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Nevada WildlifeNevada Wildlife is the official voice of the Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.

We are an affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and the oldest statewide conservation organization dedicated to sustaining Nevada’s natural resources for wildlife through conservation and education.

Volume 15, Issue 1 Winter, 2011

Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project facts

Location: Nye County, Nevada Technology: Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Plant Electricity production capacity: 110 megawatts Company: Solar Reserve’s Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC (Santa Monica, CA) By the numbers – the project is expected to:

Provide electricity to power up to 75,000 homes during peak electricity demand periods.

Create 450-500 new jobs at peak construction and up to 50 permanent operation and maintenance jobs.

Generate an estimated $140 million in personal income annually through direct, indirect and induced impacts during the peak of construction.

Add an estimated $160 million annually to the gross Nevada state product during peak of construction.

Provide an $850 million investment in U.S. renewable energy infrastructure, aided by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-supported loan guarantees and renewable energy investment tax credits.

Be located on approximately 2,250 acres of public lands. The BLM oversees more than 6.1 million acres in Nye and Esmeralda counties, including 604,535 acres managed for conservation.

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6.Interior approves 9th commercial solar project on western public landsEditor’s note: As the state’s energy priorities shift to renewable sources, wildlife resources also will be shifted to accommodate these goals. Nevada is working to achieve a 25 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2015.This article highlights the use of public lands for energy development. Nevada Wildlife Federation does not have an official position on this or other proposed energy projects at this time.

Bureau of Land Management

WASHINGTON, DC – Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approved the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, as part of the administration’s initiative to encourage rapid and responsible de-velopment of renewable energy on U.S. public lands.

The concentrated solar power plant will produce 110 megawatts, enough to provide electricity for up to 75,000 Nevada households, and generate about 450-500 new jobs during construction and up to 50 permanent operations and maintenance jobs.

“Crescent Dunes joins a host of re-newable energy projects on public lands in the West that are opening a new chapter on how our nation is powered,” Salazar said in signing the Record of Decision on Dec. 20. “Using American ingenuity, we are creating jobs, stimulating local econ-omies and spurring a sustainable, clean energy industrial base that will strength-en our nation’s energy security.”

The project, proposed by SolarReserve’s Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC of Santa Monica, California, is sited on approximately 2,250 acres adminis-tered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) about 13 miles northwest of Tonopah, Nev.

In recent months, BLM has approved six renewable energy projects on public lands in Nevada – three solar, two geo-thermal and one wind – as well as a long-distance transmission line that will facili-tate the delivery of a variety of energy sources, including renewable energy, to consumers across the West. In 2010, the Department of the Interior has approved nine large-scale solar energy projects.

“These energy projects exemplify the collaborative partnerships we have developed to help achieve our common goals to protect our natural environment while utilizing America’s wealth of re-newable energy resources,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey.

The BLM worked closely with state, federal and military agencies to advance an environmentally appropriate project, including the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife and U.S. Air Force, as well as members of the environmental and conservation community. To minimize impacts to biological resources, the BLM selected an alternative plan that reduced the proj-ect size from 7,680 acres to 2,250 acres, with a development footprint of 1,776 acres. BLM published the Notice of Availability for the final environmental impact statement on Nov. 26, 2010.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC can qualify for grants in lieu of tax credits – up to 30 percent of the project’s

eligible costs – as well as Department of Energy loan guarantees to assist with the construction of the facility. The de-veloper has acquired a power purchase agreement with NV Energy; electricity produced at the facility will interconnect to NV Energy’s grid through a transmis-sion line to be built from the site to the existing Anaconda Moly Substation, about six miles north of the site.

The plant will use concentrated so-lar thermal “power tower” technology to contribute 485,000 megawatt hours of cost-effective renewable energy annually to the Nevada grid. This innovative tech-nology uses mirror fields to focus solar energy on a tower receiver near the cen-ter of the array. Steam from boilers in the tower drives a turbine, which generates electricity for the transmission grid.

Future bright for solar in Nevada

courtesy Solar ReserveLight is directed at a power tower in this artist rendering of the Rice Solar Energy Project in California, which is an illustration of what SolarReserve’s Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project may look like. The Crescent Dunes project was approved Dec. 20 by the Department of Interior for an area near Tonopah, Nev.

2 Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2011

Nevada WildlifePublished quarterly

by Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.Editor: Lorna WeaverAssociate Editor: Gale DupreeIn this Issue:Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project 1Nature Notes 2Walker Lake water purchases 3Nevada Wildlife Federation Action Network 3Valley of Fire State Park 3New rainbow trout record 4Hunting and fishing licenses available 4Information sought on Carson City poachers 4NDOW finalizes fish stocking plan 5Quagga mussel facts 5The lowly carp 5BLM seeks public input on power line 6Interior restores wild lands designation 6New Nevada environmental agency chief 6Silver Saddle Ranch gains ground 7NRCS gets funding for Nevada sage-grouse 7Las Vegas horse summit 8National Wildlife Federation – a look back 8

Nevada Wildlife Federation, Inc.P.O. Box 71238, Reno, NV 89570

phone (775) 677-0927Web site: www.nvwf.org

President: Robert GaudetDistrict 1 (Reno) Vice Pres.: vacantDistrict 2 (Elko) Vice Pres.: Jack PrierDistrict 3 (Las Vegas) Vice Pres.: Kevin CabbleSecretary: Vikki RiddleTreasurer: Anita WagnerNational Wildlife Federation (NWF) Representative: Robert GaudetAlternate NWF Rep: Kevin Cabble

Corporate SponsorsArt Source – RenoPatagonia – RenoSierra Trading Post – Reno, Cheyenne, WYHidden Valley Ranch – RenoMorris & Brown Architects, LTD – RenoPerry and Spann – RenoNV Energy – RenoWal-Mart Stores – RenoSafari Club International – Northern Nevada ChapterPeppermill Resort Spa Casino – RenoAtlantis Casino Resort Spa – RenoGrand Sierra Resort – Reno Harvey’s/Harrah’s Casino Hotels – Stateline

AffiliatesNational Wildlife Federation – NationAnimal Ark – RenoCanvasback Gun Club – RenoCarson Valley Chukar Club – GardnervilleCarson Fly Fishing Club – Carson CityElko County Conservation Association – ElkoFriends of Nevada Wilderness – RenoGreat Basin Chapter Trout Unlimited – BakerLas Vegas Archers – Las VegasMotorcycle Racing Assoc. of Nevada – Las VegasNatural Resource Education Council – Carson CityNevada Bighorns Unlimited – RenoNevada Bowhunters Association – ElkoNevada Section Society for Range ManagementNorthern Nevada Outdoors – WinnemuccaOrmsby Sportman’s Association – Carson CityReno Tur-Toise Club – RenoSilver Arrow Bowman – RenoSpring Mt. Volunteer Association – Las VegasTruckee River Flyfishers – RenoTruckee River Yacht Club – RenoWalker Lake Working Group – Hawthorne

nature notes

Join Nevada Wildlife Federation today!Your membership dues fund wildlife

conservation and education programs in Nevada.

