In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles," host Chris Clarke provides valuable insights into the impact of government shutdowns on national parks, especially those within desert regions. The episode opens with a beautiful recording of a hermit thrush by nature sound artist Fred Bell, setting a serene and reflective tone for discussing the challenges facing these national treasures during shutdowns. Clarke advises listeners to reconsider visiting national parks until they are fully operational again due to the strain on park staff and resources, leading to potential environmental degradation and safety risks.

Chris shares insights from retired park rangers and discusses the alarming consequences of a strained park system, such as vandalism, inadequate maintenance of amenities, and risks posed by decreased ranger presence. Clarke also emphasizes the economic implications for local communities reliant on park tourism, highlighting examples of local businesses adapting by offering alternative tours outside national parks. Additionally, he encourages listeners to explore other natural and historical sites managed by different entities, thus somewhat preserving the economic stability of local regions while respecting and protecting national parks during these challenging times.

Key Takeaways:

• National parks face significant challenges during government shutdowns, leading to environmental and safety risks.
• Vandalism, lack of maintenance, and potential visitor accidents are heightened without adequate park staffing.
• Retired park rangers advocate for closing parks entirely during shutdowns to protect resources.
• Local businesses and tour operators offer alternative experiences outside national parks to mitigate economic impacts.
• Visitors can explore nearby state parks, county parks, and BLM lands as responsible alternatives.

Notable Quotes:

1. "As someone who lives a five minute drive from an extremely popular national park, it's disturbing to me that the Secretary of the Interior has basically ordered parks to stay as open as possible during the shutdown." - Chris Clarke
2. "These landscapes, these cultural resources, these historical resources are all vulnerable. And right now they don't have enough guardians watching over them." - Chris Clarke
3. "During the last long shutdown, there was vandalism in Joshua Tree. There's spray painting on rocks, damage and theft of artifacts and cultural items." - Chris Clarke
4. "We can use it as an excuse to give those animals another break. It's been five years since they had one. Maybe we think about this as a good moment to give the land and the beings that live there another chance to breathe." - Chris Clarke
5. "The landscapes around the parks are amazing in their own right, and your spending there will still support the local economy without adding pressure to the national parks." - Chris Clarke

Resources:

• 90 Miles from Needles Podcast: [90milesfromneedles.com](https://90milesfromneedles.com)
• Desert Protection Podcast Social Media: Facebook https://facebook.com/ninetymilesfromneedles
  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/90mifromneedles/
  BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/90milesfromneedles.com
  Threads https://www.threads.com/@90mifromneedles

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Chris Clarke takes listeners along on a recent journey to El Paso for the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. The trip was made possible by supporters who contributed to the Chihuahuan Desert Travel Fund. Clarke shares insights and experiences from traveling over 1600 miles across the deserts of the Southwest. This episode provides a heartfelt thank you to supporters and explores the challenges facing desert conservation. As Clarke reflects on the journey, he explores common ecological threats facing desert regions, ranging from industrial development to climate change and invasive species. The episode features stories and experiences gathered from Tucson to El Paso, highlighting the bond people form with these arid landscapes and the innovative ways communities are working to protect them. Clarke concludes by discussing the potential for a cross-desert conservation movement, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and communication.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta provided a platform for connecting with desert conservationists and highlighted the biodiversity and challenges unique to desert ecosystems.
• The trip was a success thanks to generous donations, enabling Clarke to engage with local communities and build relationships that transcend geographic boundaries.
• Ecological threats, such as invasive species and climate change, affect all desert regions, necessitating collaborative conservation efforts.
• Personal connections and face-to-face interactions can be pivotal in galvanizing support and fostering shared passion for desert protection.
• The idea of a continent-wide desert conservation movement underscores the need for innovative communication channels between diverse communities.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The ecosystems are fragile in the sense that they are slow to heal from disturbance. They can take centuries to recover."
2. "There is a diverse group of people working on protecting the deserts... that care about the desert and want to protect it."
3. "I think the thing that I was most impressed by from mile one of this trip is the degree of passion that these places raise in their defenders."
4. "It would be great for people in Las Vegas to be familiar with what people in El Paso are facing and vice versa."

Resources:

90 Miles from Needles https://90milesfromneedles.com

The Mojave Project: https://mojaveproject.org/

Adriana Bachmann - https://www.instagram.com/myclimateclarity

Eli Heller - https://www.instagram.com/desertnaturalist

Henry Brean at AZ Daily Star: https://tucson.com/users/profile/henry%20brean/

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary

In this eye-opening episode of *90 Miles from Needles*, host Chris Clarke welcomes back Dr. Michael E. Ketterer to explore the unsettling connections between historical nuclear testing in the Nevada Test Site and fallout in unexpected areas like eastern California. With cutting-edge mass spectrometry, Dr. Ketterer reveals how nuclear tests conducted decades ago may have risked public health in unexpected places such as eastern California. The episode not only dives deep into the legacy of nuclear testing but also highlights the need for further investigation into its repercussions, particularly in underrepresented areas impacted by radioactive exposure. During the conversation, Dr. Ketterer shares his findings on how eastern California, particularly the regions around Mount Whitney, has been affected by nuclear fallout in levels comparable to notorious downwind zones like St. George, Utah. He asserts that existing compensation programs, like the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RICA), should be expanded to include these overlooked areas. Dr. Ketterer also discusses his involvement in a mobile lab initiative that aims to map fallout across New Mexico—providing crucial data to better understand past exposures and advocate for affected communities.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Ketterer exhibits compelling evidence that nuclear fallout from Nevada test sites reached eastern California in significant amounts, equivalent to recognized downwind fallout areas.
• The episode challenges preconceived notions about nuclear test fallout only affecting designated downwind areas and calls for policy expansion to acknowledge overlooked regions.
• The pursuit of truth in fallout mapping is driven by sophisticated isotopic testing, identifying residual contamination in soil samples and informing future legislative action.
• Dr. Ketterer's work shines a light on neglected communities, emphasizing the importance of validating historical data for revising compensation and care strategies under RECA.
• A new mobile lab initiative, designed to bring testing capabilities directly to communities, is part of Dr. Ketterer’s latest efforts to empower citizens with real-time data and insights into their environmental health.

Resources

Veterans for Peace https://www.veteransforpeace.org/

Learn about plutonium isotopic fingerprinting techniques: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopic_signature

Research articles and public work by Dr. Michael Ketterer can be found through Google Scholar.

Listen to the full episode for an in-depth understanding of how fallout from historical nuclear testing impacts communities today and gain insights into the ongoing efforts to map and mitigate these effects. Don't miss upcoming episodes for more on desert protection and advocacy initiatives!

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.