites is also of concern. Background: The Juniper Flats area is an area of archaeological significance with many of the prehistoric sites are within or adjacent to riparian areas. Impacts to the riparian system will not only threaten many of the archaeological sites, but will also threaten biological resources within the area. The federally listed Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, as well as Least Bells Vireo and the BLM sensitive Gray Vireo and San Diego Horned Lizard have habitat in the Juniper Flats Area. c. 2. Monitor key index sites monthly to determine adequacy of the treatment to present offroad vehicular damage and looting and to measure natural revegetation at sites. Monthly, times after rain when it occurs. 3. Fallback treatment to be implemented based on monitoring data: cover sites and immediate area with mulching to facilitate protection of cultural sites from vehicular damage, looting and to stablize the surface pending natural revegation. ..... D. Purpose of Treatment Specification: Well casing and cable fence to be constructed to stop/limit vehicular traffic across significant archaeological sites, we well as riparian habitat, and to prevent/limit access to looters. ...." So, if the BLM had monitored monthly and completed the project as described and as they were paid to do, the Indian Cultural Artifacts and Cottonwood Springs would have had more protection from OHV abuse and the cattle. Let's request these records from the BLM to document that they receive money for activities that were never done. Let's see those monthly monitoring reports. Let's have an accounting of that money spent for the heavy cable fence.https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8592#msg-8592Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:43:52 -0700 Phorum 5.2.10 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8605#msg-8605 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8605#msg-8605
The area had not recovered but "someone" had forgotten to prepare the paperwork to extend the closure.

If you look into this in any depth, you will find pressure being placed onto subordinates to bless the "recovery". I will bet that a biologist got the "twist till it breaks" treatment or face career extinction. That was a common "management tactic" at that time and remains a tradition in the Barstow Office.

I would like to see a congressional investigation of the Barstow Field Office focused on events after the Willow Fire. The arrogant and blatant abuse of power by toxic individuals who have continued their reign to the present was so apparent to all persons working at or with BLM at the time.

Most of the qualified and conscientous people were either driven out of the Barstow Field Office at or stayed to face career extinction. What we now have is a useless organization that panders to special interests and their own financial gain.]]> mojavegreen Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 19:03:23 -0800 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8601#msg-8601 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8601#msg-8601 katrina island Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 14:54:32 -0800 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8599#msg-8599 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8599#msg-8599
"Ranger Barry Nelson (Chief Ranger) was put in charge of the Juniper Flats area after the Willow Fire."

What was his official title? He certainly acted like he was in control of Juniper Flats. I am not sure your presumption correct, though, as he also acted like he was Barstow Field Manager.

Regardless, Nelson was responsible for diverting $77,000 allocated for constuction of cable fence to protect Cottonwood Springs and other projects. This money came from BAER and National Fish and a Wildlife Foundation grant funds. That diversion is likely criminal.

With Nelson's reputation as overtime queen, of interest would be a FOIA on the source of funds for post-fire law enforcement, the total amount received from BAER and NFW funds and the percentage of those funds that Barry put in his own pocket.

Since J1299 was created with BLM complicity, a complaint and request for investigation should be filed with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. While Barry was easing back at the Kiosk using their funds, he was no doubt planning his frontal attack on Cottonwood Springs with J1299.

I'll bet a few arms were broken in the Barstow Field Office to get silence on that move.]]> mojavegreen Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 14:34:40 -0800 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8597#msg-8597 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8597#msg-8597
"Law enforcement is not paid for by BAER, but rather must come from re-prioritization of workload (as per Departmental USDA and USDI) direction)"

Ranger Barry Nelson (Chief Ranger) was put in charge of the Juniper Flats area after the Willow Fire.

I do believe that working towards getting a Congressional hearing on these issues is the best avenue to have these issues examined by those who have the authority over public lands.]]> katrina island Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 11:46:10 -0800 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8594#msg-8594 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8594#msg-8594
Over $77,000 was allocated for cable fence from Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation monies and National Fish and a Wildlife Foundation grant funds.

The funded fence was never installed along JF Road as promised by BLM in the monies/grant request to secure this funding.

The funds were diverted to pay Chief Ranger Nelson and his cohorts overtime during Willow Fire Closure. If you passed the kiosk area during this period, you would have seen those funds at work in the form of Ranger Nelson socializing with several subordinates (usually female).

This is not to say that some law enforcement was happening at the time by more dedicated and conscientous rangers on Juniper Flats. It would be interesting to know who was doing actual work and writing violations while Nelson was having his tea party.

In light of the subsequent direct attack on that same cultural site at Cottonwood Springs by Ranger Nelson and his OHV Volunteers (with the support of Field Manager Tim Read), it is time to write your Congressperson.]]> mojavegreen Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 09:14:16 -0800 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8592#msg-8592 https://deepcreekhotsprings.net/dchs/forum/read.php?1,8592,8592#msg-8592
JUNIPER FLATS CULTURAL PROTECTION FENCE

As Mojavegreen has mentioned this fence was never put in by the BLM. The BLM were allocated $77,714.40 for the cost of completing this project.

This heavy duty fence would have protected the area where the Indian Cultural Artifacts and Cottonwood Springs are located.

BLM BAER REPORT
"Illegal offroad vehicular activity has already occurred with the burn area in the BLM Juniper Flats ACEC. The highest values 'core' cultural area (including eight known sites, four of which contain burials and/or cremations) and the natural revegetation of the surrounding slopes would be severly compromised with continued incursions. Looting of the now exposed sites is also of concern.

Background: The Juniper Flats area is an area of archaeological significance with many of the prehistoric sites are within or adjacent to riparian areas. Impacts to the riparian system will not only threaten many of the archaeological sites, but will also threaten biological resources within the area. The federally listed Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, as well as Least Bells Vireo and the BLM sensitive Gray Vireo and San Diego Horned Lizard have habitat in the Juniper Flats Area.

c. 2. Monitor key index sites monthly to determine adequacy of the treatment to present offroad vehicular damage and looting and to measure natural revegetation at sites. Monthly, times after rain when it occurs.

3. Fallback treatment to be implemented based on monitoring data: cover sites and immediate area with mulching to facilitate protection of cultural sites from vehicular damage, looting and to stablize the surface pending natural revegation. .....

D. Purpose of Treatment Specification: Well casing and cable fence to be constructed to stop/limit vehicular traffic across significant archaeological sites, we well as riparian habitat, and to prevent/limit access to looters. ...."

So, if the BLM had monitored monthly and completed the project as described and as they were paid to do, the Indian Cultural Artifacts and Cottonwood Springs would have had more protection from OHV abuse and the cattle.

Let's request these records from the BLM to document that they receive money for activities that were never done. Let's see those monthly monitoring reports. Let's have an accounting of that money spent for the heavy cable fence.]]> katrina island Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CaliforniaTue, 30 Mar 2004 01:58:28 -0800