Blue Diamond Hill Explained

Blue Diamond Hill is a 4931feet peak that borders Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, west of Las Vegas.[1] The Blue Diamond Mine is located on the hill, and the small community of Blue Diamond, Nevada is located nearby. Several housing projects have been proposed for the hill since 2002.

Description

Blue Diamond Hill is an upfaulted block, consisting of Permian and Lower Triassic sediments.[2] It has an elevation of 4,931 feet.[3] Nevada has 45 cactus species, 25 of which are located on Blue Diamond Hill. The Blue Diamond cholla is among the cactus species there.[4] Other plant life includes Joshua trees, yucca, and globe mallows.[5] Gypsum mining began on the property in 1925, with the opening of the Blue Diamond Mine.[6] In the 1990s, approximately 17,000 plants were salvaged from the area and its mining operations, to be transplanted in a desert trails park in Logandale, Nevada. The endangered Blue Diamond cholla was protected through a mutual arrangement between James Hardie Gypsum, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and The Nature Conservancy.[7] [8]

As of 2000, there were approximately 6,000 Blue Diamond cholla plants on the mountain, occupying 300 acres.[9] It was later discovered that the Blue Diamond cholla also grows in a half-dozen other areas, located in the north half of Clark County, Nevada and in northwest Arizona. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service counted 56,000 Blue Diamond chollas in those areas during 2005. Those located on Blue Diamond Hill are the most accessible. As of 2010, the Blue Diamond cholla was listed by the state as critically endangered.[10]

Proposed development

Power plant

In the late 1980s,[11] [12] plans were proposed for a $100 million hydroelectric power plant to be built at Blue Diamond Hill, on land owned by the BLM. It would be built by the Blue Diamond North Pumped Storage Power Co.,[13] [14] later known as Blue Diamond Power Partners. Nearby residents initially rejected the proposed project.[15] To alleviate concerns about its proximity to Red Rock Canyon, the proposed site was moved one mile south, on land that was also owned by the BLM and was located near the gypsum mine.[16] Clark County planners were worried about the visual impact that the plant would have on the area, and also expressed concern about dust problems during construction and operation.[17] There were also environmental concerns that the project would affect the Blue Diamond cholla. The power plant would permanently disrupt 104 acres, but would generate a projected $25 million in state and local taxes over a 20-year period.[11]

An environmental impact statement for the project was approved in 1996,[18] and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project a year later.[19] In April 2001, the $320 million project was nearing the end of its permitting process, with construction expected to begin the following year.[20] [21] The Clark County Commission was split on whether to approve the project, while some residents were concerned that the plant would affect the surrounding scenery.[22] Environmentalists considered the project unnecessary.[23] The Sierra Club claimed that the plant would be located within Red Rock Canyon, which was expanded in 1994 to include further land.[24] The BLM later denied that the land was part of Red Rock Canyon.[25]

In June 2001, Blue Diamond Power Partners withdrew its request from the Clark County Commission for a use permit, choosing instead to seek a federal permit.[24] [26] U.S. senator Harry Reid introduced a bill that would extend the power plant's FERC licensing, allowing the project to proceed.[27] [28] However, Reid put the bill on hold until issues could be resolved, such as the project's potential impact on the environment. Another condition was that the project receive local approval.[29] [30] The project also needed approval from the Las Vegas Valley Water District.[31] Construction had yet to begin as of 2003, although Blue Diamond Power Partners still intended to proceed.[32] The project remains unbuilt.

Residential projects

See main article: Blue Diamond Hill housing proposals. In 2002, John Laing Homes proposed a residential community to be built on nearly 3,000 acres atop Blue Diamond Hill, bringing an estimated 21,000 new residents to the area.[33] The proposal was withdrawn later that year after opposition.[34] Developer Jim Rhodes purchased acreage on Blue Diamond Hill in 2003, and has since made several proposals for a housing community on the land, although the projects have been opposed as well.[35] [36]

