Public Lands

An open house to welcome the new Carson City District Manager, Bernadette Lovato, will be held Tuesday, June 11, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road in Carson City, Nev. The district has approximately 110 full time employees and manages about 4.8 million acres of federal public lands in 11 counties throughout western Nevada and eastern California through the Sierra Front and the Still Water field offices.

An independent report released today by The National Academy of Sciences is critical of the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses and burros on federal public lands in the western United States and urges changes to its current roundup policies.

UPDATE 10AM: Today, the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, a national coalition, joined forces with a Nevada State Senator and local community leaders in and around Carson City to harshly criticize the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for refusing to work with local residents to keep a small group of wild horses free. The mustang herd at issue travels between federal land in the Pine Nut Herd Management Area (HMA) and a rural area outside Carson City.

Nevada son and United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed a joint session of the Nevada State Legislature today in Carson City. Here is the text of his speech:

Take a Snowshoe Trek with Snowshoe Thompson Saturday, Feb. 16. This free, family-friendly leisurely snowshoe trek is presented by the Carson Valley Trails Association.

For the first time since 1987, Lake Tahoe has a new regional plan for development and land use.
Twelve of the 14 voting members of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's governing board voted in favor of the new plan, with one member voting against it and another abstaining, according to TRPA spokesman Jeff Cowan.

Business interests say the plan is an overdue overhaul of regulations that will jump-start Tahoe's tourism economy while also protecting its environment.

UPDATE 8:45AM: Highway 395 has reopened with controls (pilot vehicle) so expect delays and watch for fire vehicles, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.
The fire, which has burned more than 2,000 acres, is burning mostly upslope east of Highway 395 into predominately BLM public lands in the southern Pine Nut Mountains. There is a decreasing threat to approximately 30 homes west of the highway. If the fire were to jump the highway, however, this is looking less likely as fire personnel consolidate fire lines. No structures have been lost at this time. Power lines down at the fire scene, but they are deenergized, which is impacting some local rural residences. The fire is 5 percent contained. Full containment expected by Sept. 24. An aerial reconnaisance this morning will evaluate fire acreage and behavior. Nine airtankers are currently assigned to the incident, which includes four large airtankers and five single-engine airtankers (SEATs).
Structure protection is being handled by units of the East Fork Fire Protection District (Douglas County).
Incident Command Post is at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
One minor firefighter non-burn injury reported.

The banks of the Carson River through Carson City are up for a good scrubbing on Saturday, Sept. 15. As part of the 19th annual National Public Lands Day, the Carson River Cleanup, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Carson City and the Bureau of Land Management, will focus on areas around Brunswick Canyon and Prison Hill Recreation area.
To get in on the cleanup, meet at the BLM-Carson City District Office's west parking lot, located at 5665 Morgan Mill Road at Deer Run Road, three blocks south of U.S. Highway 50 on the east side of Carson City along the Carson River, at 8 a.m.

A legislative committee has endorsed a plan to preserve the habitats for the declining sage grouse population, but millions of acres of public lands continue to be open to grazing, mining development and energy projects.

CARSON CITY, NV – Governor Brian Sandoval today commended the work of the Nevada Sage-grouse Advisory Committee which issued recommendations yesterday on a course of action that provides conservation measures sufficient to preclude the need to list the Greater Sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act.

“I thank the Advisory Committee, its Chairman, Bob Crowell and each of the members for their diligent and timely work on this very important issue,” Governor Sandoval said. “Representatives from a cross section of our state collaborated in an effort to conserve the Greater Sage-grouse species while maintaining predictable and multiple uses of private, state and public lands. I look forward to reviewing the Committee’s recommendations.”

The Perseids meteor shower is one of the more famous meteor showers and never fails to give a stellar performance. This natural event lasts an entire week in our region and seeing it in the darkest of skies promises not to disappoint viewers. Friends of Black Rock will set up camp on August 10-12 and invite their members and the surrounding community to come and be amazed at the wonders of the universe.

CARSON CITY – The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4039, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act, the first piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., since taking office after a special election in September 2011.

Seasonal drying conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and a number of human-caused fires have prompted the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District Office and the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Sierra Forest Fire Protection District to announce the implementation of fire restrictions on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at 12:01 a.m., and lasting until further notice.

