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| Much of the history of the park and the surrounding area is
related in some way to mining and the westward expansion that it instigated.
Although "Gold Fever" was the most common reason for staking a
mine claim in this area, silver, copper, and other minerals were also prospected.
The National Park Service has estimated that Joshua Tree contains about
300 abandoned mine sites, each typically including a shaft, an adit (or
tunnel), a small waste rock pile, a can dump, and perhaps the outline of
rocks where a miner once pitched a tent. |
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| Approximately 120 abandoned mine sites in Joshua Tree have
a substantial opening and may represent a safety hazard. Twenty-one are
old "mill sites" where gold was extracted from ore, leaving historic
remains, but also potentially hazardous waste. Park visitors who come upon
these sites, and certainly those who enter the shafts, tunnels, and structures,
are at risk. |
| The park would like to reduce the hazards presented by abandoned
mine sites as well as restore to a more natural condition the large areas
of disturbance created by the twenty-eight gravel pits documented in the
park. However, there are a number of different values, not to mention pieces
of legislation, that must be considered before action can be taken. |
| Some mine sites are historic and protected under the National Historic
Preservation Act. Mine sites sometimes provide habitat for bats, some protected
under the Endangered Species Act. Many mine sites constitute “a permanent
installation” within Congressionally Designated Wilderness in contradiction
to the Wilderness Act. |
| The park has extensively evaluated 36 mine sites for treatment, calling
on experts from each area of concern to help decide how each site should
be treated. Of those, only two have been erased by cleaning up the area,
plugging the shaft with polyurethane foam, covering the site with dirt and
re-vegetating the area with native plants. Three others were left with the
outward remains of the mining activity intact but made safer by the installation
of a polyurethane foam plug deep enough to preserve the appearance of the
shaft, but without the danger of a 100-foot hole. One mine was found to
be habitat for an established bat colony, so a gate that allows bats entry,
but poses a safety barrier to people, was installed. |
| Park staff will evaluate approximately 30 mine sites per year for the
next four years, balancing safety, cultural, and natural values with applicable
legislation. |
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http://www.nps.gov/jotr/nature/environment/aml/aml.html
last modified: 05/31/02
web editor: Sandra kaye |