Membership Categories per yearCorporate: $250, $500, $1,000 and upBenefactor: $100 and upSustaining: $40 to $99Life: $400Family: $35, for families at same addressAssociate or Affiliate: $25Student: $12

Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: _______________________________________________State, Zip: __________________________________________Phone: _____________________________________________E-mail: _____________________________________________

Mail this coupon with your check or money order to Nevada Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 71238, Reno, NV 89570

Gifts for higher renewal rates *Members who join or renew at a rate of $45 or higher can

choose among several gifts. Those gifts include one of four cam-paign logo T-shirts. The slogans are: “Water for Wildlife,” “Share

Your Backyard with Wildlife,” “Save Our Sagebrush Family” and “Support Elk on Public Lands.” A T-shirt with the NvWF logo is also available.

Please circle your choice of T-shirt. Please indicate size: Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL. Youth: Medium, Large. Other gifts are a baseball hat with the federation’s logo and several books to choose from. New books are: Hiking Grand Canyon National Park, Living with Wildlife, Basic Essentials Fly Fishing, Death Valley National Park, Pocket Guide – Nevada Birds and Pocket Guide – Nevada Trees and Wildflowers.

Other books include This Land – A Guide to Western National Forests; Birds of Prey; Where Wild things Live; Mystery Tracks in the Snow; and Rocks and Minerals of California; Nevada Wildlife Viewing Guide; Black Rock Desert; Hiking Nevada; Rockhounding Nevada; Hiking Great Basin National Park; Easy Day Hikes Lake Tahoe; Easy Day Hikes Death Valley; The Tahoe Rim Trail; Sierra Nevada Wildlife Region; Tahoe Wildflowers; Elk Hunting Q & A; The Backyard Bird Feeder’s 4-Pack of Booklets; Lefty Krech’s Longer Fly Casting; Fishing Fanatic. Also available are Beyond Fair Chase and Inherit the Hunt, which contain stories on the tradition of hunting by Jim Posewitz. Please circle your choice of book. Your generous donation of $60 or more will be rewarded with a choice of any two items listed above (books and clothing only). Please circle your two gift choices.

* Life memberships are not a renewal and are not entitled to gifts after initial donation.

Governor reinstates Mayer as acting state wildlife director

Gov. Brian Sandoval has ap-pointed Ken Mayer to acting director of Nevada Department of Wildlife. Under state law, when the position becomes vacant, the governor must make an appointment from recom-mendations by the commission.

Past Governor Gibbons fired Director Mayer on Nov. 23, 2010. Gibbons appointed Mayer in 2007. The Board of Wildlife Commissioners was not pleased with Mayer’s service. The County Advisory Boards have been happy with Mayer’s leader-ship, were at odds with the Wildlife Commission, partic-ularly; regarding the emphasis on predator control, such as killing coyotes and mountain lions, to restore Nevada mule deer herds.

Nevada Biologists have stated the loss of habitat is the main reason deer herds have been declining in Nevada.Agency investigates golden eagle shootings

FALLON, Nev. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the deaths of four golden eagles found in January in Lahontan Valley. The dead eagles were found in an area between Fallon and Lahontan Reservoir. A preliminary investigation indicated the eagles had been shot.

Shooting an eagle is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act as well as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Penalties for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act can include up to two years confinement and $250,000 fine. Penalties for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act include up to six months confinement and $15,000 fine per bird.

Golden eagles are frequent visitors to the Carson and Lahontan valleys this time of year, and can often be seen near rivers, ponds, lakes and agricultural fields. Their preferred prey is small mammals like rabbits, ground squirrels, mice and sometimes small birds. Golden ea-gles are most often seen scavenging animal carcasses, especially during winter months when their normal prey is not readily available.

Anyone with information about the eagle deaths should contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement at (775) 861-6360.

By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)Partnership forms for Pinyon-Juniper management

A coalition of state, federal, private and nongovern-mental organizations formed to develop an integrated approach to pinyon-juniper management in Nevada. These groups have joined to treat high-density stands of pinyon and juniper trees to reduce the risk of cata-

Gale Dupree

strophic fires, reduced wildlife habitat for species like sage-grouse and mule deer, and reduced forest health.

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service has been hosting workshops and tours throughout the state. The most recent workshop was held in Las Vegas where more than 100 interested folks showed up.Climate change study challenges plant migration

In a paper published Jan. 20 in the journal “Science,” a University of California, Davis, researcher and his co-authors challenge a widely held assumption that plants will move uphill in response to warmer temperatures.

Data collected during the Wieslander vegetation sur-vey in the 1920s and 1930s were used in a new climate study. Between 1930 and 2000, instead of colonizing higher elevations to maintain a constant temperature, many California plant species instead moved downhill an average of 260 feet, said Jonathan Greenberg, an assistant project scientist at the U.C. Davis Center for Spatial Technologies and Remote Sensing.

“While the climate warmed significantly in this pe-riod, there was also more precipitation. These wetter conditions are allowing plants to exist in warmer loca-tions than they were previously capable of,” Greenberg said.

Many forecasts say climate change will cause a number of plants and animals to migrate to new ranges or become extinct. That research has largely been based on the assumption that temperature is the dominant driv-er of species distributions. However, Greenberg said the new study reveals that other factors, such as precipita-tion, may be more important than temperature in defin-ing the habitable range of these species.

The findings could have global relevance, because many locations north of 45 degrees latitude (which in-cludes the northernmost United States, virtually all of Canada and Russia, and most of Europe) have had in-creased precipitation in the past century, and global cli-mate models generally predict that trend will continue, the authors said.

By U.C. DavisFederation affiliate competes in Patagonia contest

The third annual Voice Your Choice® campaign will be held at the Patagonia Outlet in March to help the out-door gear store decide how it should distribute $5,000 in grant money to three conservation organizations.

Stop by the store March 10-31, 2011, to learn about the selected conservation groups and vote. Patagonia Reno is located at 8550 White Fir St., Reno, Nev., 89523. Contact the store at (775) 746-6878.

The Voice Your Choice candidate groups are:• Mountain Area Preservation Foundation: in store

March 12 • American River Conservancy: in store March 19 • Walker Lake Working Group: in store March 26.Walker Lake Working Group is a local affiliate of

Nevada Wildlife Federation.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently closed escrow on three separate sales of water rights and related interests from willing sellers in Nevada. Taken together with two prior sales, the Foundation has completed five transactions with a combined value of $22 million during the first full year of the Walker Basin Restoration Program.

