Archaeological Inventory, Site Assessment, and Data Management, Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAME) and Parashant National Monument (PARA), Annual Report for 2007

This cooperative task agreement was awarded to the Public Lands Institute (PLI) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on October 1, 2006, with the term ending on September 30, 2008. The following information constitutes an annual report for all of the major activities performed during the first year of this agreement, as stipulated. A brief summary of all work performed for each project in the agreement between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 is presented. Other important tasks or activities associated with this agreement, but not identified under any specific project, also are summarized. Executive Summary • More than 6,700 acres were inventoried or monitored and 96 newly discovered archaeological sites were documented on LAME and PARA. • Twelve technical reports, ten memoranda, and three conference papers were written and/or presented on task agreement projects. • Some 142 features at the historic town site of Saint Thomas were monitored. • More than 60 site condition assessments were conducted on LAME and PARA. • More than 4,500 acres and 61 sites were recorded as a result of NPS and BLM fire management projects on PARA. • The UNLV Archaeological Field School was conducted this summer at Lava Ridge Ruin. • Both pilot and final databases were completed for the PARA settlement pattern study, including data obtained for approximately 1,200 sites. • A total of 600 acres were inventoried for Capital Improvement Projects at LAME. • More than 450 acres were surveyed and 19 sites were recorded for the Lost City Inventory Project

Technical assistance for the revision of the Conservation Agreement for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area: Final Closeout Report

Technical Assistance for the revision of the Conservation Agreement for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area was cooperative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The cooperator was the Public Lands Institute (PLI) of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) working directly with staff of the USFWS Southern Nevada Field Office and the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The mechanism of cooperation was a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Task Agreement. The purpose of the project was to provide technical assistance to the USFWS in revising the 1998 Conservation Agreement among the USFWS, USFS, and the State of Nevada for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

Our Places to Tell Stories: Preliminary Program Springs Preserve

Our Places Tell Stories is an innovative conference for educators and others working at public lands, schools, nature centers, museums, zoos, aquaria, and all nature and heritage rich places. This list of presentations represents a preliminary program of sessions. A final program will be emailed to all registrants prior to the conference. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to seeing you at the Springs

Torino Ranch

Photos of Torino Ranch in 2008. Torino Ranch specializes in summer camps for special needs children and their families

Our Places to Tell Stories: Making connections with our audiences

The idea for an annual Our Places Tell Stories conference was prompted by discussions that took place within a unique partnership of federal, state, university, and public organizations in southern Nevada. Members identified the need to share and learn from successful educational and interpretive strategies. Our increasingly urban surroundings and rapidly changing populations hinder personal connections between people and their natural environment. However, the right tools and techniques will help us inspire children and adults to understand, value, and take care of our shared natural places. This first conference supports professionals in creating and evaluating effective educational programs and interpretive media that connect our audiences with their natural surroundings. The conference features thought-provoking presentations, effective technique modeling, and collaboration building—all centered on maximizing effectiveness when we make connections with our audiences. We appreciate your time and commitment in attending the Our Places Tell Stories conference. We believe you will gain exciting ideas, techniques, contacts, strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose

Our Places to Tell Stories: Preliminary Program

Our Places Tell Stories is an innovative conference for educators and others working at public lands, nature centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, and other nature- and heritage-rich places. By providing participants with successful educational strategies and techniques, this conference will meet the needs of those interested in learning how to effectively connect with audiences to create motivated stewards of the environment

How Long Does This Litter Last?

Timeline for how long different types of waste last in the Nevada desert

Southern Nevada Interagency Science & Research Program

Conduct and support high quality, relevant, up-to-date research that is needed to solve problems and make effective decisions to enhance conservation, restoration, and adaptive management of public lands

Community Engagement, Education & Research

The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands

Don\u27t Trash Nevada: Open House

Through an interagency partnership, our mission is to reduce litter and dumping by identifying root causes and solutions. This will be accomplished through education and awareness programs, clean-up of public lands, and enforcement efforts