CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN John W. Robinson
The 27 Desert Peakers who attended our annual banquet March 28th heard an interesting, thought-provoking talk on the "Fragile Desert" by Dr. Walter Taylor, past president of the Desert Protective Council. It's unfortunate that more of us couldn't attend, because Dr. Taylor's message was a sober one with a sense of urgency concerning what needs to be done to protect our fast diminishing primeval desert areas.
Dr. Taylor pointed out that many people have the mistaken notion that the desert is tough, dangerous, and strongly resistant to exploitation by man. Unfortunately the opposite is so; That the desert has a fragile quality is borne out in three important facets.
First of all, it takes but a little blight to discolor a whole desert area. Abandoned buildings, fragmented commercial developments, numerous roads with their perennial accompaniment of litter - all of these factors lead to the spoiling of large sections of the desert.
Secondly, there is a definite threat to many forms of desert vegetation, especially around settled areas. The wholesale removal of Iron Wood has become a serious problem: Candalia has almost entirely disappeared from some desert areas; and small cactus plants are being removed by the truckload.
Thirdly, desert animals are currently fast disappearing or their ranks are seriously depleted. In not many years the desert tortoise will be extinct; A species of the Bob White has practically disappeared. In many areas when man moves in animal conditions become borderline for miles around.
Dr. Taylor reports that the future of the desert is in our hands; we can do something about preserving some of what is left. He offers a program that includes the following: (1) Dissemination of knowledge concerning desert problems among the population, (2) Proper desert zoning regulations (none now), (3) Prevention of desert shack towns, (4) Regulation of commercial developments, (5) Rigorous enforcement of regulations protection desert flora and fauna, (6) Limitation of extensive military establishments, and (7) Restrictions on roadside advertising to combat the "creeping paralysis of uncontrolled signs".
In spite of the moderate turn-out, the banquet was an educational, enjoyable, and congenial success. Mainly instrumental for this success was Trudie Hunt who handled all the arrangements. In spite of a busy schedule, Trudie always seems to be able to render the DPS valuable service when called upon.
Recently I received literature from "The Committee for the Preservation of the Tule Elk". This worthy conservationist group is deeply concerned with the rapid depletion of the Tule Elk herds in Owens Valley, and proposes establishment of a national park or total refuge for their protection. Just since December 1960 the Tule Elk herd in the southern Owens Valley has decreased from 327 to an all-time low of 296. This species, which was once so numerous that it "darkened the plains", is found nowhere else in the world. Beula