In 1980, Spring Meadows, Inc sold their water rights and land in Ash Meadows to Preferred Equities, Inc (PEI). The good news about this was that PEI planned to put a stop to all the agriculture that had so extensively damaged this wetland. But the bad news came when PEI announced a development project, called New City. The plan was to build a small city on top of Ash Meadows.
Environmentalists were aghast. This was the largest oasis in the Mojave Desert, and now it was going to be destroyed completely. They immediately established a Nature Conservancy, and fought back to preserve Ash Meadows, so it could be restored to its natural state.
But the executives of PEI seemed determined. They launched a public relations campaign, promoting the proposed development. They spelled out all the practical reasons why this New City would be so beneficial to the Amargosa Valley.
Why, it would bring good-paying jobs to the area. And they pointed out that where water is, life is. It would be a retirement community, where folks who had worked hard all their lives could live the good life, until the end of their lives, in a desert paradise with a warm, sunny climate.
There would be houses, golf courses, shopping centers, paved streets, and sidewalks for exercising the legs. Every house would have a well-watered, beautiful green lawn. And there would be enough water for swimming pools in every backyard, and an artificial lake for fishing and boating.
Their vision of New City gave little consideration to all the many unique species of plants and animals at Ash Meadows, that would very likely go extinct. Because that would be impractical. The practical thing was what all that water could do for human beans.
But the newly-established Nature Conservancy pushed back. They pressed the government to stop the development. And a legal war ensued.
PEI began its tractor work, in spite of the public outcry. They sent in bulldozers, and managed to clear some of the land for new roads and buildings. But that was about as far as they got. As the legal battles heated up, further development was halted.
Finally a reprieve came for all the wildlife in Ash Meadows, and all the people who love nature. In 1984, the U.S. government negotiated the purchase of Ash Meadows from PEI. It was to become a national wildlife refuge.
This is the latest installation of my series, The Amazing Amargosa. Come on back in a few days for the final installation, entitled, Chapter 13: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Click here to read the previous installation. Click here, to start at the beginning.
Categories: History
Chasing Unicorns 
“National Wildlife Refuge”… Sounds like an underground nightclub.
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That would make a great name for a nightclub. Maybe we can consider this to be a nightclub for the animals of Ash Meadows.
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Yay for wildlife winning! So does this mean that you are going to have wildlife pictures in the finale of this series? 🙂
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I didn’t see much wildlife while I was there. Just a few rabbits and sparrows and such. It was very windy, and I think the wildlife was hiding.
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I don’t blame them, I don’t like being out in the wind either. Too bad that you didn’t get to see more wildlife, they probably were spying on you from.their hideouts.
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Who knows, they might have taken a few pictures of me.
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You are right, for they probably were in shock at seeing a donkey roaming around. 😂
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No, it couldn’t be the first time they saw an ass roaming around there.
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I often go hiking at a National Wildlife Refuge around here. I am glad these exist.
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Wish we had some close by, but I agree, I am glad they exist!
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I noticed. I don’t know if they’re all designed to be similar, but I like the more primitive feel, as opposed to the developed feel of a national park.
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nice to know the backstory of the wildlife refuge; I’m glad the environmentalists won…
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So am I. And they won in 1984, when Reagan was president. I didn’t know Reagan sympathized with environmental causes.
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I know Reagan is considered by many to be one of our great Presidents, but I don’t really know too much about his time as the President. You may have to write a series about him so I can learn something…
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If I’m ever curious enough about him, maybe I would. But lately I’m kind of tired of politics. Until the two sides get more real, and start treating each other with respect, politics leaves me feeling disgusted and disinterested. Although back in Reagan’s day, the two sides did get along much better than now.
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Reagan seemed to have good interpersonal skills…
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Yes, I think they called him the Great Communicator.
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I did visit the Reagan Presidential Library once. I wrote a post about it, around three years ago:
https://unicorniks.com/2017/12/29/nixon-vs-reagan-as-librarians/
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Thank goodness PEI didn’t succeed with their “wonderful” plan. There’s always something great as long they get benefits 🙄
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I’m glad they didn’t succeed, also. Today Ash Meadows is a nice place to hike and enjoy nature, which we wouldn’t have if it was a city.
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Yeah, enjoying nature away from the city is important. And it will be sad to not see that beauty anymore.
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