Assets acquired to date include near-ly 28-cubic-feet per second of natural flow decree water rights and more than 2,400 acre feet (AF) of storage water rights; approximately 590 AF of prima-ry ground water rights and 3,700 AF of

supplemental ground water rights; and more than 1,990 acres of land adjacent to the state-owned Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA), includ-ing almost 2 miles of riparian habitat along the main Walker River.

During 2011, a top priority for the program will be to pursue all necessary approvals to change the place, manner and purpose of use of acquired surface water rights in order to maximize flow restora-tion benefits for Walker Lake. Most of the acquired lands will be transferred to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) for restoration and management as ri-parian and upland habitat as part of the MVWMA; and most of the newly-ac-

quired groundwater rights will either be used for stewardship purposes or traded for other assets to benefit the overall pur-

poses and objectives of the program.Other top priorities for 2011 include:

completion of a grant agreement with the Walker River Irrigation District pertaining to the District’s water lease demonstration program;completion of a grant agreement with the city of Yerington pertaining to Yerington Weir sediment removal;initiation of a variety of land steward-ship and water conservation projects; exercise (following amendment) or termination of all remaining inherited option agreements; discussion initiation with other will-ing sellers who have expressed inter-est during the past 12 months.

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Nevada Wildlife – Winter, 2011 3

Nevada Wildlife Federation

Nevada Wildlife Federation is teaming up with National Wildlife Federation to create an advocacy proj-ect in Nevada through a Sportsmen’s Action Network using Internet me-diums. The project’s goal is to unite sportsmen in Nevada and form a pres-ence at the Nevada Legislature and Wildlife Commission through a grow-ing grassroots network.

“By creating and building an action network we will receive more atten-tion and more respect around the state on Sportsmen’s issues,” said Nevada Wildlife Federation Vice President Kevin Cabble. “By uniting sportsmen in Nevada, we will become an effective advocate for wildlife issues and central voice of reason.

“As our Sportsmen’s action net-work membership grows, we will in-crease our capacity to engage NvWF members and our allies in public policy issues at the state level and somewhat at a national level.”

National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is funding the project in part with a mini grant while Nevada Wildlife Federation is using its volun-teers and Web site resources to do the work. Nevada Wildlife Federation, a state affiliate of NWF, was notified of the funding in mid-February.

Project objectives include using www.nvwf.org and the proposed sports-men’s network to enhance regional and national wildlife issues such as raptors and wind power, solar plants and sage-brush (sage-grouse) balance, solar banks and tortoise habitats, and educate people about climate-change legislation.

“The Sportsmen’s Action Network will help build the conservation move-ment in Nevada and build state power, as we will draw in people who have not previously been part of the conserva-tion movement,” Cabble said.

The action network will be used to report on hunting and fishing issues.

“We really want hunters and fish-ermen to get involved,” Cabble said.

save the DateThe multiple-organization/agency sponsored Walker Lake Education Day will be held at Walker Lake’s Sportsman’s Beach on May 7. Activities for this family event include free boat rides; scientific exhibits; children’s and cultural activities. For information call (775) 677-0927 or see www.walkerlake.org.

Escrow closes on Walker Lake water purchases

Nevada State Parks

Valley of Fire State Park is located in Overton, Nev., off Interstate Hwy. 15, 55 miles northeast of

Las Vegas. Entry costs $10 per vehicle with $2 discounts for Nevada residents. At the west entrance you can use cash, check or credit card. At the east entrance next to Lake Mead there is only a self-pay kiosk that will accept cash or check. If you need change or want to use a credit card at the east entrance only, proceed to visitors center.

Programs and hikes may change due to weather and staffing. Visit www.parks.nv.gov for the park’s most up-to-date in-terpretative schedule.

HistoryValley of Fire derives its name from

red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by ex-tensive erosion, have created the present landscape. Other important rock forma-tions include limestones, shales and con-glomerates. Prehistoric users of Valley of Fire included the Basket Maker people and later Anasazi Pueblo farmers from nearby fertile Moapa Valley. The span of approximate occupation has been dated from 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D. Their visits probably involved hunting, food gather-ing and religious ceremonies, although scarcity of water would have limited the

Valley of Fire, a hot spot for Nevada trave1length of their stay. Fine examples of rock art left by these ancient peoples can be found at several sites within the park.

ClimateWinters are mild with temperatures

ranging from freezing to 75 degrees. Daily summer highs usually exceed 100 degrees, and may reach 120 degrees. Summer temperatures can vary widely from day to night. Average annual rain-fall is 4 inches, coming in the form of light winter showers and summer thun-derstorms. Spring and fall are the pre-ferred seasons for visiting the Valley of Fire.

NatureThe area plant community is dominat-

ed by widely spaced creosote bush, burro bush and brittle bush. Several cactus spe-cies, including beaver tail and cholla, are also common. The springtime bloom of such plants as the desert marigold, indigo bush, and desert mallow are often spec-tacular along park roads. Resident birds include the raven, house finch, sage spar-row and roadrunner. Many migrant birds also pass through the park. Most desert animals are nocturnal and not frequently seen by the passing motorist. Many spe-cies of lizards and snakes are common in the park, as well as coyote, kit fox, spotted skunk, black tailed jack rabbit and antelope ground squirrel. The desert tortoise is a rare species and is protected by state law. If you are lucky enough to come across one, please leave this harm-less creature to live in peace in its own environment.

FacilitiesVisitor Information: The visitor cen-

ter provides exhibits on the geology, ecol-ogy and history of the park and nearby region. It is strongly recommended that each visitor make this an early stop after entering the park. Postcards, books and films are on sale for your convenience. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Camping: All campsites are first-come, first-serve. Two campgrounds have

a combined total of 73 units. Campsites are equipped with shaded tables, grills, water and restrooms. A dump station and showers are available.

RV Camping: RV sites with power and water hookups are available. A $10 surcharge is added to the regular camp-ing fee for use of these sites.

Picnicking: Shaded areas with rest-rooms are located at Atlatl Rock, Seven Sisters, the Cabins, near Mouse’s Tank trailhead and White Domes.

Group Area: Three group areas each accommodate up to 45 people. They are available for overnight camping and pic-nicking by reservation only. For informa-tion call the park at (702) 397-2088.

Hiking: Many intriguing hikes are available. Inquire at the visitor center for suggestions on day hikes of varying length and terrain.

Sites of interest:Atlatl Rock: Outstanding examples

of ancient Indian rock art or petroglyphs, including a depiction of the atlatl (at’-lat-l), a notched stick used to throw primi-tive spears. The atlatl was a predecessor to the bow and arrow. The adjacent Atlatl Rock Campground provides a modern restroom and shower building.

Arch Rock: Near Atlatl Rock Campground is the more primitive Arch Rock Campground with its more secluded campsites. A two-mile scenic loop road provides views of some of the Valley’s most interesting rock formations, such as Arch Rock and Piano Rock.

