After over a year of meetings, research and work, Friends of Pahranagat Valley proudly presents a proposal for the development and re-opening of Little Ash Springs. We invite Pahranagat Valley residents and all others with an interest in Little Ash to review this proposal. We ask for your support! Here’s how you can help:
- Sign the petition. Let decision makers know you support this proposal by signing our petition. The petition is at the end of this proposal. Click here to go there now.
- Contact leaders directly. Email and/or call government and BLM representatives directly, letting them know you support this proposal. A list of government and BLM representatives is listed at the end of this proposal. See the list now.
- Give us your feedback. We welcome your thoughts on this proposal. Feel free to share your ideas using the comment form at the end of this post.
- Share this with others. Use the share buttons at the end of this post to share this with your friends on social media and through email.
Video
This is a second video created by Sam Lytle of CivilFX.com depicting the proposed development concept for Little Ash. We have incorporated feedback from a variety of people and organizations to create a more realistic idea of what could be done with the site.
Gallery
All renderings are by Sam Lytle of CivilFX.com Some renderings are of Little Ash as it is currently. Click on an image to view as a slideshow.
Proposal Summary
The plan proposes that:
- The existing man-made pool be repaired and three additional pools be added. The four pools will be filled by the spring water and flow naturally down the valley as it has for centuries.
- Humans be allowed to “soak” in the man-made pools only.
- Occupancy restrictions be placed in the man-made pools to minimize any impact being made on native species at the spring.
- Raised boardwalks and bridges with railings will be constructed that will allow visitors to walk through this natural area without disturbing plants, animals and water banks.
- A new road be created that goes through public land and connects further north on Highway 93.
- An entry gate and toll booth be constructed south of the parking area and serve as the only point of entry/exit at the site.
- A new parking area will be designated on public land directly north of the Little Ash parcel.
- Three pavilions be constructed that can accommodate approximately 20 people each.
- A jungle gym, volleyball pit and basketball court be constructed at the northwest portion of the property.
- Existing pit toilet restrooms remain and be expanded to better meet the needs of the area.
- A changing area be constructed on the south end of the property near the soaking pools.
- Fencing be placed around the Little Ash property with the only point of entry/exit at the entry gate/pay area. Fencing will also be placed around the soaking pools with a gate in order to manage the number of people in the pools.
- Signs be placed throughout the area indicating site rules and use instructions.
- One to two employees as well as volunteers manage the site and be on the premises during regular operating hours.
- Little Ash Springs maintains specific hours of operation.
- A variety of rules will be enforced to keep the site well-managed and allow all to enjoy the site.
- Friends of Pahranagat Valley handle the management of Little Ash Spring as it remains under public ownership.
- Initial capital improvements be funded through federal grants administered by the BLM as well as fundraising efforts by Friends of Pahranagat Valley.
- Once Little Ash has shown that it is financially sustainable, the Little Ash Springs site as well as about 30 additional public acres north of the site be transferred to Lincoln County through existing legal mechanisms.
- A fee structure be implemented to pay for employees and maintenance costs.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL PROPOSAL (PDF)
Again, we ask for your support! Here’s how you can help:
- Sign the petition. Let decision makers know you support this proposal by signing the petition below.
- Contact leaders directly. Email and/or call government and BLM representatives directly, letting them know you support this proposal. You can see a list of government and BLM representatives below.
- Give us your feedback. We welcome your thoughts on this proposal. Feel free to share your ideas using the comment form at the end of this post.
- Share this with others. Use the share buttons at the end of this post to share this with your friends on social media and through email.
Sign the Petition
Let decision makers know you support this proposal by signing the petition.
Contact Your Representatives
Email and/or call government and BLM representatives directly, letting them know you support this proposal.
County Commissioners
Paul Mathews – 775-962-1577- paulmathews@lcturbonet.com
Kevin Phillips – 775-962-1463 – kevin@lcturbonet.com
Adam Katschke – 801-592-1056 – adam.katschke@gmail.com
Paul Donohue – 775-962-1001 – lccpd@lcturbonet.com
Varlin Higbee – horanch@lcturbonet.com
Nevada Assembly
John C. Ellison – 775-738-6284 – John.Ellison@asm.state.nv.us
James Oscarson – 775-513-7468 – James.Oscarson@asm.state.nv.us
Nevada Senate
Pete Goicoechea – 775-237-5300 – Pete.Goicoechea@sen.state.nv.us
U.S. Senate
Harry Reid – 702-388-5020 – Email
Dean Heller – 702-388-6605 – Email
U.S. House of Representatives
Cresent Hardy – (202) 225-9894 – Email
Bureau of Land Management
Caliente Field Office – Chris Carlton – (775) 726-8100 – ccarlton@blm.gov
Ely District Office – Michael Herder – 775-289-1800 – mherder@blm.gov
Nevada Office – John Ruhs – 775-861-6400 – jruhs@blm.gov
National Office – Neil Kornze – 202-208-3801 – director@blm.gov
I love this idea . I do have a question though would the pool be open to locals at night ? A lot of people like to go at night when most people aren’t there. And my other question would be do we have to pay to get in??
Very good question from Merrina. Locals used to go to the pools after the day cause the pools were at capacity. Locals also tried to keep areas clean . Can there be a seasonal or yearly for local people?
Merinna,
Thank you for your comment and question!
Yes, we would have the area open at night. We propose that we would have the area open until 11pm during the spring and summer months. I know night time swimming is part of the fun.
