Open Spaces, Special Places
Clouds over Washoe Valley.
If the view over a pristine ridgeline is important to you, or if you value Nevada's rivers and the streams that feed them…
If you want to see wildlife habitats preserved, or be able to hike to the top of a favorite mountain…
If you see open space as critical to your quality of life…
You are not alone.
The Nevada Land Conservancy is Nevada's “homegrown” non-profit land trust working with landowners and communities to protect and preserve open space for an enhanced quality of life. We invite you to learn more about our mission, the special places we protect, and how to get involved.
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Nevada Land Conservancy and BLM protect 17,493 acres in Northern Nevada
RENO, NV -- August 27, 2008
More than 17,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat in northern Washoe County, including formerly private inholdings in federally-designated Wilderness Study Areas, now belong to the public, thanks to Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) funding for the $6,000,000 purchase price and a strong partnership between the Nevada Land Conservancy, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and landowners Todd and Sam Jaksick. Almost every parcel contains a spring, wet meadow, or stream which support a rich, diverse wildlife population across the region
"Our family spends a tremendous amount of time in Northern Washoe County," said Todd Jaksick, "We think it's a great place and we're honored to be a part of protecting these lands for future generations."
BLM State Director Ron Wenker calls this acquisition one of the most important wildlife protection initiatives since the inception of the SNPLMA program. "The acquisition will directly affect our ability to safeguard, among other things, what many consider to be the healthiest mule deer and California bighorn sheep herds in Nevada, as well as critical sage grouse breeding grounds and the only known home of the endangered Wall Canyon sucker fish," Wenker said.
Jim Nelson, President of the Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Reno Chapter, is among those in favor of the project. "Nevada Bighorns Unlimited is strongly supportive of the recent conversion of these prime acres to public land," Nelson stated. "This area supports one of Northern Nevada's most important mule deer herds, as well as antelope, California bighorn sheep, sage grouse, chukar and much, much more. All outdoor enthusiasts will benefit from this, not only hunters but also hikers, photographers, bird watchers and explorers. This is truly a win-win situation."
Nevada Land Conservancy President, Alicia Reban, continued, "The Nevada Land Conservancy was created to foster partnerships between landowners and agencies to protect what is most special about the Silver State. We've been at it for ten years now, and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate our anniversary than being part of this gift to the people of our state and our country."
BLM and the Nevada Land Conservancy, have been working with the landowners since 2003 for federal acquisition of the land in order to protect the wide variety of resources on the property. This is the largest and most complex SNPLMA acquisition to date, with more than a hundred distinct parcels with appurtenant water rights across three BLM administrative areas -- the Winnemucca field office in Nevada, and the Surprise and Eagle Lake Field Offices in California. The parcels, all within Nevada, are scattered throughout the Granite Range north of Gerlach, and include portions of the Buffalo Hills, Twin Peaks, and Poodle Mountain Wilderness Study Areas, and range from high alpine meadows to sagebrush lowlands.
"From the beginning, this acquisition had the support of multiple wildlife advocates, hunting and fishing enthusiasts, and recreationists. It is an exceptional opportunity on all those fronts, as well as for the cultural resources that will be protected," stated Alicia Reban, President of the Nevada Land Conservancy.
Washoe County Manager Katy Simon also praised the project"s success. "We applaud the vision and foresight of our Congressional delegation, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, the Southern Nevada Public Lands Executive Committee, and the Jaksick family for preserving one of the last magnificent landscapes of the West - the 17,000-acre Granites in northern Washoe County - for this and future generations," said Simon, who is also a board trustee for Nevada Land Conservancy. "Those who come after us will thank them for having the courage to keep Nevada wild."
Nevada Land Conservancy is Nevada's first independent, non-profit land trust working with landowners and communities to protect and preserve the special places and open spaces of Nevada for future generations. NVLC is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, and has protected more than five acres a day in the past decade. For information on Nevada Land Conservancy's projects, please call
775-851-5180 or visit nvlc.org.
The BLM is authorized to sell land in the Las Vegas Valley under the authority of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA), as amended (Public law 105-263). The proceeds from the disposal of these lands are held in a special account used to fund projects in Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine counties including acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands throughout Nevada.
The BLM is one of five federal agencies that manage environmentally sensitive lands acquired by the United States as a result of the SNPLMA legislation. For more information on SNPLMA and projects approved for funding visit the SNPLMA website at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/snplma.html.
More Images of the Granites Acquisition -- Click below!
Photos by Mike McCurry
Hawken Fire Restoration Efforts: Update
Kelley Erosion control completed hydromulching 43 acres immediately behind homes on Friday, November 2, 2007. Washoe County Public Works also completed the construction of two drainage basins to help capture sediment before it flows out of Alum Creek into the Truckee River. Aerial seeding of 350 acres in the upper elevations and aerial mulching of 160 of those acres occured in February 2008. Hazardous trees have been removed, a new flood early-warning system has been installed on Alum Creek, and replanting of 300 Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pines, plus 75 shrubs, occurred on April 26, 2008 (thanks to Allstate Insurance and Lahontan Audubon Society!) A crew of two mappers from Great Basin Institute monitored emerging growth in fall of 2008, and revisited the site in May of 2009. The resulting maps directed chemical treatments of medusa head in November 2008, and will inform further weed treatments in June of 2009.
A big thanks is due Lynda Nelson, Kurt Latipow, and Greg Belancio of Washoe County for coordinating these treatments.
Nevada Land Conservancy is serving as the fiscal agent, principal fundraiser and volunteer coordinator for the Hawken Fire restoration effort. Project partners include Washoe County, the Caughlin Ranch Homeowners' Association, City of Reno, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Fire Safe Council, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. To date, more than $365,000 has been raised for this effort.
Thank you for your support of wildlife, recreation, and water quality!
Hawken Fire Restoration Donors
City of Reno Ward One Neighborhood Advisory Board
City of Reno Ward Five Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board
The Phil and Jennifer Satre Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Sierra Pacific Resources Foundation
The Ranson and Norma Webster Charitable Fund at the Communiy Foundation of Western Nevada
Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation
Gaston & Wilkerson Management Group
...and many donations from generous individuals!
In-kind printing provided by Bear Industries
Goats graze invasive weeds at Swan Lake -- Saturday, May 12 to Thursday, May 31, 2007, and Sunday, July 1 to Monday, July 16, 2007. A herd of more than 100 goats worked to help remove troublesome tall whitetop through coordination by Nevada Land Conservancy. Funds received for this project will also be used to map trends in weed populations, educate the public on invasive weed control, and reseed high priority habitat. Partners in this project include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Truckee Meadows Cooperative Weed Management Group, Washoe County, the City of Reno, City of Sparks, UNR Cooperative Extension, BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Carson Truckee Water Conservation District. Click here to see a video of the goats in action and an interview with Project Director Becky Stock.
Contact us for information about these and other exciting happenings!