2008 Burning Man Stipulation Monitoring Report

2008 Burning Man Stipulation Monitoring Report
View from BABYLON
photo credit: Robert Williams
The show-stopper art installation this year was Babylon, a 10-story steel-frame tower rising 100 feet into the sky, with a stairwell to the top. Built by union workers out of recycled materials, the structure was financed by an anonymous company and rumored to cost $700,000 to build and transport to the dry desert lakebed known as the Playa. A family financed the structure to honor its Greek immigrant father, who was one of the early builders of Las Vegas and, according to his heirs, embodied the spirit of this year's theme at Burning Man - the American Dream. Babylon came with a photo booth that projected images of people on the tower's sides. The projection combined heads, torsos and legs of different people as one person, providing endless entertainment.
from www.sfgate.com
Report prepared for
Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District Office 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard Winnemucca, Nevada 89445 775-623-1500
Report prepared by
Laura M. Levy Integrated Mapping Strategies Winnemucca, Nevada 89445 Laura@Spatial-Ed.com
CONTENTS I. Executive Summary......5

A. Introduction B. Results for BM 2008 C. Recommendations for Monitoring BM 2009 D. Completed Studies
II. The Studies........10

For each A. Goal B. Stipulation C. Method D. Data E. Results F. Recommendations
III. Exploring Cumulative Effects......85

A. Observations B. Discussion C. Recommendations
IV. Technical Note....101 V. The Monitoring Team..111
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BM08 STIPULATION MONITORING REPORT
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. INTRODUCTION Background The Burning Man event was first held on the Black Rock Desert in 1990 and has continued since annually. The combination art festival, social event, and experiment in community living starts on Monday before Labor Day and runs for 8 days. Burning Man is the largest permitted event on public lands for any US federal agency. Since 1990, the event participation has increased from a few hundred participants to almost 50,000. The Winnemucca BLM Field Office received a Special Recreation Permit application from Black Rock City LLC for the Burning Man event for 2006 through 2010. The potential impacts of the event were analyzed and an Environmental Assessment (EA) was issued with stipulated terms to ensure both visitor safety and resource protection. In recent years, permit fees paid to BLM approached $1,000,000. Given the nature of event activities and the fees involved, Burning Man commands much public visibility. It is critical that BLM closely monitor and document compliance with the event permit. Project scope

Monitor stipulations during the event Communicate team data and results of efforts at BM08 Make recommendations for monitoring at BM09
Report goals Provide managers with knowledge necessary to:

Determine if permit stipulations were adequately met Modify stipulations as needed for next years event Incorporate similar stipulations for other permitted events Adopt these monitoring methodologies for other permitted events
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B. RESULTS FOR BM08 During the event Black Rock citizens are a self-patrolling community not shy about pointing out to their neighbor behaviors that might challenge or bend accepted policies. All wish to be welcomed back next year by the Burning Man LLC and BLM alike. During the event most violations were minimal and easily resolved. than outright violations. Nearing the end of event As the event neared Exodus, the most common violation was the trash left behind by many camps. These violations were resolved by the Burning Man Department of Public Works (DPW) clean-up crews, who spend almost a full month on the playa cleaning up after the week-long party. Six-weeks after event In October, members of the Team returned to revisit concern areas of concern. It was good to see that:

Most concerns
involved greywater. These were usually minor leaks in evaporative pools rather
All sites were cleaned to high standard. A repeat occurrence of the orange discoloration left from the gravel used in burn pads in 2007 was not seen this year. Most stipulations appeared to have been met.
Most violations and concerns were resolved six weeks after the event. Noted concerns were:
Gravel was found beneath the burn pad of every art project and community burn barrels. The orange discolorations at every burn pad documented in the 2007 Monitoring Report still remain on the playa with no evidence of fading.
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C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BM09 The Monitoring Team recommends:

Continuing the majority of the studies completed in 2008 Continuing to improve methodologies based on the lessons learned and emerging technologies Shifting focus of future efforts on exploring cumulative impacts
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D. COMPLETED STUDIES Study Stipulation Results [+ Good, - Concern] & Recommendations (
Monitoring the Good, Bad & the Ugly
20 Pit or hole 62 Greywater 31 Solid Waste Management 28 Fire (Non- Art burn) 22 Oil drip 30 Fugitive dust 57, 58 Health & safety 60, 74 EMS & Fire
+ Minor violations resolved during event or by event clean-up crew
The Open Playa: Art Projects & Burn Barrels
19 Art burn 20 Pit or hole 64 Community burn barrel 68 Art burn schedule
+ No burn scars or excessive debris
Decomposed gravel from burn pads remain at all inspected burn pads Orange discoloration from 2007 burn pad have not yet faded Explore methods of containment to ensure efficient gravel removal Return to proven burn pad materials of the past Simplify stipulations by deferring to FAAstandards Include airport location on public closure maps Coordinate BLM and Burning Man planning to ensure facilities are in the BM09 closure area Stipulations met
Airport
51 & 53 Airport
Signs
7, 35 & 56 Posting regulations 42 & 46 Exodus traffic and guards
Utilize multiple venues for communication
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Study
Stipulation
Results [+ Good, - Concern] & Recommendations ( +

Hot Springs
24 Cultural resources
Stipulations met Team monitor only Trego and Coyote Springs Enlist Earth Guardian help for other springs Stipulations met
6 7
Perimeter Fence Population
32 Fence
1 - Ticket sales 10 - Reporting
+ Population kept under 50,000 participants Population numbers received after 60-day reporting date outlined in stipulations
8 9
Trash Transects Porta-Potty Placement (PeePeePee)
79 Trash transects
See BLM file report for results Each morning, puddles appear adjacent to the Esplanade and on the open playa
61 Sanitation
Develop methods to successfully document this Increase visibility of toilets on open playa at night Utilize GIS analysis to optimize placement of potties that balances the needs of users with that of pumping crews. Large dunes from 07 fence still remain
Exploring Cumulative Effects
+ New dunes did not appear at 08 fence
Include more detailed stipulation for knocking down accumulated dust at fence and other structures
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II. THE STUDIES

1. Monitoring the Good, the Bad & the Ugly 11 i. Sanitation
Stip 20 Pit or hole Stip 62 Greywater
ii. Solid waste management

Stip 31 - Solid waste management
iii. Camping & recreational uses

Stip 28 Fires (Non-art burn)
iv. Prohibited by Burning Man v. Public health & safety

Stip 22 Oil drip Stip 30 Fugitive dust Stips 57, 58 - Public health & safety Stips 60, 74 EMS and fire
2. Open Playa 27
i. Art projects ii. Large art projects iii. Community Burn Barrels iv. 2007 Crude Awakening
Stip 19 Art Burn Stip 20 Pit or Hole Stip 64 Community Burn Barrel Stip 68 Art Burn Schedule
3. Airport......51
Stips 51 & 53 Airport
4. Signs.......57
Stips 7, 35 & 56 Posting regulations Stips 42 & 46 - Exodus traffic and guards
5. Hot Springs............63
Stip 24 Cultural resources
6. Perimeter Fence ...67

Stip 32 Perimeter fence
7. Population..............71
Stip 1 Reporting Stip 10 Tickets sales
8. Trash Transects ...........77

