Environmental

Monday's Democratic Luncheon will kick off Earth Week with a presentation by Clifford Banuelos, Tribal-State Environmental Liaison for the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) with the State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). In that role he works with bureaus under NDEP and the Tribes of Nevada to coordinate and consult on environmental projects and concerns. He also works with the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which NDEP falls under.

Joe Cacioppo, District 7 representative and president of the Carson City School District Board of Trustees, will speak via Zoom at Monday's Democratic luncheon. He will provide an update on the issues faced by the board since he last spoke at a meeting of the Central Committee as a candidate for re-election this time last year. He is now in the first year of his third four year term.

Climate change: Is it real? Yes! Is there something that you can do? Yes! A few years ago I became more aware and concerned about our environment. My concern was elevated based upon what I was reading, hearing and witnessing.

Did you know that wood-burning stove heaters are a significant source of harmful air pollution? Not only are these heating units among the most popular in Northern Nevada, they’re also one of the least cost-efficient heating options for homeowners.

Taking advantage of statewide moisture in the forecast, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will conduct prescribed fire operations across several portions of the forest this week as part of the forest’s hazardous fuels reduction effort and active forest management program. Also, weather and conditions permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team will continue widespread prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The column of smoke seen Thursday from Highway 50 East is at Empire Ranch Golf Course, which is conducting prescribed burns to accomplish hazardous fuels reduction and wildlife habitat restoration, according to the Carson City Fire Department.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — Spooner Lake is one of Nevada’s most popular places to hike, mountain bike, ride horses or simply enjoy nature, and welcomes more than 150,000 visitors every year. On Thursday, the Nevada Division of State Parks is pleased to launch the bidding process for the park’s much-anticipated Spooner Lake Improvement Project, which involves a complete redesign and update of the facilities, including construction of a visitor center and amphitheater.

Don’t miss the upcoming spring semester at Western Nevada College. The college has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a class “just for fun” or looking to spark an interest to pursue something new.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak released the final viewing details for the 2021 State of the State address that happens Tuesday.The pre-program begins at 5:45 p.m. and will air at the link here. Then, at 6 p.m., the 2021 address will air by going to the link here.

Celebrate Earth Day with Mountain Area Preservation and join us for the 6th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival, a live and virtual event on Friday, April 23.

This year's event will be hosted virtually and will include an online auction benefiting MAP’s environmental advocacy work in the Truckee and Lake Tahoe area. The virtual festival will feature award-winning films focused on the environment, conservation, adventure, and more! Get inspired and celebrate the power of activism by attending Wild & Scenic.

RENO — With much of the State of Nevada listed as in extreme drought, Nevadans are facing forecasts for a mild winter, with little precipitation since the rainy season started. With these designations, southern Nevadans are facing a mild and dry winter and northern Nevadans are looking at an uncertain forecast. All could face water restrictions, crop or pasture loss and, with exceptional drought, water shortage emergencies.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce new leadership roles for the School Board of Trustees. At their first meeting of the year Tuesday, Jan. 11, Joe Cacioppo, District 7, was named the newest president of the Carson City School District Board of Trustees.

Empire Ranch Golf Course will be conducting prescribed burns to accomplish hazardous fuels reduction and wildlife habitat restoration. These burns are conducted within strict environmental conditions and under a permit issued by Carson City Fire Department. Smoke will be seen throughout the Carson area, please don’t report this as a fire. Only call 911 if you have an emergency.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team will resume prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Operations will continue over the next several weeks, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday that it has received $1 million in Clean Water Act grant funds provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency that will be used to complete 11 projects to reduce “nonpoint source pollution” and improve water quality across the state.

The Nevada Mining Association has teamed up with the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada for the first-ever “Mining In Today’s World” patch program.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection announced plans to convene a virtual listening session on Clean Cars Nevada, an initiative that would provide Nevadans with more choices for low and zero emission passenger cars and light-duty trucks offered at dealerships across the state beginning in 2024.

Carson City and Douglas County are again participating in a statewide Christmas tree recycling effort. As in previous years, Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day or taken to one of several drop off locations.

Nonprofits greenUP! and Friends In Service Helping (FISH) are coming together around the topic of food waste and food insecurity this holiday season. It is estimated that a staggering 30-40 percent of all food produced in our country winds up in the landfill.

One solution for reducing waste is to donate extra food to feed the hungry: despite the high volumes of wasted food, over 13 million Americans lack regular access to a meal.

In our state, it is estimated by the Department of Health and Human Services that one in eight Nevadans does not know where their next meal is coming from.

The first of its kind Lake Tahoe Commemorative Coin was minted this month on historic Carson City Mint Press No. 1 and less than 300 of the limited-edition coins are still available for the public, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, said Tuesday.

Winter session classes at Western Nevada College are filling up fast so don’t wait to register for the 5-week short-term classes that start on Dec. 21 and the 3-week courses that begin on Jan. 4.

Weather and conditions permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team will continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin. California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts are scheduled to burn hand piles and smoke may be visible.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team may continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin. California State Parks, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts are scheduled to burn if conditions and weather allow. Smoke may be visible.

Western Nevada College and greenUP! announced Monday the formation of the Nevada Green Business Network, part of a statewide effort to generate a green business certification program.

Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team members will continue prescribed fire operations this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin, weather and conditions permitting. California State Parks and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District are scheduled to burn hand piles on the east and west shores. Smoke may be visible.

Pastor Tim Plummer, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Missionary Area Director, has once again brought Christmas trees to Carson City to support FCA. Christmas is fast approaching, and most agree it is the best time of the year. The holidays can be a difficult time for many, but it does not have to be this way.

Food insecurity is a systemic problem magnified by the economic effects of COVID-19.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about one in 10 Washoe County residents were unable to acquire enough food to "live an active, healthy life," according to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. On top of that, nearly half of all Washoe County School District students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection announced plans Wednesday to convene its first webinar on Clean Cars Nevada, an initiative to evaluate the adoption of new regulations that would provide Nevadans with more choices for low and zero emission passenger cars and trucks offered at Nevada-wide dealerships, beginning in 2024.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, in partnership with NV Energy and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is seeking public comment on the NV Energy Resilience Corridors project. This project proposes vegetation treatments along roughly 43 miles of power line corridors on approximately 5,300 acres of National Forest System lands.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is initiating a public comment period on the proposed Forest-Wide Prescribed Fire Restoration Project. The purpose of this project is to increase the pace and scale of prescribed burning on lands within 6.2 million acres of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and a small portion of eastern California.