Yes, we propose that there would be a fee to get in. We want the area to be managed by a local employee under the direction of our group, so to pay for this and other maintenance costs, we propose that Monday-Thursday it would be $6 for a swimmer and $3 for a non swimmer (like someone who just wanted to walk around the natural area and not swim.) On the weekends and holidays we propose $8 for a swimmer and $4 for a non swimmer. We would also offer a season pass for $100/year for a family. We want the area to pay for itself so it isn’t a burden on our county.
You can check out the full plan above by clicking on the large red sentence “click here to read the full proposal.”
As always, we are open for constructive suggestions. We want this to be a clean, well managed facility that we can use and enjoy. Feel free to let me know if you have any further questions.
-Robin Rowley
I think this is a wonderful idea. I know how difficult it is to fight the powers that be, but would love to see this happen. I was born in Alamo and live in Las Vegas.
Judy Robinson Clark
Thank you!
The Little Ash Springs is such a beautiful and somewhat unique site that has always had tremendous possibilities for such a small area. And the limited size of the area, as it is now, was always a problem. The site went from a local secret to a very popular and well known recreation spot in just a few years in the early 1990s. The place was loved to death by visitors from all over the world and the BLM did not have the people or the funds to keep up with the increasing useage. A local elderly couple, Norman and Dottie Runyan, and some of their family members, volunteered for years to maintain the site but it got to be an impossible task. I personally counted 312 visitors there one 4th of July. This brings me to one of my questions/concerns. How are you going to restrict the numbers of visitors at one time when folks from Las Vegas, Ely, California, New Hampshire, and Germany all show up at the same time ready to jump in the pools. Turning away a very disappointed family that left home early that morning is going to be a handful for one person in the fee booth. Allowing 80 visitors on summer weekdays is reasonable but watch out for the weekends and holidays. You better have a very indestructible “No Vacancy” sign and some courageous volunteers. The designs are very well done, but the construction and maintenance costs will be high. Any cost estimates yet? I hope the incoming fees are enough to pay the staff and perform the maintenance and repairs. If you haven’t, you might want to consider a shower and more toilets in the “changing rooms”. The 2 toilets were never enough. Great proposal!! I hope it works out. I’ll be there, and I will leave home real early to get there before number 79 and 80.
Larry,
Thank you for sharing your fond memories of Little Ash and also sharing your questions and concerns.
We agree and acknowledge that enforcing the occupancy rules will be an adjustment. However, we feel that it is necessary to make the site manageable and enjoyable. Like you pointed out, the area is quite small and with any public place, there has to be a limit on how many people you can pack in there. We plan on publicizing the reopening and the new changes, especially the occupancy and fee structure so we can reach as many folks as we can to minimize surprises and disappointments. Because the area has been closed for almost two years, we hope that just having it open and available again will be better then the alternative.
We will have 1-2 employees there during all business hours and if there are major issues, we have the support of our local law enforcement to manage unruly visitors.
We have created a financial outlook for the area including paying employees and maintenance costs. Of course adjustments will have to be made, but we feel like the site will actually pay for itself.
Please keep in mind that the video rendering done is only a concept we have of the area. We are proud to show the well-done rendering we envision of the area, but realistically the site will not look exactly like what you see on the video and images. We imagine that the same dirt and native plants will cover the area instead of paved parking lots and pathways. We are “keeping it simple” so we are not drowning in maintenance costs.
We anticipate the capital improvements will be funded through private donations and possibly by money set aside in the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act or SNPLMA. Once these improvements are made, we propose that Friends of Pahranagat Valley will take over all the management responsibilities. Once it is certain the site will pay for itself, then we would like to have the site and about 30 more acres of land to the north transferred to Lincoln County.
For now, we plan on just expanding and properly maintaining the pit toilets because we can not use any of the water. We can soak in it, but the water rights belong to shareholders in the Pahranagat Valley. This is also why we can not put in showers at this time. Also, the site’s water table is very high, so we have to take that into consideration when installing new toilets.
I hope I’ve addressed all your questions and concerns.
Again, thank your for your feedback.
Robin Rowley
Yes and thank you Robin. I look forward to hearing more about the project.
Being from there ,I am glad that it is limited to only 2 bathrooms and no showers. It will keep it simple. And discourage those who think that they want to “live there”. Alamo is a simple place and we need to keep it that way. The more you ADD then the more people from out of town will EXPECT MORE. .. please keep it simple. So that the TRUE Ash still shows.
It’s a nice idea, and I don’t mind the idea of paying the fees, but I wish you would be able to keep it more natural-looking than this proposal’s pictures. Even so, you have our family’s support of your proposal.
I was there, my x-in-laws, Joe and Virginia Little owned the store an gas station back in the late 70’s early 80’s on into the late 80’s or so. I miss the old days of natural habitat and going to soak at the end of the day in the hot spring. Just loved the privacy of it all. Sad to see it all being commercialized just to make a buck. Loved the PRIVATE TIMES!
My wife and I stopped at the spring a few years before it was closed. We spent about 1.5 hours there for a picnic and to soak a while. We discovered the place by accident. Last time we were back there we intended to stop again but it was closed. Big disappointment.
What has happened with Ash Springs? I found this beautiful place by chance two decades ago – and discovered in 2014? that it was fenced off. Are you having any luck re-opening the springs.?
SO? whats happening with this?
Did anything happen on this? No comments for 3 1/2 years! This would be a great tourist attraction but I can foresee the possible problems with the volume of people. There are just too many people for any tourist area to handle – even in the most out of the way places. The internet has enabled everyone to find about all the ‘secret’ places that only locals used to know about.