Stip 79 Trash transects
9. PeePeePee (Porta-Potty Placement)........81

Stip 61 Sanitation
10. Exploring Cumulative Effects........85

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THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
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STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
A. GOAL Survey the residential blocks for Good, Bad and Ugly incidents of various stipulations. To resolve any outstanding issues as needed during the event, maps and photos were distributed to team members for re-inspection.
B. STIPULATIONS These are listed in results sections i - v.
C. METHODS Each team was assigned blocks in the Residential Zone. Using GPS-ready cameras, they shot photos of good and bad examples and outright violations of stipulations including: personal and community burn barrels, shower and shade structure designs, evaporative coolers, swimming pools, any potential hazards. Drop down menus in the camera software allowed the Team to record stipulation and status of each incident as it was photographed. Status was indicated as: Innovative Good Concern Violation A notable advance in form and/or function Representative of typical playa life Presents the potential for negative impacts to the playa. Team recommends re-inspection at later time Clearly against permit stipulations
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D. DATA The map shows the locations of photo-documented incidents. The numbers in the legend indicate the number of photos taken and summarized by stipulation and status.
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E. RESULTS
SANITATION
PITS AND HOLES 20. BRC will limit excavation of pits and holes to those absolutely necessary for administration of the event. This includes holes and pits excavated by participants. All pits and holes will be backfilled, wetted and compacted by physical tamping to minimize post-event pit depressions. GREYWATER 62. Dumping wastewater (greywater or black water) on public lands directly from a vehicle, trailer, wash basin, shower stalls, bath tubs, barrels, pools, or a wastewater containment receptacle is prohibited. BRC shall develop and implement processes to promptly respond to wastewater dumping violations.
INNOVATIONS From the sign in the photo, Archie: This evaporatron uses a bi-directional Archimedean screw of vinyl tubing. It lifts gray water for evaporation, whichever way the wind blows. A sand filter (5 gal. bucket) removes particles. Clorox (1:100) added to the pond helps reduce bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The evaporation tower is removable, to let us experiment with techniques and wick materials.
Large evaporative pond
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While a few evaporative coolers have been seen each year, their popularity has not grown as expected.
Shower anyone?
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VIOLATIONS These 2 photos are of concern because while wastewater is being kept off the surface, it is hard to see how these pits will be emptied at the end of the event. These occurrences missed the attention of the Team Lead during the event and therefore no intervention was made.
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A preferred alternative would be as in this photo as per recommendation from the Burning Man website.
This is a trash violation but the jug in the foreground might be indicative of a common greywater disposal method emptying waste in the BRC porta-potties.
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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

31. BRC is responsible for all trash removal and cleanup. Trash will be transported to an appropriate landfill and deposited accordingly. Specifically BRC will: a. Provide dumpsters of a size and number sufficient to accommodate the event. b. Dumpsters will be hauled when full to ensure proper disposal and timely rotation of full versus empty containers. c. Burying of waste material, of any kind, is prohibited on public land.
VIOLATIONS It is amazing how quickly dust piled up against any obstruction in the playa.
RESOLVED This is what this same spot looked like 6 weeks later.
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CAMPING AND RECREATIONAL USES

PLAYA SURFACE PROTECTION 28. Fires are prohibited except for authorized burn areas, authorized burn platforms, elevated fire receptacles, elevated barbecues and tiki torches.
VIOLATION RESOLVED In these cases, scars were already detected on the playa. Both were revisited in Oct 2008 but no evidence of either scar was found
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CONCERNS Burn barrels not elevated off the playa surface were easily resolved during the event.
This barrel was only for trash collection, not burning
When re-inspected, this barrel was raised off the playa and had developed into a devil-fire sculpture
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When the team returned to re-inspect this barrel, members of the neighboring camp reported this barrel was later raised on a stand when its contents were burned. The best patrols are the Black Rock citizens themselves. Many watch their neighbors to ensure that the event will be allowed to return to the playa next year.
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PROHIBITED BY BURNING MAN

VIOLATIONS Duck Pond Camp hosted this slip and slide. The primary concern was the greywater to which the participants exposed themselves and leaks onto the playa. Participants were on their own for bruises or worse. While a map and photos were passed onto BLM personnel, the matter was not addressed during the event.
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Burning Man regulations explicitly prohibits pools for bathing. This occurrence missed the attention of the Team Lead during the event and therefore no intervention was made.
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PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

OIL DRIPS 22. BRC will make educational materials available to participants prior to the event that explain the need to inspect vehicles and repair or modify those with drips of oil or other fluids. BRC will also train staff involved with greeting participants to identify vehicles likely to have an increased risk of oil or fluid drips, inspect suspect vehicles and take appropriate actions to minimize contamination from leaking vehicles. Black Rock LLC will advise participants on the use of materials, such as cardboard, hazmat pads, or drip pans to minimize impacts. FUGITIVE DUST 30. The following stipulations are required to manage for air quality and surface erosion: [] b. Fugitive dust suppression efforts on roads will be performed at a minimum of once daily by watering to keep fugitive road dust at a minimum during event operation and during and after event closure. c. Water trucks used for dust control will carry prominent signs stating 'Non-Potable Water--Avoid Contact" as required by state regulations. Signs must remain visible at all times STRUCTURES 57. BRC will make the builders of any structures open to participants aware of applicable requirements for public safety. BRC will inspect structures and any structures that they judge are not safe for participants will be reconstructed to be made safe or closed. The BLM authorized officer reserves the right to determine that a structure poses an unreasonable risk to the public and must be immediately modified, closed, or removed. 58. BRC will make an effort to ensure that extension cords that cross main access roads or travel corridors are armored or buried to prevent damage and possible electrocution. EMS SERVICES 60. BRC shall assume responsibility for public safety and health during all phases of the event, including, but not limited, to the following: a. BRC shall provide state-certified emergency services at the event. At a minimum, EMS services will be available at the paramedic level consistent with current Nevada practices. b. Inspecting the permitted area for any existing or new hazardous conditions, e.g., changing weather conditions or other hazards that present risks to employees and/or participants. FIRE PROTECTION 74. BRC shall provide a minimum of two structural/brush-type fire engines, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) type 3-6. Engines and staff must meet NWCG or NWSA (National Wildfire Suppression Association) standards for personnel and equipment. These fire engines will be strategically placed within BRC as determined necessary by the BRC fire contractor.
GOOD All these stipulations were all successfully met
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F. RECOMMENDATIONS The current stipulations are being met and serve their purposes adequately .
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2
THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS
i.
Art Projects
ii. Large Art Projects iii. Burn Barrels iv. 2007 Crude Awakening PAGE 27 OF 113
STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS
A. GOAL Photo document art projects on the open playa and record any areas requiring monitoring for potential burn scars, excessive debris, deep pits and other longterm impacts on the playa.
B. STIPULATIONS
AUTHORIZED FIRES 19. Organizers of each Art Burn and BRC are responsible for implementing procedures for the complete cleanup of each burn site consistent with stipulation #79, including, but not limited to: a. Removal of ash. b. Removal of unburned material such as nails, screws, and glass. c. Grading and raking to eliminate burn scars. PITS AND HOLES 20. BRC will limit excavation of pits and holes to those absolutely necessary for administration of the event. This includes holes and pits excavated by participants. All pits and holes will be backfilled, wetted and compacted by physical tamping to minimize post-event pit depressions. ART BURNS & COMMUNITY BURN BARRELS 64. BRC/Burning Man shall abide by fire restriction orders, except for the following as officially approved by BRC in coordination with BLM: official art burns, fireworks events, and open fires within the Burning Man event area that are to be contained on supplied fire pans and fire barrels. Fires not contained by authorized raised platforms, fire pans, barbeques, or barrels are prohibited. The fire pans and fire resistant platforms or other protective materials designed to protect the playa surface can be used by event participants for spontaneous burns in the same manner as the fire pans or fire barrels after the initial art project has been burned. 68. BRC and art burn organizers will coordinate with the event fire contractor and law enforcement points-ofcontact. BRC shall prepare a detailed schedule of sanctioned fireworks and art burn events for review at the daily cooperators coordination meeting, prior to the event/burn. The schedule will include a detailed description of the event/burn, name of responsible person, map location, and approximate time of each event/burn.
C. METHODS Sub-meter accuracy GPS was used to record larger burn pad polygons and support points dug into the playa. Most monitoring of art on the open playa used the GPS cameras for documentation. Each team was armed with a GPS camera and assigned a portion of the open playa. Photographs were assigned attributes based on their potential for leaving an impact on the playa. Status was indicated as: Good Concern Violation Does not present the potential for impacts to the playa Presents the potential for impacts to the playa Team recommends re-inspection at later time Clearly against permit stipulations i.e. burn pad absent or inadequate PAGE 28 OF 113
In no way was the status meant to convey the artistic quality of installation. After all, art is always a matter of opinion. Six weeks after Black Rock City was dismantled, Trimble GPS units were used to navigate back to the GPS polygons, points and geo-tagged photo locations to reinspect for excessive debris, burn scars or other impacts. The goal of the October 2008 inspection was to get a general idea of the conditions at each site it was not the intended to be systematic or quantitative. The trash transects that were completed by the BLM staff in early October and will be repeated again in Spring 2009 serve that purpose.
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D. DATA
OPEN PLAYA ART & BURN BARRELS

