OCTA Receives SHPO Award for Fernley Swales Preservation
CA-NV Chapter
As part of May’s
Archaeological Awareness and Historic Preservation Month sponsored by the
Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, the CA-NV chapter of OCTA was
recognized for ongoing preservation efforts at the Fernley Sand Swales, a
landmark stretch of the Truckee River Route of the California Trail
northwest of Fernley, Nevada. Tom Fee, "trail boss" for Fernley
Sand Swales projects, accepted the award on behalf of OCTA during the
Silver Tea Ceremony at Virginia City’s 4th Ward School, held
on May 18, 2008. The certificate of recognition was presented by State
Historic Preservation Officer Ron James, who extended thanks from the
State of Nevada for OCTA’s stewardship of the swales, described by him
as a "model for historic preservation."
In 2001, CA-NV
OCTA became a partner with Nevada BLM for the Fernley Swales Historic
Preservation Easement, the result of a land exchange between BLM and a
private developer with long-range plans for both commercial and
residential development of the land surrounding the swales. Since that
time, chapter members convene every October to remove debris from the
easement and to record the changing conditions in the swales using an
archaeological site photo-monitoring program established by the BLM.
Within the fragile dune environment of the swales, natural and
human-caused impacts cause erosion and other changes, both gradual and
catastrophic, which the routine photo-monitoring program will clearly
demonstrate over a long period of time.
That OCTA
simply "removes debris" from the sand swales is a rather
misleading generalization. Several large flatbeds, trailers and even dump
trucks are required for the October clean-up of the one-mile easement, and
since 2001, the record of tonnage hauled away has steadily increased. A
combination of factors contributes to continued public use of the swales
as a dump for furniture, appliances, vehicles, and other large,
hard-to-dispose-of items. One factor is apparent in the swales themselves
– the high sand berms along the south side of the wide swales conceal
illicit dumping activities from sight, and the swales are easily
accessible by any high-clearance or 4WD vehicle from the adjacent grade of
the historic Central Pacific Railroad, now a well-used dirt road. Rising
area population, as well as rising fees at the local landfill, are also
resulting in rising mounds of trash in the desert around Fernley.
Among the many
threats that OCTA fights at the Fernley Sand Swales are low levels of
local awareness, interest and concern for protecting and preserving this
type of historic site. Tom Fee has emphasized and encouraged community
involvement from organizations such as the Fernley Leader-Courier, the
Fernley Preservation Society, and more recently, the City of Fernley Parks
and Recreation Department. Betty Aleck of the Leader-Courier has done a
wonderful job of publicizing the cleanup events, and Linda Sanders
and the Fernley Preservation Society have supported OCTA’s efforts for
many years. Waste Management at Fernley allows free dumping at the local
transfer station, and for the past two years the Fernley Department of
Parks and Recreation has provided a trailer and work crew. The nearby
Truck Inn has contributed water, large trash bags, a long flatbed
trailer and staff volunteers. In 2007 Arnold Coronado of Arnold's Wrecking
Yard hauled off several abandoned vehicles, a trailer, pickup beds,
and other material unaccepted at the transfer station. BLM, as well as
OCTA members Andy Quinn and Steve Knight, have all contributed flatbed
trailers for transporting the debris.
A part of this
certificate of recognition must be dedicated to Gary Bowyer, the BLM
archaeologist (Carson City) who established the preservation easement at
Fernley Sand Swales in 1998, pushed it through many roadblocks to
fruition, and made certain that OCTA was on board as a permanent caretaker
of the swales. Gary died of cancer in December 2005. The majority of
recognition, however, is much deserved by Tom Fee for coordinating and
leading OCTA’s annual activities at Fernley, and for being a "model
trail boss" to the great sand swales.
– Leslie R. Fryman
P.S.
Recently Tom Fee presented Certificates of Appreciation from the CA-NV
Chapter to several persons involved locally with the annual Fernley Sand
Swales clean-up. Steve and Patty Knight created the framed certificates
for the following:
-
Karen
Giron and the Truck Inn
-
Linda
Sanders, Fernley Preservation Society
-
Keith
Penner, Fernley Department of Parks and Recreation
-
Betty
Aleck, Fernley Leader-Courier
-
Arnold
Coronado, Arnold’s Wrecking Yard
-
Fran
Hull, Carson City BLM
-
Mike
Genera, Waste Management
Thanks
again, Tom, and thanks to all that continue to support this important
preservation project on the Truckee Route!
Updated: 12/20/10 |