Extremely dry conditions has prompted the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District to urge cities, counties and residents to be aware of the increased chance of wildfire due to extreme dry conditions and warmer temperatures.
“The current conditions for this time of the year are dryer than what we have seen in the last 20 years," said Ken Smihula, fire management officer. “The public needs to be aware of the dry conditions and the very high risk of wildfire. We encourage everyone using public lands to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them.”

The Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) is making plans for the Fundraiser for the Carson Valley Discovery Trail on Tuesday, June 19, 5 to 8 p.m., at the C.V.I.C. Hall in Minden. The event will feature live and silent auctions, games, live music performed by Foothill Road, complimentary refreshments and no-host bar. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 775-265-3736 or online at www.carsonvalleytrails.org.

The Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) is making plans for the grand opening of the 16-mile Genoa Trail System, 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. This free event is open to the public and will take place at the Eagle Ridge Trailhead, located next to the green water tank, approximately 1.8 miles north of Genoa off of Jacks Valley Road on Eagle Ridge Road.

The Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) is making plans for the grand opening of the 16-mile Genoa Trail System, 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. This free event is open to the public and will take place at the Eagle Ridge Trailhead, located next to the green water tank, approximately 1.8 miles north of Genoa off of Jacks Valley Road on Eagle Ridge Road.

The Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) needs volunteers for scheduled trail work days in April on the Fay-Luther and Genoa Trail systems. Anyone who is interested is welcome to participate; no previous trail building experience is required. Volunteers must wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt, hiking boots, work gloves and sunglasses. Tools and hard hats are provided. Bring food and water.

CARSON CITY – Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said today he is not optimistic that Congress will make any substantive progress on a balanced budget or deficit reduction this year given the focus on the presidential election.

But Amodei, in town on a brief recess, said he is hopeful that progress can be made on Nevada-related public lands bills he is sponsoring as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Recognized for stewardship and care taken in the building and construction of developments around Lake Tahoe, the 22nd annual Best in the Basin awards were announced Tuesday by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
The TRPA, which sets policy for development around Lake Tahoe, will recognize the winners, listed below, during the 2011 Best in the Basin awards presentation during the meeting of its Governing Board on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Stateline. Go here for the agenda.

President Barack Obama visited Las Vegas today on a swing through the West, talking up energy development to create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

In comments delivered at the United Parcel Service hub on East Arby Lane, President Obama said development of natural gas reserves would serve both these purposes.

The president jogged out to loud, enthused cheers from a clearly friendly crowd.

Looking for a great place to dirt bike, four-wheel or cruise through rocks with breeze on your ATV? The public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM-Carson City District offer plenty of opportunities for off-road vehicle and ATV recreation. Check out the latest blog from the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau outlining some of the local hotspots for off-road adventure.

Governor Brian Sandoval this morning sent a letter to President Obama asking for assistance in making changes at the federal level that could clear the way for new jobs in Nevada.
“This is my first request of President Obama since becoming Governor,” Sandoval noted in a press release. “I need his help to get Nevadans working again, and we have identified a very specific step he can take to spur job creation in our mining industry.”

Carson City residents are invited to join the Carson River Cleanup and Public Lands Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bureau of Land Management's Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan...

Carson City residents are invited to join the Carson River Cleanup and Public Lands Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bureau of Land Management's Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan...

Helmuth Lehmann and Tim Fasano were caught in the crossfire last night as Mark Amodei and Kate Marshall threw rhetorical punches at one another during an hour-long debate between the four candidates for Nevada’s second congressional district.

The federal government is more generous to some states than others and least of all to Nevada, according to an analysis by Federal Funds Information for States (FFIS) which tracks budget policy across the nation.
Some states receive fewer federal dollars because they operate relatively modest Medicaid programs that trigger a smaller amount of matching federal money.

By the Bureau of Land Management
In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), a meeting of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management-Nevada (BLM) Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will be held as indicated below.
Members of the public and media are cordially invited to attend.

By Steven R. Lasco
As many of you know, May is National Bike Month. Here in Carson City, several events and rides were held, capped by Bike To Work Week from May 16-20 and the celebration on the 20th outside the Firkin & Fox. As reported, about 150 people came by to visit, enjoy others’ bikes, and get a chance to win a raffle prize. The Nevada Legislature passed two bills in its current session that benefit cyclists (see sidebar below).

By the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office is seeking public input through provisions in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act on a proposal to reduce site safety hazards at the United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat (AFM) in Storey County, Nevada.

The BLM requests public input on the identification of historic properties and comments on potential effects analyzed in the environmental assessment to the AFM complex relative to regulation 36 CFR Part 800.2(d) and 800.3(e).