The map shows the locations of photo-documented art projects and community burn barrels. The numbers in the legend indicate the number of photos taken and summarized by stipulation and status.
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GOOD Six weeks later, a sampling of the smaller art burn sites were re-inspected. All were cleaned up to a very high standard.
The only evidence of the above art burn was this imprint from a recent playa rain. As with all sites, gravel from the burn pad remained.
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During the Event.
Six weeks later
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Here too, only gravel remained at this site
Traces of these holes were not found during the October inspection.
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D. DATA
LARGE ART PROJECTS & B URN BARRELS CENTER CAMP

Although it was not burned, Center Camp was one of the areas most visited by all and did have numerous buried anchor points. Therefore, its location was GPS recorded and the site was re-inspected in October. GOOD A quick survey of the site revealed only minimal debris as photographed below. The support at the end of the spoon was still in the ground.
The yellow GPS unit measures 2x4 inches and was used to indicate scale in many photos.
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BABYLON
Although it was neither burned nor anchored in the ground, this 10-story skyscraper was also GPS recorded since it was one of the most visited sites and presented the potential for excessive debris. GOOD When re-inspected, not enough debris was found to merit a photograph.
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BUMMER (HUMMER)
Bummer is a super size Humvee measuring 38 feet long x 18 feet wide x 16 feet high. Half of the Hummer will be painted in military khaki and the other half a bright sporty color. This sculpture epitomizes this country's obsession with power and the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the American dream. from the Burning Man website
It would have been a real Bummer if the tires hadnt been removed BEFORE this project was burned
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Burn area approx 2,500 Sq. Feet
GOOD When re-inspected in October, there was not enough debris to merit a photograph.
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THE TEMPLE: BASURA SAGRADA

Constructed entirely from burnable trash, recycled materials, and the tossed-off detritus of American society. Meticulously detailed, the temple will be a precious space created from non-precious materials. [...] Our goal is to make something amazing and exotic out of materials deemed unworthy, the stuff we throw away everyday.
from the Burning Man website
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GOOD Of all the large art projects, the most debris was found at the Temple, however, this was still very little debris. Strangely enough, a few dozen or more rocks the size of tennis balls were found at the site - presumably these were from the gravel used for the burn pad.
Burned area was approx 4,500 sq ft
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THE MAN
At 84 feet from top to the ground, this year was the tallest man yet!
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GOOD When re-inspected in October, there was not enough debris to merit a photograph. There was no evidence of the support holes dug into the ground.
Burned area was approx 2,725 sq ft
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COMMUNITY BURN BARRELS
GOOD As per the stipulations, particpants were reminded to avoid overfilling burn barrels.
The only evidence left of the burn barrels were of gravel burn pad remains.
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2007 CRUDE AWAKENING OIL DERRICK

a. During BM07
Note the orange coloration from the decomposed gravel burn pad.
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b. Fall Inspection for BM07 In 2007, lasting orange discolorations were left at every gravel burn pad. During both the Sept 2007 and June 2008 inspections of BM07, these discolorations negated the need for very accurate GPS navigation as they could be detected from hundreds of feet away.
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c. Fall Inspection for BM08 In the October 2008 inspection, while reroute to the 2008 airport site, these orange spots were spotted (pun intended) from afar as shown in the above photo. A closer view of this area shows the pattern of discoloration matches that of the 2007 photo recording the same observation. GIS also confirmed this to be the site of the 2007 Crude Awakening project. While the team did not navigate back to any additional 2007 sites, it is presumed the orange discoloration previously recorded remains at those sites too.
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D. MAP The map displays the location of many of the large art projects from Burning Man 2007, including the Crude Awakening Oil Derrick. Text boxes provide date and filenames that correspond to photographs shown in the narrative for this section.
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E. RESULTS FOR ALL ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS GOOD Art burns were cleaned up adequately The Team was duly impressed with how well the clean-up crews removed debris from the playa compared to the 2006 and 2007 events. No discoloration at 2008 gravel sites These same orange discolorations were not seen at any of the 2008 burn pads. It is assumed whatever material caused the discoloration in 2007 was not present in the gravel used this year. CONCERN Remaining gravel at all gravel burn pads in 2008 In October 2008, bits of gravel remained at every gravel burn pad site inspected. At the Temple site, many rocks were inches in diameter. This is at odds with Burning Mans highly touted Leave No Trace (LNT) policy.
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F. RECOMMENDATIONS Confirm gravel meets EA requirements

