Habitat

Recently, I wrote that aphids invaded our ash trees, but I’m pleased to report that a battalion of good little buggers came to the rescue.

I’m referring to the syrphid flies, sometimes called flower flies or hoverflies.

John Hadder, executive director of Great Basin Resource Watch, will be the featured speaker at Monday's Carson City Democratic luncheon.

GBRW is a Reno-based environmental justice organization dedicated to protecting the health and well being of the land, air, water, wildlife, and human communities of the Great Basin from the adverse effects of resource extraction and use. They advocate on behalf of policy solutions that reduce toxic emissions, protect water resources, and preserve human and wildlife habitat.

RENO — Lithium Nevada Corporation has made a gift of $31,500 in support of establishing the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources’ Great Basin Sagebrush Restoration project. Home to many iconic species found in the West, the sagebrush ecosystems in the United States have contracted to about 56 percent of their historical range due to land degradation, especially from wildfire and invasive species propagation.

In the mountains east of Lake Tahoe, visitors may notice some aspen trees have been defoliated due to an influx of invasive white satin moths.

The Fourth of July holiday and fireworks celebration brings a welcomed influx of boaters to the Lake Tahoe Basin.

With sunny skies and warm temperatures predicted, boaters are urged to clean, drain, and dry their boats before arriving at Lake Tahoe inspection stations to avoid delays and decontamination fees. All stations close at 5:30 p.m., so please plan accordingly.

CARSON CITY — Law enforcement officers across Nevada will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, June 29-July 1, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — This Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Sugar Pine Foundation will co-host a Tahoe yellow cress planting with the Tahoe yellow cress Adaptive Management Working Group at Baldwin Beach, which is National Forest System land managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Junior hunters who were either unsuccessful in the recent big game draw or missed the deadline to submit an application, have a second chance at a deer tag with the big game second draw application period opening Friday, June 8.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife's annual Free Fishing Day is this Saturday, June 9. Anglers may fish in any public water throughout the Silver State without a fishing license. All limits and other regulations apply.

This first weekend of June packs quite a punch: activities and events abound. Head downtown for the first Third and Curry Farmers Market of the season, then wander a few blocks north for Due Sorella’s Spring Vintage Market. You may as well just keep the car parked. With the monthly Wine Walk, Pour for Paws in McFadden Plaza, and Crystal’s Crusade Street Party Fundraiser on W. Telegraph, downtown is the place to be. There are so many options this weekend, so take a gander and enjoy your weekend.

SATURDAY:  

RENO — In addition to navigating pristine wild rivers and dirt roads, big-fish wrangler Zeb Hogan of Nat Geo WILD’s “Monster Fish” show also had to navigate a maze of dangerous military zones in order to tell the story of his travel and research in the remote and wild Salween River that runs through China, Thailand and Myanmar.

Lake Tahoe agencies remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal at all times while in bear country. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears can result in the bear being killed, fines and possible jail time for violators.

We’re in for another gray day, but that won’t affect the fun to be had. Bike to Work Week always ends in a big bash. Head down to McFadden Plaza, even if you didn’t take the challenge personally. You’ll find live music, raffles, bike games, and too much fun. Western Nevada Musical Theater Company returns for another weekend of Singin’ in the Rain at the Bob Boldrick Theater. Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours are waiting to entertain you at the Brewery Arts Center. There may be some balcony seating still available, but tickets are very limited.

My friend Paul suggested writing an article on windbreaks.

The basic premise for a windbreak is that a vertical element, whether trees, shrubs or fences, or any combination of those, placed perpendicular to the direction of the prevailing wind affects the movement of the air.

Not a cloud in the sky, and yet we have been hit by a perfect storm: Cinco de Mayo, Kentucky Derby Day, and the monthly wine walk have all collided. Let me tell you, downtown is going to be hopping, not to mention the Early Season Farmers Market making its seasonal debut in the parking lot at W. Musser and N. Nevada – just behind Due Sorella. Take the kids down to Bailys Pond at Fuji Park for the annual Tom Brooks Memorial Kids’ Fishing Day. A trip to the train museum comes with the opportunity to ride on the Historic McKeen Motor Car.

CARSON CITY — Wetlands are the link between land and water: where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce highly productive ecosystems with unique plant and animal life.

Please join Bike Habitat for the 11th Annual Tour of Carson City bicycle ride on Sunday, May 6th! Ride begins at 9:00 AM. The ride starts and finishes at Fuji Park, and will tour around the perimeter of Carson City fo ...

Roadside stations for inspections and decontaminations of motorized boats and watercraft entering Lake Tahoe are officially opening for the 2018 boating season.

CARSON CITY — A field of wildflowers is one of the most inspiring scenes you can experience in nature, and springtime in Nevada offers an abundance of opportunities to enjoy these blossoming treasures.

As part of the Carson Ranger District’s Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, sheep will be released to graze on two separate fuel reduction project areas. These sheep will help remove cheatgrass and other non-native vegetation from National Forest System (NFS) lands.

When organizers formed the Greenhouse Project 10 years ago in Carson City, their vision was to establish a sustainable program that provided wholesome, natural produce to the community.

What Carson City has benefited from over the past decade is exactly that.

The Lahontan cutthroat trout was rediscovered in a "dinky" stream near the Nevada-Utah border. Genetic testing by University of Nevada, Reno Associate Professor of Biology Mary Peacock led to the rediscovery of an iconic Nevada fish.

Nature lovers will find a variety of ways to celebrate the outdoors during Carson City Historical Society’s Earth Day Garden Festival on April 22.

I’m sad. I just had an old birch tree removed.

After babying the sickly thing for years, I finally gave in and had it cut down.

The tree was here when we moved in 30 years ago and it didn’t look great then. It never really grew.

Why did it die? Bronze birch borers had infested the tree and it never recovered.

Hold onto your hats, Carson City, we’re in for a busy weekend. Several events over the last few weeks were re-scheduled due to weather: today you’ll find the make-up for The Greenhouse Project's Early Spring Plant Sale and the Carson High Safe Grad 5K Run/Walk. Get your Roller Derby fix with a scrimmage and a Junior Victory Rollers bout against Santa Cruz. The Bob Boldrick Theater at the Community Center is where you’ll find ‘Carson’s Got Talent.' Cheer on your favorite local performer and help raise funds for the Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels Program. You’ll have to keep reading, this is just the tip of the fun-time iceberg.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife wants to remind sportsmen who have not yet applied for this year’s big game draw that the deadline is fast approaching. All applications must be received by 11 p.m. on Monday, April 16.

Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens recently wrapped up a complicated year-long investigation into the poaching of a large male black bear in the spring of 2017, resulting in formal charges being filed in Dayton Justice Court March 28 by the Lyon County District Attorney’s Office.

Kids to Parks Day is a national event hosted by the National Park Trust with the mission of bringing outdoor education and recreation to youth via local parks. Carson City's Kids to Parks Day will be at Silver Saddle Ranch Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature:

Eastern Sierra Land Trust has announced an $8 million funding pool now available to ranchers in the Bi-State area of eastern California and western Nevada who want to pursue projects that will improve sage-grouse habitat and water quality on their land. The Bi-State region includes portions of ...

NEW WASHOE CITY, Nev. – April events at Washoe Lake State Park include a program about the birds of Washoe Lake and a full moon hike. Reservations are required only for the full moon hike.