Beehives: Unusual sandstone forma-tions weathered by the eroding forces of wind and water. Nearby are three group camping areas, available by reservation only.

Cabins: Now a picnic area, these his-toric stone cabins were built with native sandstone by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s as a shelter for pass-ing travelers.

Clark Memorial: Historic monu-ment honors a pioneer traveler.

Elephant Rock is accessible via a short trail.

Federation gets grant to build action network


hunting anD Fishing

Nevada Department of Wildlife

February marks the beginning of the end for Nevada’s hunters and anglers because it means their 2010-11 hunting and fishing licenses expired at mid-night Feb. 28. The good news is that they can purchase their 2011-12 licenses now so they won’t have to miss anytime in the field.

Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased at Nevada Department of Wildlife offices (NDOW) in Reno, Elko, Las Vegas and Henderson, or online at www.ndow.org, and at any of the many license vendors located throughout the state. A list of approved license vendors can be found on the NDOW Web site. Nevada’s license year begins March 1 and runs through the last day of February each year.

On most Nevada waters, a fishing license is re-quired for any angler who is 12 years old or older. The exceptions are Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, the Colorado River, Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake, all interstate wa-ters.

At Tahoe and Topaz, a license is required for anglers who are 16 years of age or older. On Mead, Mohave and the Colorado River, a fishing license is required for an-glers who are 14 years of age or older.

A hunting license is required for any person who is 12 years old and older and hunts game birds or game mammals in Nevada. People born after Jan. 1, 1960 must successfully complete a Hunter Education course before than may purchase a hunting license. NDOW of-fers a variety of license and pricing options, a full list of possibilities is available online at www.ndow.org. So too is a list of available Hunter Education classes.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) pro-tects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and pro-motes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing or combination li-cense.

2012 hunting, fishing licenses now available


Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) Game wardens seek help to solve a criminal case of eight deer shot in Voltaire Canyon near Carson City, Nev. Two rewards have been offered for information that would help solve the crime.

Operation Game Thief (OGT) Citizens’ Board has offered a $4,000 reward. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust has offered a $2,500 reward.

“A lot of people in the community are right-fully outraged by this senseless poaching,” said Rob Buonamici, NDOW chief game warden.

Game wardens discovered a dead buck on Jan. 12, and tracked the trails of seven other injured deer in the Voltaire Canyon area.

Because of timing, conditions and terrain, game wardens were not able to track the fate of the other deer, but it’s clear from the evidence at the scene that many more were shot.

“We’re looking for one good tip to help us catch

the person who did this,” Buonamici said. “These ani-mals belong to everyone in the state, and the public should be outraged at the needless waste of resources.

“In a case like this, some member of the public who maybe doesn’t even realize they have the right piece of information we need.”

A game warden was on routine patrol in early January when he discovered the first buck, shot and left to waste.

Upon further investigation, the game warden dis-covered the trail of at least seven other deer that were shot.

Due to timing and rough terrain, the game war-den was unable to find the other carcasses, but inves-tigators spent five days covering the shooting area of more than 4 square miles. The evidence indicated that the deer were likely shot by the same person from the same location.

Several deer were found shot in the vicinity last year. Concerned people with information can contact Operation Game Thief at (800) 992-3030. Callers can remain anonymous.

By Joe DoucetteNevada Department of Wildlife

While it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to catch a fish, it obviously helps to be one to break a 39-year-old state record for the largest rainbow trout ever caught in Nevada. Elko angler Mike Mott, who has worked as a rocket scientist, caught the 16-pound, 8-ounce behe-moth on Feb. 10 at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). It measured 30 1/2 inches long and its girth, according to Mott, is about 20 inches.

The previous record, caught by Mike Soskin at Lake Mohave on Dec. 16, 1971, weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 31 1⁄2 inches long. The record goes by weight, and Mott’s fish beats the old record by 4 ounces.

“I was fishing a stonefly nymph under a floating line in the oxbow behind the Gallagher Fish Hatchery, when I felt a tug,” said Mott in a recent interview. “At first I thought I had a snag, but once I started stripping in the line, I knew it was going to be fun.”

This isn’t the first big fish Mike has caught in the collection ditch at the refuge, having caught a 10-pounder the week before with a gold ribbed hare’s ear. On this day, when the hare’s ear wasn’t producing, he switched to the stonefly nymph which he had tied him-self the night before.

“It was exciting. The reel was screaming, I was screaming, and two guys that were watching were screaming,” Mike explained with a big grin on his face.

He doesn’t know how long he fought the fish, but says that his arms were cramping and he changed arms several times while fighting the fish.

Mike was also smiling when he complained, “Then my net wasn’t big enough, so I had to get into the very cold water without any waders to land him.”

Mott who is new to fly fishing, having learned less than a year ago, is a graduate of Nevada Department of Wildlife’s (NDOW) fly tying and fly fishing clinics. He caught his first fish on a fly rod in March 2010 and has been working diligently to perfect his craft ever since.

He still goes to NDOW’s fly tying clinics in Elko and recommends that anyone wanting to learn to fly

fish take advantage of the free clinics that NDOW of-fers through their three regional offices.

Mott became a local celebrity after taking his mon-ster rainbow into an Elko grocery store to get it weighed on a certified scale. Many shoppers gathered around while it was being weighed, snapping pictures with their cell phones and sending them off to family and friends.

While he isn’t having it mounted, he is having a replica made. He has also given NDOW permission to have replicas made and they will be hanging in the state headquarters in Reno and the eastern region headquar-ters in Elko.

“I put the fish in the smoker after NDOW confirmed that it was a state record, and we got plenty of pictures and measured it,” said Mott. “It was very good, but an awful lot of fish to eat.”

Ruby Lake NWR is also home of the tiger trout state record caught by Brian Howard in 1998, with a weight of 13 lbs. and 13 oz. Over the past two years at least seven trout weighing more than 10 pounds have been caught in the collection ditch between January and April.

Elko angler breaks 39-year-old record for rainbow trout

courtesey Nevada Department of WildlifeMike Mott of Elko, Nev., broke the 1971 Nevada record for rainbow trout with this 16-pound, 8 oz. fish from Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Eight deer shot illegally near Carson City, rewards offered for help in finding suspects

From NWF on Page 81944: The phrase “environmental impact statement”

is used (perhaps for first time) at NWF annual meet-ing in Chicago, where a resolution is passed calling for analysis of projects that will affect wildlife or environ-ment before construction begins. South Dakota affiliate plays key role in creation of a state program earmarking nonresident hunting fees for habitat acquisition.

1945: Federation begins producing Conservation News, its first monthly publication. Initial issue focuses on need for national antipollution legislation.

1946: NWF releases report on water pollution prob-lems created by the synthetic rubber industry. It launches the Legislative Report Service to keep affiliates and other leaders informed.

1947: Acclaimed wildlife artist Walt Weber becomes art director of the Federation’s stamp program. NWF begins selling its first nature-related merchandise.