from 2.2.6. Fire Management Art Burns, the burning of larger art structures including The Man, would be permitted by BRC. Permitted burns would use corrugated metal sheets or fire blankets overlain with sand under the burning objects to eliminate surface scarring.
Improve containment of gravel Explore methods of containment such as mesh netting or blankets to aid in removing the decomposed gravel more efficiently. It is unknown to the Team the amount of gravel brought to the playa for use in burn pads, but if a fraction of this remained at each art burn site, how much remains on the playa?
Gravel stockpile gravel for art burn pads?
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Return to proven burn pad materials Encourage the use of materials for burn pads that are more easily removed. In the past, numerous types of materials including layers of wallboard, insulation, sheets of corrugated metal elevated off the playa with concrete bricks, Kevlar blankets etc have been used as burn pads.
This year, all but one art project or community barrel burn pad that the Team documented used decomposed gravel.
Corrugated metal and concrete blocks used at the 2006 Temple
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3
AIRPORT
This aircraft certainly wasnt typical of most that flew into the Burning Man airport but it certainly was impressive enough to attract attention.
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STUDY 3 THE AIRPORT
A. GOAL Use GPS to locate airport facilities such as the runway, camping area and helipad were to verify they are all located within the Public Closure Area.
B. STIPULATION
AIRPORT / AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT 51. A runway approximately 5000 feet long by 60 feet wide is approved and will be marked on the existing playa surface. No surface disturbance beyond removal of transient dunes to assure safety is authorized. The following stipulations apply to the runway: a. The airport runway use is limited to small general aviation only. No air transport or scheduled air carriers will be allowed. b. The runway will be marked to make it visible to pilots and also to alert surface traffic to avoid it. The marking will be removed at event completion. c. Signs with reflectors will be installed at prominent or strategic locations around the event airport to forewarn playa travelers of safety hazards. d. Aviation windsocks are to be placed at each end of the runway to provide pilots with a visual reference of wind speed and direction, and to alert other recreational users on the playa of an operational runway. The windsocks are to be removed at event completion. e. Numbers and threshold markings at both ends of the runway will indicate compass bearing and help define the runway boundaries. These numbers will be painted on the playa surface using a biodegradable agricultural colorant exhibiting properties that will allow it to naturally degrade and disappear when exposed to sunlight. 53. Ultra-light aircraft take off/landing areas will be designated in the area to the southeast of the airport camp.
C. METHODS All airport facilities were located using GPS cameras or Trimble GPS receivers. In GIS, this data was compared that of the public closure area to ensure all facilities were within the closure area.
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STUDY 3 THE AIRPORT
D. DATA The map shows that all the airport facilities (runway, helipad etc) for the BM08 airport were within the Public Closure Area.
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STUDY 3 THE AIRPORT
Corner at aircraft tie-down area
South end of runway
Fortunately, neither the passengers nor anyone on the ground was injured when this mechanical failure occurred.
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STUDY 3 THE AIRPORT
E. RESULTS All airport facilities were within the boundaries of the Public Closure Area. In 2006 and 2007, this was found to not be the case and potentially endangered public safety.
F. RECOMMENDATIONS Simplify stipulations Since the FAA must also approve the Black Rock City airport, it is recommended the stipulations be simplified such that if facilities pass the requirements of the FAA, then they will also pass those of the BLM. Include airport location on closure maps Alerting public users, event and BLM staff of the airport and runway locations has always been a challenge. Windsocks, reflective markings and other on-the-ground signs and markers are difficult to see while crossing the playa by vehicle. Include the airport location on all closure maps to alert travelers as they enter the playa and event area to the possibility of incoming and outgoing air traffic.
Coordinate airport and public closure areas in advance It is critical that BLM and Burning Man coordinate in advance to ensure that the airport is within the public closure area. This is of importance since the 2009 event returns to the 2007 location. As noted, the BM07 airport was not in the closure area and potentially endangered public safety. As part of this planning, the 3-mile track should be GPS recorded since the track has significantly drifted from that in the BLM GIS data. This coordination will also help to facilitate advance creation o of the public closure area and maps.
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STUDY 3 THE AIRPORT
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4
SIGNS
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STUDY 4 SIGNS
A. GOAL The Team photographed and mapped each posted sign to ensure that participants were aware of all playa rules and regulations.
B. STIPULATIONS
GENERAL 7. The permittee shall post a copy of the Special Recreation Permit (Form 2930-1); these permit stipulations and the Federal Register Closure Orders in prominent view at Center Camp Playa Info where cooperators and participants have an opportunity to read them. Additionally the documents referenced above shall also be available for participants and staff on the Burning Man website within 15 days of the permit being issued. SIGNAGE 35. The following signs and other traffic control items will be in place no later than 5 days prior to the event: a. DOT approved, large reflective signs will be placed along County Rd 34 warning participants that the entrance is just ahead from both the north and the south. b. A prominent, well lit sign posted at the event entrance on County Rd 34 that clearly identifies the entrance location. c. The following must be posted on a large sign or signs along the 8-Mile access road into the event: i. Possession of personal fireworks prohibited ii. Possession of weapons prohibited iii. Possession of alcohol by minors is prohibited iv. Drivers: open container of alcohol prohibited. This sign(s) must be posted not later than five days before the start of the event. Starting at sunset on the evening of August 21, 2008, and continuing until sunrise on the morning of September 1, 2008, this sign or signs must be lighted during hours of darkness. BRC LLC may, in lieu of lighting, have these restrictions posted on a sign or signs prepared and installed on a reflective road sign that meets the standards in the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. d. Orange trash fences, construction cones, signs or other structures should be placed on the closed roads that cross the event site. Signs should say that the road is closed and provide alternate access information. e. Signs identifying the public closure area should be posted appropriately around the perimeter of the event to warn non-participants of how to legally travel around the event perimeter. f. Signs to provide the public with information concerning closures and available playa access points during the event should be located along County Road 34 to the north and south of the event. g. Maps depicting public closures should be located at all playa entrances. h. Caution signs will be placed along County Road 34 in both directions out from the event access and at other prominent or strategic locations around the event to forewarn travelers of traffic safety hazards and the event ahead. TRAFFIC CONTROL 42. Coordination with County and State Highway Traffic Management Agencies a. BRC shall coordinate with the Nevada Department of Transportation for traffic control at County Road 34 entrances/exits to BRC, the Y intersection of State Road 447 and County Road 34, and the towns of Gerlach and Empire during heavy traffic periods (prior to, during exit and after the event) to keep traffic moving steadily. BRC shall provide flaggers at the entrance at any time during the event when traffic conditions are likely to lead to a backup of vehicles on County Rd 34. b. BRC will coordinate efforts with Nevada Highway Patrol, Nevada Department of Transportation and private business owners in Gerlach and Empire to minimize traffic congestion and vehicle back-up on State Route 447 and County Road 34. Their plan to address traffic congestion in these areas must be approved by NHP, NDOT, and BLM at least 30 days prior to the event. c. BRC will monitor and address the number of vehicles that arrive in the event area prior to the start of the event. This plan should minimize the number of vehicles in Gerlach and Empire and on the roadway or shoulders of NV 447 and County Road 34. Copies of the plan shall be provided to the BLM and appropriate law enforcement agencies no later than 30 days prior to the event. d. No access roads or trails will be constructed.
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STUDY 4 SIGNS 46. BRC shall provide staffing at each gate in the perimeter fence during the exodus period to require participants to leave the event through the main gate unless authorized to use another gate. At a minimum all gates must be staffed from 7 AM to 11 PM during the entire exodus period. BLM may request additional staffing of perimeter gates by BRC if necessary. PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY 56. BRC shall implement a controlled substance and alcohol use policy. This policy will be posted and maintained on all public information boards and relayed to participants through other available means. The illegal substance policy as identified in the Burning Man Operating Plan will be observed.
C. METHODS GPS cameras were used to photo-document the appearance and location of all required signs. During one of the dust storms, there was a duct tape failure and the Rules & Regulations sign at Center Camp fell down. The sign was quickly replaced and its location was photographed again to show that it was still in place.
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STUDY 4 SIGNS
D. DATA The map shows the locations of photo-documented signs.
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STUDY 4 SIGNS
E. RESULTS All signs were posted as per stipulations.
F. RECOMMENDATIONS Document signs It should be sufficient to document signs once during the event. There is no excuse for participants to be ignorant of the laws.
Exploit multiple venues for communication Signs are only one of many venues for communicating information to participants. Before the event, the Burning Man Survival Guide and website postings are used to communicate the expectations and rules of behavior at Burning Man. The Federal Register is another publication upon which the government relies. Upon entry to the event, information is given to everyone at the Greeters Station. During the event, Playa Info and the BLM trailer at Center Camp are visited by many and contain similar information and postings of the rules and special recreation permit. The daily newspaper and the 3 Burning Man radio stations are constantly updated and can be used to inform citizens of critical information as needed. It is probably harder to keep a secret on the playa than not get information out fast enough.
Soon after the event, the BLM posted large, permanent signs at most playa entrances. This will greatly facilitate the distribution of information to all on the playa during the event and year-round.
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STUDY 5 HOT SPRINGS
5
HOT SPRINGS
Trails West marker at Trego hot springs
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STUDY 5 HOT SPRINGS
A. GOAL Burning Man participants understand that they are not to be used en route to or from the event. Even a fraction of 50,000 participants would make a sizeable impact. This ensures hot springs remain in good condition and their value as a cultural resource is preserved.
B. STIPULATION
24. BRC personnel will discourage travel, including travel by aircraft, to other historical, cultural, recreational or geographical resources in the Black Rock Desert area during the event. BRC will discourage participant use of hot springs for the purpose of bathing, or extracting mud or water.
C. METHODS The team hoped to make one baseline inspection prior to event start and a second inspection after the event ended. Due to limited staff and the distances involved, the only areas checked by the Monitoring Team were Trego and Coyote Springs. The Earth Guardians, Burning Mans BLM volunteer group, did regularly patrol the springs. They reported little use by event participants.
