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"We're hoping they're going to make a good decision because the opening of this creek and proposing the construction of a road was a bad idea from the beginning for both ecological and financial reasons," Kassar said. "[BLM] is getting the clear message that the proposal is bad for the ecosystem."

BLM's decision to withdraw its proposal comes after several years of debating how best to balance protecting the fragile ecosystem of the area while continuing to allow for some off-road recreation, according to John Dearing, spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management's California office.

In 2001, the Center for Biological Diversity, along with Sierra Club and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, filed a lawsuit to protect Furnace Creek's fragile ecosystem, reflecting public concern that trails and a small road along the creek and through habitat areas were negatively affecting the riparian diversity.

As part of a settlement to that lawsuit, Furnace Creek was closed to off-road vehicles in 2003, and BLM was required to complete an environmental assessment.

That assessment came out in May and included plans to widen the existing road for 4-wheel vehicles. The agency received more than 7,000 comments during the public comment period against the proposed construction, Kassar said. The magnitude of the responses led BLM to re-evaluate its decision.

"We're going to start over again," Dearing said. "We have to come to some sort of agreement. We're going to try to do it better this time."

Dearing said the agency would work with the Forest Service in proposing a new assessment. The new evaluations will include how wide to make the road and how far back to go into the wilderness area so as not to violate wilderness protections.

"We have to see what the proposed impacts might be and mitigate against those as much as possible," he said.

Cost vs. benefit

One of the concerns brought by the environmental groups was the financial implications of building a road in an area that is not frequented by many people. Kassar said that currently about 12 people go through this area per year.

"Right now they're going though a big process that creates a lot of work and debt for themselves to open the space up for just 12 people," she said.

Dearing said the field office would go back and re-evaluate the various aspects of the plan, and open the new decision up for public comment as well.

Meanwhile, Furnace Creek remains closed to off-road vehicles, which the environmental groups believe is the appropriate future course of action as well.

"What evidence there is of damage to the creek has been obscured by the return of willows, cattails and other native vegetation," Kassar said. "The fact that this area continues to grow back and be restored makes it more difficult for the government to ignore its own regulations and build a road through a desert stream as it recovers."