1948: NWF’s growing educational effort leads to publication of a series of landmark books, including Botany and Our Social Economy. The Federation also begins field service training programs for its 30 state af-filiates to help make the groups more effective.

1949: NWF hires its first full-time executive direc-tor, Richard Borden.

© National Wildlife Federation 2011. Reprinted with permission.



The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) held its annual fish stocking coordination meeting in early January to finalize stocking numbers for calendar years 2011 and 2012. Approximately 1,212,000 fish will be stocked in throughout Nevada’s three regions, (eastern, southern and western) in 2011 and 1,172,000 in 2012, with nearly 96 percent stocked as “catchables” (8-10”).

While most of the fish stocked are rainbow trout (942,500), the agency also stocks Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (77,000), Tiger Trout (13,000), Brown Trout (114,800) and Bowcutts (64,800). The majority of the fish (68 percent) are stocked into lakes and reservoirs, with the remainder stocked into urban ponds, as well as a number of rivers and streams.

NDOW operates three hatcheries and one rearing station. However, since the discovery of quagga mus-sels in 2007, as well as the unprecedented drought con-ditions on the Colorado River, NDOW’s Lake Mead Hatchery has been closed.

Since the closure of Lake Mead Hatchery, fish for the southern region have been reared primarily at Mason Valley Hatchery in Yerington, as well as through a co-operative agreement with Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery (WBNFH), a federal facility on the Arizona side of Lake Mohave.

However, this cooperative agreement will end April 1, 2011, and will not be renewed. Mason Valley and NDOW’s other facilities are already at maximum pro-duction capacity and cannot replace the fish that had been reared at WBNFH.

Therefore, the agency has made the decision to no longer stock Lake Mead and Lake Mohave with trout beginning in fall, 2011. However, the urban ponds in Clark County, as well as reservoirs on the Key Pittman and Kirch Wildlife Management Areas will continue to be stocked. In addition to these areas, a number of new

Nevada finalizes fish stocking plans for next two yearsLake Mead and Lake Mohave stocking will end until south hatchery can build system to remove invasive mussels Discovered in January 2007 at Lake Mead, non-

native quagga mussels have caused quite a stir in Southern Nevada. Similar to its cousin, the zebra mussel, the quagga mussel is described by scientists as one of the most invasive species worldwide and can live at depths of nearly 400 feet.

Sometimes referred to as “bio-logical pollution,” species like the quagga mussel can cause irreversible harm to the environ-ment. Quaggas pose a serious threat to the ecosystem as well as the water intake sys-tem located at Lake Mead.

Quaggas filter up to a li-ter of water per day, impacting the food chain of native fish and other aquatic wildlife by decreasing the food supply. They also clog and restrict water flow in pipes of all sizes, requiring costly upkeep and repairs. To make matters worse, they multiply at an alarming rate. A single fe-male quagga can produce more than 1 million eggs in a spawning season.

Identification: Dreissena rostriformis bugensis is a small freshwater bivalve mollusk that exhibits many different morphs; yet, there are several diag-nostic features that aid in identification. The quagga mussel has a rounded angle, or carina, between the ventral and dorsal surfaces. The quagga also has a convex ventral side that can sometimes be distin-

guished by placing shells on their ventral side; a quagga mussel will topple over, whereas a zebra mussel will not. Overall, quaggas are rounder in shape and have a small byssal groove on the ventral side near the hinge. Color patterns vary widely with black, cream or white bands; a distinct quagga morph has been found that is pale or completely white in

Lake Erie. They usually have dark concentric rings on the shell and are paler in color near the hinge. If quaggas are viewed

from the front or from the ven-tral side, the valves are clearly

asymmetrical. Considerable phe-notypic plasticity of all morphologi-

cal characteristics is known in dreis-senid species and this may be a result of

environmental factors, meaning the same genotype may express different pheno-

types in response to environmental conditions. Size: Reaching sizes up to 4 cm.Preventing infestation:

Perhaps the best way to control the quagga mus-sel is through prevention. The quagga moves from one body of water to another in bait buckets or bilge water or by attaching themselves to boat hulls and trailers.

With the goal of preventing the further spread of the quagga, agencies across the West are working to establish protocols for cleaning boats and other ma-rine equipment and increase public awareness.

Sources: Southern Nevada Water Authority and U.S. Geological Survey

fishing waters are planned in 2012 for the southern re-gion. These include urban fishing ponds in Beatty and Pahrump as well as trout stocking in Upper Pahranagat Lake.

NDOW plans to bring the Lake Mead Hatchery back into production in the future remain in effect. Planning

and design for a new system to provide cooler water from the deeper waters of Lake Mead and a filtration system to remove quagga mussels could be completed by 2012 if funding is approved. Pending future funding availability pipeline construction could begin shortly thereafter.

Quagga mussel Facts

The scourge of the West, the lowly carp. Put in the same category as the black widow spider, the mosquito and the rattlesnake. Something to be killed on sight.

In Europe, the carp is highly re-vered as a prize game fish. They prac-tice catch-and-release and some are even named such as “Old George.” In Nevada, the carp was brought out and stocked by our then Fish Commissioner, H.G. Parker in the 1880s.

Parker writes, “Carp, as food fish, have no superior; when our streams are stocked with them, the people of the state will possess as grand a luxury as found in the waters of those States celebrated for the abundance and variety of their fish; besides, carp should be as plentiful to our people as chicken is to the table of the prudent farmer.”

The carp as a food source never re-ally caught on, and for the most part, they are a nuisance and get in the way of good fisheries. We are always trying to chemically treat them, eliminating them from the system. Highly produc-tive, they produce up to 100,000 eggs per pound of fish. A 10-pound carp may have 1 million eggs. Broadcast spawners, the eggs have a low surviv-ability, but persevere by their sheer

numbers. Opportunistic feeders, they root around on the bottom of lakes and reservoirs, mudding up the water and decreasing lake productivity. They also displace other fish by their sheer num-bers.

So what good are they? Well, for one thing they’re fun to catch on a fly. Mike Sevon, retired NDOW biologist, has given talks on catching carp and several members of the Truckee River Flyfishers have had the pleasure. Called

the freshwater bonefish, they are usu-ally fished for by sight, casting a small nymph or wooly bugger to them as they feed along the surface. They’re actually fairly spooky, and a slight wind will usually scare them away. Another tech-nique Mike taught me, was to tie a small nymph 8 inches below a dropper fly and cast to feeding slurping carp. When the strike indicator fly goes down, set the hook. Their lips have the same consis-tency as a tire, so make sure your hooks are sharp.

Around Reno, carp can be found at Virginia Lake, Sparks Marina Park Pond, the lower Truckee River (below Reno), Steamboat Slough, Lahontan Reservoir and the numerous tail-end reservoirs around Fallon such as Indian Lakes and Scheckler Reservoir.