D. DATA While users are highly discouraged from using the springs during the event window, a team member came across 3 vehicles camped at Trego near the end of the event. These were clearly Burning Man participants based on their conversation about that years event. This, however, appeared to be an isolated case.
E. RESULTS This stipulation is being met.
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STUDY 5 HOT SPRINGS
F. RECOMMENDATIONS Enlist Earth Guardians help A simple form could be created for patrols to report the amount of use seen by participants and non-participants and the general condition of the springs. With Earth Guardians and the BLM Contact Station adjacent in Center Camp, coordinating logistics should be feasible. Minimize scope of this study Due to limited playa access over the years and participant cooperation, the springs have been less of a concern. The Monitoring Team should only monitor Trego and Coyote Springs, if any, due to the distances involved in traveling to the other springs.
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STUDY 6 PERIMETER FENCE
6
PERIMETER FENCE
This art project of trash bags tied to the fence spanned for quite a distance. The concern was that the bags would eventually become detached and defeat the very purpose for which the fence was erected. They were removed and properly disposed of during the event.
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A. GOAL The perimeter fence not only defines the boundary of Black Rock City but it prevents wind-blown debris from bowing across the rest of the playa. Motivated by a) a sense of civic duty, b) opportunities for solitude, and c) urban myths of discovered treasures, Black Rock citizens volunteer to pick up debris accumulating along the fence. The Monitoring Team patrolled each day to check for breaks in the fence and to see it is adequately cleared of debris.
B. STIPULATION
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 32. Permittee shall install a 360 event perimeter/boundary trash fence. Any accumulation of trash that appears to be spilling over the fence or passing through a fence break will be collected. Fence breaks will be repaired immediately upon discovery. Permittee shall construct the southwest and southeast flanks of the perimeter fence prior to installation of other facilities to safely direct vehicular traffic around the site.
C. METHODS Team members started at the fence corner closest to the 12-mile playa access and drove clockwise around the event outside the fence line. At each fence corner and approximately halfway between each corner, the number of pieces of debris, trash collectors and breaks in the fence were noted. The Team also shot photographs in 2 opposing directions along the fence line to record dust piling up along the fence. The reasons for this are detailed in the dune study. This year, the Team aimed to make rough population estimates and compare those figures with those of Burning Mans counts, which are based on tickets in and out of the gate. This differs from the previous 2 years when a more exact count was sought. The reasons for this are two-fold: 1) BLM and BM numbers have been comparable despite different methods of calculating the daily population, and 2) implemented in 2007, the new cost-recovery based fees are no longer tied to population.
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D. DATA The table displays the number of pieces of debris counted along each of the five sides of the perimeter fence.
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E. RESULTS The fence was well maintained and patrolled as outlined by the stipulations. The largest amounts of debris were found on the B and E sides of the fence as identified on the map. This is consistent with the prevailing winds, which originate at the south end of the playa and continue northward, blowing trash against these sides. The most trash was found on Monday. This is not surprising since dust storms were strong enough that day to close the event gate.
F. RECOMMENDATIONS The perimeter fence and the current stipulations serve their purposes adequately.
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7
POPULATION
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STUDY 7 POPULATION
A. GOAL It is critical to ensure that it does not grow beyond the limits of being manageable. In the 5-year EA, Burning Man LLC suggested a population cap of 50,000 participants. This year, the Team aimed to make rough population estimates and compare those figures with those of Burning Mans counts, which are based on tickets in and out of the gate. This differs from the previous 2 years when the Team a more exact count. The reasons for requiring a less exact Team count are two-fold: a) BLM and BM numbers have been comparable despite different methods of calculating the daily population, and b) implemented in 2007, new cost-recovery fees are no longer tied to population. B. STIPULATION
GENERAL 1. Black Rock City LLC (BRC) is required to manage its advance ticket sales in a manner to keep the maximum population of the event from exceeding 50,000 participants. 10. BRC shall provide BLM with the number of participants within the event site at noon each day and the peak number of participants for each day during the period of site occupancy (August 8th through September 15th). BLM can request population data any time during the event. BRC shall also provide BLM with detailed information of the number of staff and participants on the event site for the August 8 through September 15th period within 60 days after the event. This information shall include daily counts for the non-event period and six-hour counts during the duration of the event.
C. METHODS Block counts Each team was given a paper map showing which blocks they were to count. The Team counts vehicles in which participants could have transported to the event (art cars, golf carts etc did not count). Counts began daily before noon and took about an hour or two to complete. Representative blocks were counted and the population calculated accordingly. For logistic reasons, vehicles on the open playa and at the airport were not counted. Person per vehicle determination Upon event entry, every participant must get out of the vehicle while Burning Man staff search for hidden people and other concerns. This provided the Team the ideal opportunity to count the number of people per vehicle.
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STUDY 7 POPULATION
D. DATA People per vehicle When the gates opened at Monday midnight, Team members recorded the number of people per vehicle at the Greeters Gate. In 2 hours, they obtained 500 counts from which it was determined that the average number of people per vehicle was 2.31 people per vehicle. Table 1: 2008 Census figures The BLM-calculated population was estimated by multiplying the number of block vehicles by the average 2.31 people per vehicle. Daily counts began before noon and took about an hour or two to complete. Burning Man numbers, which are also displayed in the below table, were based on ticket counts at the gate at noon.
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STUDY 7 POPULATION
Table 2: Census during the current EA period Over the years, despite different methods of calculation, both BLM and Burning Man census figures have been comparable.
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STUDY 7 POPULATION
Table 3: Peak population Burning Man tracks tickets on an hourly basis. In 2008, the population peaked at 49,599 people on 8:00 AM on Saturday, August 30. The 50,000-population limit has been nearly reached every year that the 2006-2010 EA has been in place.
Above figures cited from Burning Man as cited online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Man
* Note, the Burning Man did not take place on the public lands of the Black Rock Desert in 1997, but on adjacent private land.
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STUDY 7 POPULATION
E. RESULTS GOOD Population cap of 50,000 was not exceeded. VIOLATION Daily population numbers were received after the 60-day reporting period as per Stipulation #10.
F. RECOMMENDATIONS Prepare a population contingency plan With the arrival of only 400 more participants would have reached the population limit of 50,000. Burning Man sold 55,000 tickets. This assumes a 5% nonshow/donation only rate. As notes, event attendance has increased every year since the event first came to the Black Rock Desert in 1990. It is reasonable to expect this upward growth will continue for the two remaining years the EA remains in place. Given these facts, it is not unreasonable anticipate that this limit may be reached during the life of the 2006-2010 EA. A contingency plan is needed to provide for a) reporting procedures should Burning Man tickets exceed 50,000 people, and b) a corresponding action plan for the Burning Man and BLM. This plan should address the potential for large camps of any turned away at the gates camping in large groups on the open playa outside of the Public Closure Area on the open desert or at the hot springs as well as congregating in areas such as Gerlach or Empire where they might impede the traffic flow to and from the event.
Compare cost-recovery and population based fees Since both BLM and BM numbers have been shown to be comparable, the Burning Man population figures could be used to compare cost recovery-based fees and population based fees. PAGE 76 OF 113
TRASH TRANSECTS
Monitoring is serious work but even monitoring can be fun. lead was really reviewing EVERY photo shot for the project,
(YesI noticed!)
This devoted
character put himself in every one of his trash transect photos to be sure the team
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STUDY 8 TRASH TRANSECTS
A. GOAL During the event, the Team photographed each trash transect location on the chance that if an excessive amount of trash is found during later inspections, a record exists of that areas appearance in August.
B. STIPULATION
79. Inspections of the event site in the fall after the event, will be coordinated by BLM using randomly placed transects on the site and a measurable cleaning standard. The inspecting party will intensively collect debris found on the ground within each transect. A follow-up spring inspection will be conducted only when deemed necessary by BLM. Post-Event Cleanup Standard: The average total surface area of debris collected from either the fall or spring transects
C. METHODS In ArcGIS, Hawths tools were used to generate random points through 5 main zones in Black Rock City (Art, Residential, Walk-in Camping, Airport and Other) as shown on the map. During the event, the Team navigated to the approximate location plotted on the paper map. Upon arrival they shot 4 different photos, the first is facing towards the Man, and 3 others each rotated 90 degrees for a complete 360 view. The location of these photo points was recorded at the click of the shutter by the GPS camera. Single points were also generated for the Airport, ICP, DPW and Potty Camp locations for later inspections. It is these locations that will be used for later BLM inspections.
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STUDY 8 TRASH TRANSECTS
D. DATA The map shows distribution of random transect points and zones.
E. RESULTS Refer to BLM files for Fall 08 and Spring 09 inspection reports. F. RECOMMENDATIONS The current methods serve their purposes adequately.
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STUDY 9 PEE PEE PEE [PORTA-POTTY PLACEMENT]
9
PEE PEE PEE aka PORTA-POTTY PLACEMENT
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A. GOAL Minimize playa puddles (particularly the many found every morning near the Esplanade) to create a more sanitary and pleasant environment.
B. STIPULATION
61. BRC will coordinate with the NV State Health Division, and the toilet contractor(s) to provide the proper number of toilets and hand sanitizers for the peak anticipated population and adequate resources for toilet pumping and maintenance consistent with the requirements of the health department. The following additional requirements apply: a. A minimum of two toilets with hand sanitizers each will be located in the communities of Gerlach and Empire to reduce impacts on local sewer systems. Toilet locations will be coordinated with the communities involved. b. Banks of toilets will be placed in the Art area and will be prominently identified at night. c. Banks of toilets will be placed at regular intervals along the exit road during the peak exodus periods. d. Banks of toilets will be placed near large structures at the 2:00 and 10:00 and Esplanade locations associated with large gatherings.
C. METHODS During the Teams survey of the city they made note of any unsanitary toilets (none found), puddles (many!). Attempts to note the number of rented portapotties participants installed in participants camps were met with limited success.
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D. DATA The map displays the approximate locations of porta-potties within the event.
