Carson Now reader Monica Ross submitted the following regarding a Keep Washoe Wild rally happening Saturday, June 13. Also below we’ve added information provided by Nevada State Parks, which sent a news media advisory Tuesday morning.
Ross writes the following:
Keep Washoe Wild Rally: The rally comes amid growing public concern over a proposed fencing project that advocates say could permanently alter the movement patterns and water access of the Virginia Range wild horses.
Community members, horse advocates, photographers, historians and Nevada residents will gather at Washoe Lake on Friday, June 13, for the Keep Washoe Wild Rally, calling on state and federal agencies to reconsider a proposed fencing project that they believe will block the Virginia Range wild horses from accessing the water sources and habitat they have relied upon for generations.
Organizers are urging the Nevada Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management to pause the project and engage with the public to discuss humane, practical alternatives that protect both public safety and the long-term welfare of the horses.
Supporters of the rally believe the proposed fencing would cut off traditional travel corridors and access to critical water sources, forcing horses into unfamiliar areas in search of water. They fear this could increase the risk of horses entering neighborhoods, crossing busy highways, or moving into other areas where conflicts with people could become a greater risk.. We are asking for transparency, collaboration, and humane management of the Virginia Range herd before irreversible actions are taken
“The Virginia Range horses are part of Nevada’s history and identity,” organizers said. “We believe there are better solutions that can protect public safety without fencing these iconic horses away from the resources they have depended on for decades.”
The event is expected to draw horse lovers and concerned citizens from across Nevada who want their voices heard on the future of the Washoe Lake herd.
WHAT: Keep Washoe Wild Rally
WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2026
TIME: 9:00 AM- Noon
WHERE: Washoe Lake, off the 580 Exit to Eastlake Blvd. we will be lining up across from the bird watch area.
The following is a media advisory received Tuesday from Nevada State Parks:
A demonstration regarding fencing and Virginia Range horse management is planned to take place at Washoe Lake State Park on the morning of June 13, 2026.
Background Information
Nevada State Parks and the Nevada Department of Agriculture are undertaking separate projects aimed at improving public safety and safeguarding the welfare of feral horses in the Virginia Range. These efforts focus on protecting public safety, reducing conflicts between horses, urban areas, and roadways.
Nevada State Parks has been repairing and maintaining existing fencing at Washoe Lake State Park for several years. Originally constructed as part of a ranch that once occupied the area, the fencing now serves to define park boundaries while helping protect visitors, horses, and wildlife.
Repair efforts have focused on sections of fencing along East Lake Boulevard near sensitive wetland areas, where the risk of collisions between vehicles and animals is elevated. Only within the last decade have the Virginia Range horses been utilizing Washoe Lake as a water source after deteriorated fencing allowed access to the park and surrounding areas.
The Nevada Department of Agriculture began repairing existing fencing on public lands in September 2024 where the Virginia Range borders urban development. These efforts are intended to help reduce harmful interactions between horses and people, limit access to roadways, and protect both the animals and the public. At this time, no active construction of new fencing by NDA is taking place.
Fencing repairs also help protect sensitive wetland habitat and wildlife species found within Washoe Lake State Park and the adjacent wildlife management area. The Nevada Department of Agriculture and its partners are monitoring Virginia Range horses and evaluating alternative water sources available throughout the range.
In addition to fencing projects, the Nevada Department of Agriculture works with partner organizations to identify high-risk areas and relocate horses to safer locations within the Virginia Range that provide access to natural water sources and adequate forage.
Nevada State Parks and the Nevada Department of Agriculture emphasize the importance of preserving fence integrity. Cutting, damaging, or tampering with fencing can increase risks to horses by exposing them to roadways and other hazards.
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