Carp are very strong fighters and a lot of fun to catch. As Mike Sevon told me once, “What other Nevada fishing can produce two 5-pound fish, a 7-pounder and an 8-pounder in one morning of fish-ing?” So, when July rolls around and the trout fishing is slow, give the lowly carp a try?

Mark Warren is Chief of Fisheries for Nevada Department of Wildlife. This article first appeared in Truckee River Fly fisher’s Angler’s Line.

Fisherman turns lemons into lemonade with the lowly carp

courtesy Nevada Department of WildlifeJustin Edland holds the Nevada state record for carp. This one was taken from the Truckee River in May, 2005 weighing 34 pounds 10 ounces, 37.75 inches long.



The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western) are seeking public comment on an environmental im-pact statement (EIS) that will evaluate the potential impacts of constructing the TransWest Express 600-kilovolt direct current (DC) transmission line proj-ect, which is proposed to cross portions of Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

The project is proposed by TransWest Express, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Corporation. The BLM and Western are jointly lead-ing the project. The announcement was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 4, and initiates a 90-day public scoping period.

TransWest Express, LLC, proposes to construct an extra-high-voltage overhead transmission line from south-central Wyoming through Utah and northwest-ern Colorado terminating at the Marketplace Hub in southern Nevada – a distance of about 725 miles. The project would also include two AC/DC converter sta-tions, a fiber optic network communications system, and two ground electrode facilities.

The proposed line would transmit up to 3,000 megawatts per year of electricity generated pri-marily from planned renewable energy facilities in Wyoming to respond to anticipated load growth in the southwestern United States. Alternative routes identified so far would affect federal, state and pri-vate lands. Authorization of this proposal may result in the amendment of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and BLM land and resource management plans.

The BLM and Western expect to host 23 open-house meetings at various locations in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada along the proposed cor-ridor to provide the public an opportunity to review the proposal and project information.

Staff and project proponents will be available at each open house to explain project details and gather information from interested individuals or groups. Through the scoping process, the BLM and Western expect to gather public input on resources and issues that should be addressed in the EIS, including route alternatives that should be analyzed in detail in the EIS and sources of information that may be used in the environmental analysis. The USFS and other co-operating agencies are expected to participate in the public meetings.

Comments may be made to the BLM and Western during the open house meetings, via the project e-mail address ([email protected]) or in writing to Bureau of Land Management, Attention Sharon Knowlton, Project Manager, TransWest Express Project, P.O. Box 20678, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003. Facsimile com-ments will not be accepted. Project information and documents will be available on the project Web site: www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/HighDesert/transwest.html.

To ensure that written comments and informa-tion are fully considered during the preparation of the Draft EIS, the BLM must receive them by close of business on April 4, 2011. All comments and submis-sions will be considered in the environmental analy-sis process.

For information or to have your name added to the mailing list, contact Sharon Knowlton, Project Manager, (307) 775-6124; or at the e-mail or mailing address above.

BLM seeks public input on power line


Washington, D.C., – A secretarial order issued Dec. 22 by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar restores balance and clar-ity to the management of public lands by establish-ing a common-sense pol-icy for the protection of backcountry areas where Americans recreate, find solitude and enjoy the wild. Secretarial Order 3310 di-rects the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), based on the input of the public and local communities through its existing land management planning process, to des-ignate appropriate areas with wilderness characteristics under its jurisdiction as “Wild Lands” and to manage them to protect their wilderness values.

“Americans love the wild places where they hunt, fish, hike and get away from it all, and they expect these lands to be protected wisely on their behalf,” said Salazar. “This policy ensures that the lands of the American public are protected for current and future generations to come.”

The BLM, which manages more land than any other federal agency, has not had any comprehensive nation-al wilderness policy since 2003, when the wilderness management guidance in the agency’s handbook was re-voked as part of a controversial out-of-court settlement between then-Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, the state of Utah, and other parties.

“The new Wild Lands policy affirms the BLM’s au-thorities under the law – and our responsibility to the American people – to protect the wilderness character-istics of the lands we oversee as part of our multiple use mission,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey.

Abbey said that Secretarial Order 3310 fills an im-portant land management need for the public and the agency. “Wild Lands,” which will be designated through a public process, will be managed to protect wilderness characteristics unless or until such time as a new pub-lic planning process modifies the designation. Because the “Wild Lands” designation can be made and later modified through a public administrative process, it dif-fers from “Wilderness Areas,” which are designated by Congress and cannot be modified except by legislation, and “Wilderness Study Areas,” which BLM typically must manage to protect wilderness characteristics un-til Congress determines whether to permanently protect them as Wilderness Areas or modify their management.

Secretarial Order 3310 also directs the BLM to

maintain a current in-ventory of public lands with wilderness char-acteristics, which will contribute to the agen-cy’s ability to make bal-anced, informed land management decisions, consistent with its mul-tiple-use mission.

“Simple principles guide this common-sense policy,” said Salazar. “First: the

protection of wild lands is important to the American people and should therefore be a high priority in BLM’s management policies. Second: the public should have a say in designating certain public lands as ‘Wild Lands’ and expanding those areas or modifying their manage-ment over time. And third: we should know more about which American lands remain wild, so we can make wise choices, informed by science, for our children, grandchildren and future generations.”

“We are charting a new course for balanced land management which allows the BLM to take into account all of the resources for which it is responsible through a transparent, public land use planning process,” said Abbey.

The Secretarial Order does not change the man-agement of existing Wilderness Study Areas pending before Congress or congressionally designated units of the National Wilderness Preservation System. BLM may also still develop recommendations, with public in-volvement, regarding possible Congressional designa-tion of lands into the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The BLM manages 245 million acres in the United States, including iconic American landscapes like Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado, the Headwaters Forest Reserve’s ancient redwood forest in California, and the Iditarod National Historic Trail in Alaska. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 11 western states and Alaska.

BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-sur-face mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and produc-tivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

BLM accomplishes its mission by managing activi-ties such as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, min-eral development and energy production, and by con-serving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

Interior restores ‘wild lands’ protections

by Bob ConradNevada Division of Environmental Protection

CARSON CITY – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Director Leo Drozdoff an-nounced in early January the appointment of Dr. Colleen Cripps to lead the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP).

Dr. Cripps has been with NDEP for 21 years. Currently serving as the Acting Administrator, she pre-viously served as the Deputy Administrator responsi-ble for the agency’s Air, Waste and Federal Facilities Bureaus and, prior to that, held the position of Chief of the Bureau of Air Quality. Dr. Cripps has served on numerous boards including the National Association of Clean Air Agencies’ (NACAA) Executive Board from 2003-2009 and as NACAA President from 2008-2009; she also served as a member of the Executive Committee and Vice-President of the Western States Air

Resources Council (WESTAR); represented Nevada on the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) and was one of Nevada’s observers to the Western Climate Initiative.