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E. RESULTS & RECOMMENDATIONS Ensure large camps are adjacent to facilities Suggest adding a stipulation for large camps and areas attracting many participants to provide their own porta-potties. Alternatively, through Burning Mans theme camp registration process, camps expecting large numbers of visitors could preferentially be located near banks of toilets. Add more facilities on the open playa and increase their visibility at night Suggest placing more porta-potty banks in the art area and near the esplanade. Despite current lighting, these banks are too easily lost in the dazzling array of lights during the typical Burning Man night. Use GIS to optimize placement of facilities Inside BRC, consider a placement plan to balance both the needs of the participants in locating facilities and the needs of the pump truck staff for efficient access routes throughout the city. This can be used to analyze the minimum, maximum and average distances to the potties and assist in future planning. Minimize puddles on the open playa and Esplanade Attempts to quantify and more importantly, minimize the ongoing issue of still remain elusive. Perhaps better placement of facilities. Suggest more banks of toilets adjacent to the larger art projects, Center Camp and the Esplanade. Familiarity may help over come visibility issues by placing these in places that are consistent, easy to remember and easy to find. Marking them on Black Rock City maps and other media will help reach this goal.
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10
EXPLORING CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
This large dune traversed the open playa at the 2008 event. Its location corresponds with that of the 2007 perimeter fence.
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STUDY 10 EXPLORING CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
A. INTRODUCTION This final study documents the formation of dunes at the 2007 perimeter and their noted impact on the 2008 event. While there is not a stipulation per se against the formation of dunes on the playa, these observations serve as a talking point to initiate discussions about the possible long-term effects of the event.
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B. OBSERVATIONS i. SEPT 2007 DUNES BEGIN TO FORM AT BM07 FENCE During the BM 2007 event, the dust storms were the worst that had been seen in 10 years in both intensity and frequency. Impressively wide and deep sand dunes formed along the perimeter fence during the event. After the BM07 perimeter fence was removed, the piles were dragged by clean-up crews but still over a foot high and hundreds of feet yards long. The below excerpt from the 2007 Monitoring Report show the concern expressed two weeks after the 2007 event over the potential formation of dunes at the perimeter fence.
This photograph was taken 2 few weeks after BM07 on the event perimeter
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ii. JUNE 2008 - BM07 FENCE DUNES SURVIVED THE WINTER During the Spring 08 inspection of the BM07 site, it was noted that the dunes not only survived but seemed to have thrived. This excerpt from the 2007 Monitoring Report document the appearance of the resulting dunes The entire perimeter fence was driven. The northern most point along the fence towards Trego was defined by marked changes in the playa surface. The driver found the track location by following defined series of dunes on the left and right side. There was also a well-defined point where the fence nears Coyote Springs and turns back south.
These dunes were unlike other dunes on the playa, which were a series of washboard bumps and/or larger, smooth speed bumps. The shape of these dunes resembles small mountain ranges with peaks and valleys. They are a potential hazard for those hitting these dunes unexpectedly, especially at high speeds.
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A large series of dunes also appeared from the fence corner nearest Dispatch and proceeded north.
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iii. AUG 2008 BM07 FENCE DUNE CROSSES BM08 EVENT During BM08, complaints about the how the rough playa surface made it difficult to bike or walk throughout most of Black Rock City were heard from all. This large dune was of particular interest since it impacted all who traveled across the open playa during the BM08 event. GPS-tagged photos and Trimble GPS both confirmed this dune to be in the same location as the 2007 perimeter fence. This photo and the one on the cover page for this section show the extent of this large dune across the open playa
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iv. OCT 2008 07 FENCE DUNES STILL VISIBLE Six weeks after the BM08, it was noted that the dunes are beginning to deflate but they are still numerous and apparent to all users on the playa.amongst all the other dunes out there on the playa.
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These maps summarize the timeline and locations of the photographs described in the previous pages.
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v. DURING BM08 DUST AT BM08 PERIMETER FENCE After seeing the unique dunes form along the 2007 perimeter fence, the Team attempted to capture the formation of dunes along the 2008 fence. As part of the daily perimeter fence patrols, the Team shot photos documenting any accumulated dust against the fence. Large sand piles were also photographed behind Dispatch for continued monitoring.
Photographs behind Dispatch documenting the large accumulation of dust.
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The area around Dispatch was re-inspected in October. The areas in the 2 previous photos at Dispatch did not show any dunes where the dust had accumulated on the ladders and fence line and posts pictured above. Based on these observations, it does not appear that dunes will form at the BM08 fence. The key question is why would dunes have formed in 2007 but not 2008. It is noted that the siting of the BLM and Burning Man ICP trailers at the beginning of the 2008 event had to accommodate the many existing dunes in the area. This is not surprising given the observed dunes at the 2007 fence and the location of 2008 Dispatch as shown on the map below.
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C. RESULTS Dunes along 2007 fence but not in 2008 The monitoring report from 2007 and this report document the formation of dunes along the 07 perimeter fence of the BM07 event and their impact on the 2008 event. Based on the Teams observations along the 08 perimeter fence, it predicted that dunes would not form along the 2008 fence.
Cause of dune formation Dunes are caused by the interaction of many factors. Including a) dust, b) wind, c) moisture and d) time. From the Burning Man EA:
From 3.3.1. PLAYA SEDIMENTS AND VEGETATION The sediments of the playa are subject to displacement by winds when dry and disturbed. Winds that most commonly move the surface materials are associated with frontal passage or thunderstorms. Wind movement of sediment particles can cause the periodic formation of low, transient dunes. Wind erosion is a function of particle erodibility, surface roughness and weather conditions. Vehicle use and other disturbances on the playa alter the surface roughness. Increased roughness slows sediment particle movement across the surface, causing particles to accumulate on the leeward side of low features forming transient dunes. The dunes are temporary features generally less than a foot in height. The actions of wind and water over one or more winters lead to the removal of the dunes. These dunes have become increasingly common over the past several years but have been documented prior to periods of heavy human activity on the playa surface (Neal 1970).
Differences in BM07 and BM08 BM07 saw the worst dust storms that can be recalled during the event in the last 10 years. Presumably, this in combination of near drought conditions for the last 3 years are the main contributing factors to the large dunes seen along the 2007 but not in 2008.
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D. RECOMMENDATIONS Continue to knock down accumulated dust piles after event While Burning Man bladed the 2007 dunes after the event in order to reduce their height, their presence is still clearly detectable. The EA currently prescribes that as part of site clean-up accumulated dust at the perimeter fence be knocked down. Team recommends a stipulation be added to knock down all dunes at the perimeter fence, Dispatch and other significant finds. specifications to which the dunes should to be cleared.
From 2.2.10. EVENT TAKE DOWN AND CLEAN UP: ON-SITE .The perimeter fence would be the last structure to be removed. Dunes formed as a result of dust blowing into the perimeter fence would dragged or graded.
It should describe the
Continue academic studies In a provision created to provide conditions to study the cumulative impacts of the event, the city alternates between the B site of BM07 and the C Site of BM08.
from 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION & ALTERNATIVES b. Two sitesRotating between two sites would potentially allow wind eroded areas additional time between uses for recovery associated with transport of playa sediments by surface waters versus creation of a second site with elevated levels of residual debris when compared to overall playa area. The use of two sites would also facilitate the joint BLM/Desert Research Institute study to determine impacts to the playa surface from a single event. This study will begin in 2006.
The research of Don Sade and Ken Adams at Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV is titled Dynamics of the Black Rock Playa: Relationships between Recreational Use, Physical Processes, and Biological Environments. 2009. It is presumed that the results will be published after this period. These collaborative efforts of DRI and BLM are scheduled from April 2006 to September
Develop Team efforts to explore potential long-term effects The Teams efforts over the last 3 years have shown that most violations on the playa are resolved soon after the event. The Team will continue monitoring shortterm impacts but hopes to shift efforts towards exploring the longer-term, cumulative effects. The observed dunes at the 07 perimeter fence rekindled the Teams interest in long-term effects.
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E. DISCUSSION The human presence plays a part While humans cannot affect forces of nature such as seasonal variation in the rainfall and winds, they do affect the nature of the playa surface by their mere presence by 1) Increasing amounts of fugitive dust by breaking the playa surface via travel across the playa surface, 2) Providing structures and barriers against which dust can accumulate and form dunes. The Burning Man EA describes the potential impact of the event on playa sediments as such:
from 4.2.1. PLAYA SEDIMENTS & VEGETATION During the past several years transient dunes have become common adjacent to the primary playa roads and also downwind of Black Rock City. No complete inventory of transient dunes has occurred but the location of transient dunes downwind of the Burning Man Event suggests that some of the transient dunes observed in the past several years are the result of disturbances associated with the event. The actual formation of transient dunes following disturbance would depend upon the number of strong wind events that occur following disturbances and prior to wetting rains.
It also addresses the above two points regarding increased vehicle travel and the perimeter fence accordingly:
Continued from 4.2.1. PLAYA SEDIMENTS & VEGETATION Dust storms during or immediately after the event would create sediment windrows along the perimeter fence. Dragging or grading during the cleanup phase would eliminate these windrows. Event stipulations require watering of dust areas thus reducing the amount of material potentially available for wind movement. from 5.4.5. PLAYA SEDIMENTS AND VEGETATION Continuing to permit the Burning Man event at two alternating locations would be expected to result in cumulative continuing wind erosion of the surface of the playa at the location of Black Rock City (1600 plus acres). The anticipated increase in number of visitors to the playa, including participants at permitted events, would lead to increased surface disturbance. This would lead to the potential for additional formation of transient dunes. The degree to which dune formation would actually occur is unknown but would be expected to be minor when compared to that associated with the 115 miles of existing playa roads.
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F. CONCLUSION While adopting a Leave No Trace ethics, the goal of any event involving 50,000 participants must be to minimize impact. There can be no such thing as LNT with 50,000 people and their vehicles traveling on the only road to and from a 10square mile area. This perspective needs to be considered when modifying stipulations or developing the next Environmental Assessment (EA) for this event.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
IV. TECHNICAL NOTE

