Public visitation opportunities would remain unchanged; the ranch would still be locked and closed to the general public.

Under the No Action alternative, UNLV would be much less likely to pursue short and long-term academic uses of the ranch. It is reasonable to assume that all short and long-term UNLV uses of the ranch would cease.

Most notably, UNLV would likely terminate the Cooperative Management Agreement with the BLM and remove UNLV -funded caretaker and security personnel. Therefore, there would be no permanent residents at the ranch.

Without further development of public opportunities, little or no academic use of the ranch, and no permanent on-site personnel, human activity at the ranch would be intermittent and incidental. BLM presence at the ranch would be limited to maintenance or emergency repairs and occasional visits by resource specialists. Overall, the No Action alternative would reduce the human presence on the ranch to negligible levels.

In the absence of any permanent, on-the-ground personnel, delinquent, unauthorized visitation would increase. The effects of ongoing break-ins, vandalism, and defacement of property by unauthorized visitors would be adverse and moderate or greater. Effects on ranch characteristics as a result of this type of visitor are also described in Cultural Resources and Land Use, Section 4.6, “Cultural Resources” and Section 4.8, “Land Use”, respectively.

Ultimately, the No Action alternative would not be consistent with the intent of the two SNPLMA grants and TNC easements, which stipulate, respectively, that the ranch provide guided tours and interpretive displays; educate people on arid lands issues; and preserve the natural and historic features and values of the ranch. The No Action alternative would not be consistent with the terms of the BLM - UNLV Cooperative Management Agreement. With the No Action alternative, these effects would be long term, adverse, and moderate or greater.

The geographic scope for visitation cumulative effects analysis includes the greater Piute- Eldorado Valley, extending west to the Mojave National Preserve, east to Lake Mojave, and north to the City of Boulder.

With increasing population and reasonably foreseeable renewable energy projects and resident workforces in the region, the lack of human presence at the ranch would contribute to trespassing, vandalism, and/or other delinquent, unauthorized activities at the ranch.