The Jarbidge Shovel Brigade is a nonprofit organization founded in response to pressures put on public land users, by federal agencies. South Canyon has become a rallying call for people all over the United States. This is our way of telling the Federal Government, "enough is enough, we want our public and private land right back."

In the spring of 1995, the South Canyon Road was washed out by an unusually heavy rainfall and snow melt. The Forest Service promised the county that they would rebuild the road.

By the summer of 1998, the Forest Service still hadn't kept its word so the county sent in a crew to do the repairs. The crew was halted by the "emergency listing of the Bull Trout". They were just a few hours from completing the job.

The Forest Service went in late that Fall and obliterated the road, filling it with rocks, dirt and trees, billing Elko County for the work.

In October of 1999, a group of Elko county citizens, led by Assemblyman John Carpenter, Attorney Grant Gerber and Chris Johnson (an area businessman) went to Jarbidge to rebuild the road, using man and horsepower. They were stopped by a restraining order. Their case is currently in mediation.

With donations of money and shovels from all over the United States, and under new leadership, the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade was formed.

January 29, 2000 - a convoy of numerous vehicles and over 10,000 shovels from Idaho and Montana arrived in Elko for the largest parade turnout in Elko history. Elko has received shovels from as far east as New Jersey.

A thirty foot shovel was erected on the Elko County Courthouse lawn and people paid one dollar per name for printing to have their names put on the shovel. At this time there are more than 8,200 names. These people are saying we oppose federal government oppression, no more land lockups, no more road closures.

All across the United States, but especially the western states, this administration is arbitrarily naming millions of acres to heritage sites, wilderness areas, national monuments and roadless areas by using executive order under the Antiquities Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Our own Senator Bryan is pressing to get a "National Conservation Act" passed to close up the Black Rock Desert in Humboldt, Pershing and Washoe Counties. All these are an attack on our freedom, but if we stick together we can turn this trend around.

Our plan is to:

• * Re-open South Canyon Road on July 4, 2000
• * Fight the Roadless Initiative
• * Support people and groups who are facing the loss of access to public lands in their areas.
• * Publish a newsletter and website to keep people informed about what is happening on the Public Land Issues.

To do these things, we need support and financial backing. July 4th at South Canyon will cost thousands. With that in mind, we have started an aggressive fund raising program.

With friends like you, success is possible!

Please contact us at:

Jarbidge Shovel Brigade
491 Fourth Street
Elko, Nevada 89801
Phone 775-738-8717
Fax 775-738-6056

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www.jarbidgeshovelbrigade.com