How do you monitor over 20 stipulations at the largest permitted event on the US public lands in real-time with volunteer staff from an office trailer on the Black Rock Desert? This technical note demonstrates the combined power of the GPS-cameras, Trimble GPS devices and ArcGIS to monitor permit stipulations in real time at the Burning Man event. The chosen tools facilitated the completion of 10 monitoring studies, the results and recommendations of which were compiled in the 2008 Monitoring Report. This suite of geospatial tools enabled the monitoring team to justify day-to-day decision-making. Compiled written reports, as well as an accompanying CD of the data and maps served as record for this years event as well as the basis for future management decisions for this and other permitted events. This real-time knowledge management is an extremely valuable tool for both short and long-term planning.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
SUITE OF GPS/GIS TOOLS Because everything in Black Rock City is temporary, using GPS technology and photo-documentation is key to meeting resource protection goals and managing future events on the desert. Tools were chosen to meet field conditions, staff needs and availability. These included a) extreme temperatures and dust, b) a single computer with supporting software but lacking of internet access, c) a staff of primarily volunteers with minimal training time, and d) available equipment with no new purchases.
A. GPS CAMERAS Four Ricoh 500SE cameras were used to photo-documentation everything good, bad or ugly at the event. The cameras offered the following advantages that made possible the documentation and management of over 1200 photos compiled to complete the 10 studies detailed in the monitoring report. 1. Minimal training Training for use of these cameras took less than 15 minutes. This was ideal for our team of mostly volunteers. 2. GPS-record the locations photographs were taken The accuracy of this location is approximately 2-5 m. While this is not as accurate a location as the Trimble GPS units could record, it is sufficient for the Teams purposes. The cameras do have the ability to record the location of the object photographed rather than the location of where the photograph was taken, however, the Team did not require this capability.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
3. Record information about each photograph Caplios List Editor software (which ships free with the camera) was used to create a data dictionary to ensure all information was collected in a standard way. Outlined below are the possible entries accessed via dropdown menus for each of the 5 data fields.
Field Study Stipulation Status First Digit Second Digit Representative attribute values Art Project, Perimeter Fence, Trash transects 19 Art Burn, 32 Perimeter Fence, 79 Trash Good/Stip Met, Bad/Concern, Ugly/Violation, Other 1 digit of trash transect number (0-9) 2
nd st
digit of trash transect number (0-9)
4. Watermark photos with entered information GPL-Photo Link generates a watermarked version of the photograph, which can be customized to display items such as: Title Comment Location taken File name Date and time Or any of the 5 entered attributes
5. Transfer data to ArcGIS GPL-Photo Link also generates a shapefile, a common ArcGIS file format. 6. Field worthy Despite extreme temperatures and a brutal amount of alkaline playa dust, these cameras have continued to survive multiple Burning Man events, as well a year-round use for other projects including hundreds of miles of route inventories on ATVs. PAGE 103 OF 113
TECHNICAL NOTE
B. TRIMBLE GPS UNITS Trimble GeoXT units were used with TerraSync to map city infrastructure and areas of concern such as art burn platforms. Although some training is required to use these units, these efforts represented a small minority of the data collected. This workload was easily covered by those already trained to use these units. The units were also used data loggers to record responses in the visitor use and greywater surveys. Trimble units offered the abilities to: 1. GPS-record locations with a high level of accuracy Locations were GPS-recorded as distinct points, lines or polygon features with sub-meter level accuracy. These accurate datasets allowed for calculation of area and perimeter values and for the navigation back to selected locations with high levels of confidence. 2. Record information for each location Most locations captured by GPS simply required only a comment field in which the Team could enter free-form text describing the location being recorded. For example, Burn platform at the Man. Date and time of collection are automatically appended by the software. For the visitor use and greywater surveys, data dictionaries were created to ensure standardized entries via drop-down menus. The location at which the survey was taken was also recorded by GPS. This could be used to ensure a random sampling of all areas of the city was achieved. 3. Transfer data to ArcGIS Trimble Pathfinder Office was used to postprocess data to ensure sub-meter accuracy of each location. This software was also used to export the data to an ESRI shapefiles (a common ArcGIS format). PAGE 104 OF 113
TECHNICAL NOTE
4. Navigate to collected features Long after Black Rock City had been dismantled, the Team was able to navigate the empty desert directly back to sites within the former city. Art burn platforms and other areas of potential concern, the perimeter fence, and other infrastructure were areas subject to for post-event inspections. Shapefiles for either GPS collected data or the photo locations from the camera could be copied back to the unit for navigation. Coordinates from the watermarked photos could also be manually entered into the Trimble units.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
C. ESRI ARCGIS Data collected by both the Ricoh camera and the Trimble GPS devices share these common abilities to: a. Capture a GPS location (as a point, line or area) b. Record attributes about that location c. Export that information to an the ESRI shapefile format The ESRI shapefile format was key to seamlessly migrate data from the GPS cameras and Trimble devices into ArcGIS for data management and analysis. ArcGIS was used for spatial analysis, data management and mapmaking.
1. Display locations on city grid The GPS camera data yielded a single shapefile (GIS layer) of point locations at which each photograph was taken. Locations captured by the Trimble GPS units, yielded three distinct point, line and area GIS layers. Team-collected data was combined with the Black Rock City infrastructure layer in ArcGIS. GPS-captured locations of photos and areas of concern could then be displayed in terms of the BRC grid.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
2. Query locations based on entered information
Data from the GPS-cameras and Trimble units contains not only location but also the attributes that were entered upon capture. These 5 attributes entered serve as the basis for symbology, queries and spatial analysis in ArcGIS. 3. Perform spatial analysis ArcGIS was used to summarize documented incidences by stipulation and status and to determine fence lengths, burn platform areas and other city infrastructure calculations. 4. Generate random locations for trash transects Hawths tools was in ArcGIS, used to generate random points through 5 main zones in Black Rock City (Art, Residential, Walk-in Camping, Airport and Other) as shown on the map. During the event, the Monitoring Team photographed the appearance at these locations on the chance that if an excessive amount of trash was found during later inspections, a record exists of that areas appearance during the event.
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TECHNICAL NOTE
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT This suite of geospatial tools provided for knowledge management in 3 time frames: A. Real-time monitoring Teams patrolled the city with a GPS-camera. If a concern was found, it was photographed and attributes entered such including stipulation and a status of concern or violation depending on the severity. Data was collected and processed daily. A GIS-query based on the Status was made to look for incidents of Concern or Violation. A watermarked image was printed with GPS coordinates and attributes. A GIS map was also generated to show its location in on the Black Rock City grid. These mapping products were distributed to the appropriate authorities for resolution. When resolved, the incident would be re-photographed and its status updated accordingly. B. Short-term record of Team efforts during the week The Team shot over 1,200 photographs during the event. Management of such a volume of images would not have been possible without the ability to view and query the photo files by attributes and/or location. This ability was the basis for monitoring efforts while on the playa.
C. Long-term documentation of stipulation monitoring efforts Team results and recommendations based on the collected data were compiled in a stipulation monitoring report, which was accompanied by a CD of data, maps and analyses. The stipulation monitoring report serves as part of the permanent files for documenting permit compliance. It also is the basis for managers to determine: a) if permit compliance and all stipulations were adequately met for this years event, b) whether to reissue permit the next year, and if so, with what additional or modified
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stipulations, and c) to base decisions for other types of future event permits similar in nature and/or location.
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V. MONITORING TEAM
Surprise BLM, Cedarville, CA Roger Farschon, NCA Ecologist & Incident Commander Megan Farschon, Intern Nicole Kiecker, Intern Winnemucca BLM Joey Carmosino, Outdoor Recreation Planner & Event Logistics Lead David Lefevre, NCA Outdoor Recreation Planner Dave Martsch, Radio Tech Brooks Wilson Great Basin Institute at Winnemucca BLM Justin Robbins, NCA Park Ranger Robert Williams, Recreation Technician Marla Kirschbaum, Recreation Technician Nevada Outdoors School at Winnemucca BLM Holly Palmer Hayze Lindsay Megan Cupid, London, UK Jenny Deverson, Brighton, UK Lorna Griffiths, Nottingham, UK Alexander Stross, Chichester, UK Stuart Watson, Leicester, UK Jessica Templeton, Plymouth, MI Louise Hart, NCA Transportation Specialist Burning Man participants Arashi Yen Other Dave Book, Friends of Black Rock High Rock, Reno, NV Dave, NV Dept of Health Martin, Reno, NV Bruce , Reno, NV Adam Jonathan McBride, Sun Valley, NV Seth Ames, Winnemucca, NV James, Radio Tech, Carson City BLM FO
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PAGE 111 OF 113