References

36.1025°N -115.3953°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area Trail Plan: Environmental Impact Statement. 2000. 298–.
  2. Book: Bissell, Harold Joseph . Petrology and Petrography of Lower Triassic Marine Carbonates of Southern Nevada (u.s.a.) . 1970 . Brill Archive . I8 . September 6, 2020.
  3. Web site: Feature Detail Report for: Blue Diamond Hill . . September 6, 2020 . December 12, 1980.
  4. Web site: Rare Plant Fact Sheet . Nevada Natural Heritage Program . September 6, 2020 . June 25, 2001.
  5. News: Purchase of mine revives Red Rock land-use battle . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . March 27, 2003.
  6. News: Rhodes begins PR campaign on gypsum mine site . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . May 5, 2003.
  7. News: Rogers . Keith . Pulling Up Roots . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 9, 1998 . https://web.archive.org/web/20001101173313/http://lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1998/Oct-09-Fri-1998/news/8373908.html . November 1, 2000.
  8. News: Collier . Lynn . Volunteer gardeners rescue desert flora . September 6, 2020 . November 12, 1997 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . subscription.
  9. News: Grove . Benjamin . Fighting for their lives . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . March 5, 2000.
  10. News: Wyland . Scott . Rhodes' Red Rock plan encounters new sticking point . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 17, 2010.
  11. News: Hughes, environmental group rap power project . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . February 27, 1996.
  12. News: S. Utah firm to help power LV . The Spectrum . April 24, 2001 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  13. News: Utah firm wants plant on BLM land . Reno Gazette-Journal . Associated Press . September 19, 1991 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  14. News: Power plant meeting tonight . Reno Gazette-Journal . November 18, 1991 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  15. News: Hydroelectric: Utah firm wants to build west of Vegas . Reno Gazette-Journal . Associated Press . November 22, 1991 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  16. News: Red Rock dam . Elko Daily Free Press . Associated Press . January 20, 1992 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  17. News: Hearings set for Vegas power plant . Reno Gazette-Journal . September 20, 1994 . September 6, 2020 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  18. Web site: Blue Diamond South Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project, Clark County . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . September 6, 2020 . 1996.
  19. News: Hydropower project near Blue Diamond approved . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . June 25, 1997.
  20. News: Rogers . Keith . Power plant project progressing . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 5, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020618205635/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Apr-05-Thu-2001/business/15791428.html . June 18, 2002.
  21. News: Approved permit puts power plant a step closer . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 7, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20011125054209/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Apr-07-Sat-2001/business/15818316.html . November 25, 2001.
  22. News: Geary . Frank . Commission delays decision on hydroelectric power plant . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 18, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020106083650/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/May-18-Fri-2001/news/16117593.html . January 6, 2002.
  23. News: Fate of hydroelectric plant to be decided . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . May 1, 2001.
  24. News: Geary . Frank . Power plant company withdraws request; Red Rock proposal may end up in court . Las Vegas Review-Journal . June 7, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020228071544/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jun-07-Thu-2001/news/16267172.html . February 28, 2002.
  25. News: Developer claims favorable ruling . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 5, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021115044801/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Oct-05-Fri-2001/business/17153853.html . November 15, 2002.
  26. News: Hydro plant sparks debate over county role in approval . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . June 7, 2001.
  27. News: Reid revives plan for hydroelectric plant . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . June 14, 2001.
  28. News: US Senator helps revive pumped storage plans . September 6, 2020 . NS Energy . July 16, 2001.
  29. News: Building of power facility near Red Rock stalled . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . July 20, 2001.
  30. News: Dorsey . Christine . Power plant bill stalled until local approval received . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 21, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20021115040605/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jul-21-Sat-2001/news/16589475.html . November 15, 2002.
  31. News: Water problems could kill project . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . January 11, 2002.
  32. News: Old plans energized for hydroelectric plant . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . January 13, 2004.
  33. News: Geary . Frank . Residents fear plan final blow to area's rural beauty, quiet . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 14, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020905104346/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Aug-14-Wed-2002/news/19410834.html . September 5, 2002.
  34. News: Moller . Jan . Developer withdraws plans for Blue Diamond Hill homes . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 2, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051120181125/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-02-Wed-2002/news/19757741.html . November 20, 2005.
  35. News: Rothberg . Daniel . The battle to build near Red Rock Canyon is coming to a head — again . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Sun . February 20, 2017.
  36. News: Wargo . Buck . Blue Diamond Hill residential project has long legal history . September 6, 2020 . Las Vegas Business Press . March 13, 2017.

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