An annual rite of spring, the 19th Desert Conference
at Oregon’s Malheur Field Station, April 24-27, attracts people
from around the country for field trips, networking, a desert rat
poetry festival and lots of informative talks. Topics will cover
the making of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument,
cows and their intrusions into streams and the new move of national
parks to retire grazing permits, among others. Speakers include the
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s Mike Matz, John Horning of
Forest Guardians, Becky Mills, superintendent of the Great Basin
National Park, and, debating what’s beyond the cows vs. condos
dichotomy, naturalist-activist George Wuerthner and High Country
News publisher Ed Marston. The gathering is highly self-sufficient
with dorm-style accommodations. Call Gilly Lyons at the Oregon
Natural Desert Association for details, 541/330-2638.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Desert Conference.
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