TECHNICAL NOTE
TIL NEXT YEAR!

REPORT SUBMITTED DEC 24 2008 David Lefevre, Outdoor Recreation Planner david_lefevre@nv.blm.gov Bureau of Land Management 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard Winnemucca, Nevada 89445 775-623-1500
An electronic version of this report is available at www.Spatial-Ed.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Laura M. Levy As a GIS Specialist for the BLM in Winnemucca, Laura led efforts to monitor stipulations and daily population figures at the Burning Man event, to inventory over 600-miles of route for travel management planning, and provided Trimble-certified GPS-to-GIS training to over 350 resource specialists. She is the founder of Integrated Mapping Strategies, a GPS/GIS consulting business emphasizing geographic fundamentals, hands-on training, and ongoing support. The Winnemucca-based company empowers clients by integrating strategic thinking and geospatial tools to provide documented, defensible data as the basis for informed management decisions. For comments or questions, please feel free to contact Laura@Spatial-Ed.com PAGE 113 OF 113

2008 Burning Man Stipulation Monitoring Report

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2008 Burning Man Stipulation Monitoring Report

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2008 Burning Man Stipulation Monitoring Report

View from BABYLON

photo credit: Robert Williams

Report prepared for

Laura M. Levy Integrated Mapping Strategies Winnemucca, Nevada 89445 Laura@Spatial-Ed.com

CONTENTS I. Executive Summary......5

II. The Studies........10

III. Exploring Cumulative Effects......85

IV. Technical Note....101 V. The Monitoring Team..111

Report goals Provide managers with knowledge necessary to:

C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BM09 The Monitoring Team recommends:

D. COMPLETED STUDIES Study Stipulation Results [+ Good, - Concern] & Recommendations (

Monitoring the Good, Bad & the Ugly

+ Minor violations resolved during event or by event clean-up crew

The Open Playa: Art Projects & Burn Barrels

+ No burn scars or excessive debris

7, 35 & 56 Posting regulations 42 & 46 Exodus traffic and guards

Utilize multiple venues for communication

Results [+ Good, - Concern] & Recommendations ( +

Perimeter Fence Population

1 - Ticket sales 10 - Reporting

Trash Transects Porta-Potty Placement (PeePeePee)

Exploring Cumulative Effects

+ New dunes did not appear at 08 fence

II. THE STUDIES

ii. Solid waste management

iii. Camping & recreational uses

iv. Prohibited by Burning Man v. Public health & safety

6. Perimeter Fence ...67

8. Trash Transects ...........77

9. PeePeePee (Porta-Potty Placement)........81

10. Exploring Cumulative Effects........85

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

B. STIPULATIONS These are listed in results sections i - v.

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

Large evaporative pond

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

CAMPING AND RECREATIONAL USES

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

This barrel was only for trash collection, not burning

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

PROHIBITED BY BURNING MAN

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

GOOD All these stipulations were all successfully met

STUDY 1 THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY

STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS

STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS

STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS

OPEN PLAYA ART & BURN BARRELS

STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS

STUDY 2 THE OPEN PLAYA: ART PROJECTS & BURN BARRELS

During the Event.

Six weeks later