MARK SMITH / Special to the PVT JT Reynolds, superintendent of Death Valley National Park, delivered one of the addresses during the Sierra Club?s regional meeting in Shoshone, Calif., the weekend of Feb. 9-10. Advertisement

SHOSHONE, Calif. -- Feb.9-10 the Sierra Club held its eighth annual regional meeting here.

A variety of organizations and the public were invited to discuss relevant issues concerning environmental, ecological or preservation that pertain to the desert wilderness area of California and Nevada.

Ever-diminishing water resources were a primary topic of discussion. As the water table drops in the region and development increases, many foresee disaster in the near future as it becomes evident that there are more water rights being bought than there is water.

Some experts like John Hiatt, a local desert activist, worry that within the next few years the water table will drop beneath the depth to which most wells in Pahrump are dug.

Another topic was energy use and, more importantly, its production. All attention was focused on the pros and cons of "concentrating solar energy," essentially a 10-square-mile solar energy panel that is proposed to be built in the desert outside of Las Vegas.

According to Joan Taylor, chairman of the energy committee for the regional desert committee, "The feeling among people who do not live in the desert is that it is a giant wasteland. Why not use it for a giant solar panel?"

Environmental impacts, both real and supposed, are the primary concerns. The solar panel would be the first one built in the world, so not all of the environmental impacts are known.

Discussion invariably turned to new strategies to curb off-road vehicle use in undesignated areas, an ongoing problem in the desert for many years. Vehicles being driven in protected areas tear up fragile plant life, and the ruts may have disastrous effects on the area's water table.

George Barnes, chairman of Sierra Club's off-road vehicle task force, shared his observations on a new grant program established in California.

It allows institutions like schools or camps to apply for funds to pay for programs that will educate children about the hazards of off-road vehicle use on the environment. Nevadans are watching to see how successful the program is.

Saturday afternoon all were invited to and enjoyed a scenic hike ending in China Ranch.