“I am pleased to be asked to serve as administrator of the Division of Environmental Protection,” Cripps said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to continue my career working to protect the health of both the public and the environment. But, above all else, I am honored to be working with the dedicated and professional staff of NDEP.”

“Dr. Cripps has served Nevada and NDEP well as she navigates the complex scientific and technical world of environmental protection with skill and profes-sionalism. I look forward to her leadership at NDEP,” Drozdoff stated.

A native Nevadan born in Ely, Dr. Cripps holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and a M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno.

New administrator named to head state Division of Environmental Protection

“Americans love the wild places where they hunt, fish, hike and get away from it all, and

they expect these lands to be protected wisely

on their behalf.” – Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar



A perpetual conservation easement was signed Dec. 22, 2010, to protect, preserve and enhance the conservation values of the Silver Saddle Ranch, Prison Hill Recreation Area, and certain public lands along the Carson River. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office, acting through the Secretary of the Interior signed the agreement with Carson City. Affected local interest groups involved in the development of the Conservation Easement included Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch, The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club.

Congress directed transfer of Silver Saddle Ranch and public lands along the Carson River, including the existing Prison Hill Recreation Area (approximately 3,604 acres), subject to the reservation of a conserva-tion easement, to Carson City under the authority of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11, Section 2601).

“The Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch (SSR) were extremely pleased when Senator Reid approved the idea of a conservation easement, the Lands Bill passed, and the Conservation Easement was signed,” said Nancy Santos, Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch president.

Though the actual transfer of these lands is not an-ticipated until sometime in 2011, when the transfer does occur, Carson City may use the property for undevel-oped open space, passive recreation, customary agri-cultural practices and wildlife protection. Carson City may construct and maintain trails and trailhead facili-ties, conduct fuels reduction projects, maintain or re-construct any improvements on the property that were in existence on March 31, 2009, and allow the use of motorized vehicles on designated roads, trails and areas in the south end of Prison Hill.

BLM and Carson City have mutually agreed that the conservation values also include: protection of natural resources; preservation of the property for solitude and nature observation; maintaining the green irrigated pas-tures and hay fields of Silver Saddle Ranch; protecting scenic resources including the preservation of dark skies; protecting cultural resources including the historic struc-tures at Silver Saddle Ranch; promoting environmental education and interpretation; allowing public access; promoting the quality of life, safety and tourism.

Carson City will have one year from the signing of the conservation easement to prepare a management plan in consultation with the public for the properties to be transferred from BLM.

“Currently, Carson City is working on the devel-opment of the Management Plan with input from com-munity stakeholders, including Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch,” Santos said. “It will be a great accomplishment for us to see SSR and it’s multiple resources preserved in perpetuity.”

Development of the conservation easement was guided by the results of a planning and design char-rette completed in December, 2008, entitled “Creating a Community Vision: Silver Saddle Ranch and the Carson River.” The planning and design charrette was imple-mented by Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch with assis-tance from the River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service. BLM and Carson City were also cooperators in this planning event.

Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch contributed to this story.

By Liz WarnerNevada Natural Resources Conservation Service

RENO, Nev. – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White announced increased funding to protect sage-grouse populations and habitat in Nevada and 10 other western states.

“USDA will continue to provide significant re-sources to enhance and preserve sage-grouse habitat and sustain working ranches and farms in the western United States,” White said in early December. “The Sage-grouse Initiative (SGI) supports both sustain-able ranching and healthy sage-grouse populations by focusing on improving rangeland conditions.”

According to White, Nevada will receive $6.5 million for the SGI this fiscal year. NRCS will also provide funding in the 10 other states where sage-grouse are found – California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Agricultural producers in these states can apply for financial assistance to im-prove sage-grouse habitat or to reduce threats, such as habitat fragmentation, to the birds.

“This is a significant program that meets a dual purpose: conservation of an iconic species and im-proved management of grazing lands,” said Bruce Petersen, NRCS Nevada state conservationist. “We are finding that practices implemented to improve sage-grouse habitat are the same practices required to maintain healthy grazing land for livestock.”

Signups for the initiative are continuous and pro-ducers can apply at any time. An application cut-off date for this fiscal year has not yet been determined.

NRCS launched SGI in 2010 making $18.5 mil-lion in financial assistance available to over 225 pro-gram participants in sage-grouse population centers. Significant progress toward sage-grouse conserva-tion was made including:

Producers marked or removed 180 miles of wire fencing near leks, areas where sage-grouse carry out display and courtship behavior. This prevented be-tween 800-1,000 sage-grouse collisions, which is equal to all male sage-grouse counted on leks annu-ally in California, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington in the U.S. and Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.

Producers managed 640,000 acres of grazing lands to improve sage-grouse hiding cover during nesting season. This additional grass cover is ex-pected to increase sage-grouse populations between 8 percent and 10 percent.

Producers removed 40,000 acres of encroaching conifer from otherwise suitable sage-grouse habitat in key breeding, brood-rearing and wintering sites.

Additionally, NRCS worked successfully with the Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service to provide certainty to landowners who enroll in NRCS programs to benefit sage-grouse. This action protects landowners from increased regulation should the bird be listed under the Endangered Species Act in the fu-ture.

Sage-grouse is a ground-dwelling bird native to the sagebrush steppe ecosystem of the American West. The birds, found at elevations ranging from 4,000 to more than 9,000 feet, depend on sagebrush for cover and food.

For several decades, sage-grouse populations and habitat have been declining.

For application assistance or more information about the SGI, contact your local USDA Service Center. Nevada Service Center offices can be found online at www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov.

Conservation area gains ground Agency announces increased funding for Nev. sage-grouse

by Nancy Santos/Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch A conservation easement of 3,604 acres of land along the Carson River was signed in late December to transfer Bureau of Land Management Lands to the Silver Saddle Ranch near Carson City, Nev.

silver saDDle ranch

ranch FactsThe Bureau of Land Management (BLM) completed a land exchange with Perma-Built Homes and the American Land Conservancy in 1997, to transfer the private Silver Saddle Ranch into public ownership. The ranch, located in southeastern Carson City off Carson River Road, encompasses 702 acres along the banks of the Carson River.

Once proposed for residential development, the ranch is considered a key piece of property for maintaining open space and recreational and educational opportunities while preserving part of the natural Carson River environment. It is a great place to hike, bird-watch and soak up a rural experience.

Silver Saddle Ranch is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorized vehicle access is restricted to designated roads. Water and restrooms are available.

– source: BLM


Las Vegas, NV – More than 1,000 peo-ple convened, either in person or online, at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 3-6, 2011, for an historic first gathering of the horse industry.

