Letter seeks to block mining near Ash Meadows, an environmentally sensitive area west of Las Vegas

Ash Meadows Amargosa baby fish, a federally endangered species. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Mining activities pose an immediate threat to groundwater and critical wildlife habitat in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, according to a letter signed by Nevada's U.S. senators and congressional Democrats.

The letter urges the U.S. Department of the Interior to protect the area by banning mining on federal public lands in the Amargosa River watershed. U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) led the effort, with additional signatures from U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), as well as U.S. Reps. Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee.

“The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge ecosystem is entirely dependent on groundwater. Recent proposals for drilling and mineral extraction near the boundary of the reserve pose an immediate threat to the integrity of this fragile ecosystem,” the letter said.

A Canadian mining company called Rover Critical Minerals Corp. has been operating in Amargosa for a year, according to Mason Voehl, executive director of the Amargosa Conservancy.

“The staking of 400 new mining claims, some less than 100 feet from homes and businesses, poses a reckless and unacceptable threat to the community’s way of life,” he said after a community meeting that brought Rover officials face-to-face with residents in mid-June.

“Our message is unequivocal: We will not sacrifice our environment for corporate gain. We are united in our determination to protect our iconic desert landscapes, including Ash Meadows, Death Valley and the Amargosa River,” Voehl said.

“This fight is about more than conservation. It’s about defending the homes, health and future of the Amargosa River watershed from irreversible damage,” Voehl said.

Residents are concerned about the lack of rules on water use by mines and want companies to be held accountable.

Ash Meadows is known as the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert, home to five endangered species, including the Ash Meadows Amargosa dogfish. Seven other species in Ash Meadows are threatened. Two species, the Longstreet Spring snailfish and the Ash Meadows killifish, are now extinct.

The letter released Tuesday calls for action on behalf of Ash Meadows, Death Valley National Park, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and residents of the Amargosa Valley. The area is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Las Vegas.

“In response to this threat, there is broad support for strengthening protections for this unique ecological system,” the letter states. “Formally withdrawing these lands from further mining and exploration would preserve the critical and culturally significant water resources in and around Ash Meadows, Death Valley, and Amargosa Valley from further harm. Maintaining the integrity of this watershed is not only important for the conservation of the unique plants and animals that live in this special place, it also helps protect the water source for surrounding communities.”