Animal scientists; wildlife experts; representatives from more than a dozen tribes; government agencies; business development consul-tants; equine academics and veterinari-ans; horse rescue owners; range manage-ment professionals; pet animal groups; ranchers; land managers; horse breeders; trainers; marketers, from United States, Canada and Mexico; attorneys; advo-cates; and just plain concerned citizens – all met in one room to deal with diffi-cult issues surrounding the management, sustainability and economic viability of horses and horseback cultures.

More than 209 people were on site in Las Vegas, and another 879 unique view-ers on the webcast who collectively put in an amazing 909 hours of live viewing from remote ranches and urban centers.

The summit caught the attention of media across the country from the Wall Street Journal to Los Angeles Times. It became an opportunity for ordinary horse enthusiasts, who are struggling to make a living and raise their children, to tell their story in what could once again be a healthy, viable, horseback culture.

The primary objective of Dave Duquette, President of United Horsemen, Tracee Bentley, Legislative Affairs for the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, and Sue Wallis (both a leader of United Horsemen, United Organizations of the Horse, and a Wyoming rancher and legislator) was to create a forum where voices of the horse world – and those deeply concerned about the health of lands where horses both wild and do-mestic are managed – could be heard by a misinformed and emotionally manipu-lated American public.

“We hoped that out of the event would

arise a broad-based coalition with the ca-pacity and resources to drive forward the legislative and regulatory changes neces-sary for a restoration of a viable, sustain-able equine industry, an end to the unnec-essary suffering of horses, and protections for the ecological balances so necessary on not only federal, but tribal, state and private lands for free-roaming horses and native wildlife and forage to thrive sus-tainably,” Wallis said. “The coalition we hoped for, arose almost spontaneously from the energy created at the summit, and is quickly coalescing into a power-ful and convincing educational force for the new Congress in Washington, D.C., state legislative sessions just now open-ing, and the American people.”

Featured speakers included former U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm; Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director, Bob Abbey; renowned animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin; and National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Regional Executive Director Steve Torbit.

Abbey made clear that he has been

willing to meet with diverse stakeholders on wild horse management issues. Rec-ognizing that some organizations take conflicting positions on what is the best way to manage wild horses and burros, Abbey said that is to be expected and welcomed in a nation known for free and open dialogue on controversial issues.

Abbey said that the Department of Interior and BLM have already removed from the discussion any consideration of the euthanasia of healthy wild horses and the unlimited sale of older horses, even though these legal authorities exist un-der the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (as amended).

Having taken the position that slaugh-ter is not a viable or acceptable manage-ment option, Abbey focused his remarks on the present and future course of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, which the BLM is committed to putting on a sustainable track, as called for by the Government Accountability Office in a report issued in October, 2008.

Additionally, Abbey noted that two

recent reports – one by four independent, credentialed equine professionals and one by the Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General – have concluded, without any ideological or political bias, that the BLM’s gathers of wild horses are conducted in a humane manner. The Inspector General determined that the BLM’s gathers are “justified” and found that the agency “is doing its best to per-form a very difficult job.”

NWF’s Dr. Steve Torbit spoke to the issue of the ecology of feral horses. His science-based presentation highlighted both the history of feral horses and the ecology behind their increased forage abilities.

“The concerns for the wildlife com-munity as it pertains to feral horses above the current appropriate management level is great,” Torbit said. “Increased forage removal, the fouling of water sources, trampling of vegetative cover and de-creased habitat availability all have mea-surable impacts to mule deer, elk, sage grouse and other wildlife.”

Torbit’s final points included:• Unite livestock, wildlife and na-

tive plant advocates to mandate BLM manage horses within appropriate forage allocations and remove as indicated by management prescriptions.

• Horse advocates repeatedly call for “wild” classification and, if they suc-ceed, place horses under the authority of state wildlife agencies, with all appropri-ate management authorities and tools.

• Call for a National Academy of Science determination on the status of feral horses (“feral” vs. “wild”).

• Propose a categorization of feral horses as a “cultural resource,” not a natural resource with appropriate man-agement (removal) to ensure no loss of plant, wildlife and livestock resources.

The summit was organized by the United Horsemen. For more information, see www.United-Horsemen.org.

Lew Carpenter is the Regional Representative for National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Center out of Boulder, Colo.

Bigstockphoto.comWild horses on public lands like the ones pictured above foraging in the Nevada desert, was just one of the topics discussed by a diverse group of people at a horse summit in Las Vegas in early January.

Lew Carpenter

Summit gives voice to diverse interests in horses

Editor’s note: As National Wildlife Federation (NWF) celebrates its 75th year, Nevada Wildlife Federation (NvWF) celebrates with them. NWF’s advocates brought the organization’s founding principles to Nevada forming a state affiliate in 1951. This partnership has continued for 60 years. “Nevada Wildlife” will take a look back over the next year, starting with the 1930s and 1940s. Look for the 1950s and 1960s in the next issue of “Nevada Wildlife” or go to www.nwf.org for the entire story.

by Mark WexlerNational Wildlife Federation

There was real genius behind J. N. “Ding” Darling’s idea of uniting an-glers, hunters, hikers and members of garden and conservation clubs through-out the country. By doing so, he hoped to give them more clout with Congress, and history has demonstrated he was right. The following chronology high-lights just a sampling of NWF’s notable moments and accomplishments during the past 75 years:1930s: Big ideas, empty pockets

1936: General Wildlife Federation is formed to “make effective progress in restoring and conserving the vanishing wildlife resources of a continent.”

1937: New organization is instru-mental in passage of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-

Robertson), which for the first time provided funds for many wildlife pro-grams. NWF annual meeting in St. Louis stresses the imminent need to clean up our nation’s polluted waters.

1938: Name is changed to the National Wildlife Federation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims the first National Wildlife Restoration Week. “Ding” Darling paints 16 differ-ent animals for first sheet of NWF con-servation stamps.

1939: David Aylward succeeds Darling as president. Noted field guide artist Roger Tory Peterson paints 16 species of birds for NWF stamp sheets, which generate contributions to help keep the young organization afloat.1940s: Fledgling group expands

1940: Famed wildlife explorer Osa Johnson chairs Wildlife Restoration Week. NWF produces Save America,

a radio program that airs regularly on more than 350 stations in 45 states.

1941: NWF creates Conservation Information Service to keep pub-lic abreast of pending legislation in Congress. Federation publishes a se-ries of education booklets for primary school students. For the first time, the organization finishes the year in the black financially.

1942: At NWF’s annual meeting, delegates vigorously oppose a proposed plan to extend waterfowl shooting sea-son and use of live birds as decoys. The Federation publishes The Foundations of Conservation Education, a book out-lining the challenges of teaching chil-dren about resource issues.

1943: Organization receives tax-ex-empt status as a not-for-profit education-al institution.

See NWF on page 4

national WilDliFe FeDeration

75 years: NWF

looks back

paid permit #310 return service requested nevada …death valley; the tahoe rim trail; sierra nevada...

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