natural resources

The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining has set a work session and possible vote for today on the bill that would claim title to all federal lands in the state of Nevada.Chairman Robin Titu...

With Nevada withering in a fourth year of drought, Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday announced formation of a panel of experts to explore a situation creating widespread problems across the nation's most arid state.

The Nevada Drought Forum — composed of state resource agency officials, local water providers, scientists and other experts — is expected to release a list of suggested ways to respond to extended drought by the end of the year.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife named Jennifer Newmark as Wildlife Diversity Division Administrator. The position oversees the division responsible for Nevada’s diverse wildlife heritage through the protection, management and restoration of non-game species.

Newmark has almost 16 years of experience in increasingly responsible roles working with Nevada’s wildlife. In her most recent position, Jennifer served as the Administrator of the Nevada Natural Heritage Program, an independent state agency within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

MD Labs is a growing company in northern Nevada that is maximizing on the skillset of recent University of Nevada, Reno graduate students and creating jobs within the community.

Washoe Lake State Park is offering a variety of events and hikes in April. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, a guided walk through the wetlands and a wildflower walk. Participants will learn about the natural and cultural history of the park and surrounding area.

A competitive, $4.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will integrate research and Extension to help Great Basin and Southwestern tribal communities develop plans, policies and practices for sustainable agriculture and water management.

A Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series recently launched offers a monthly forum for people to discuss and learn more about ways to strengthen communities, make towns safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, and help protect Lake Tahoe’s amazing natural resources.

Lunches are held monthly at ≈. They cover topics ranging from transportation to the economy and the environment, and offer a comfortable, low-key setting for people to discuss and learn about those issues. The events are free to the public.

Washoe Lake State Park is offering three guided hikes in March, including a full moon hike through the sand dunes and along the beach, a Dune Trek/Beach Stroll, and a hike to the overlook on the Deadman’s Creek trail. Registration is required for the full moon hike only.

Jeff Marsolais has been picked to lead the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the U.S. Forest Service, Region 5 officials announced Tuesday. Marsolais has served three years as the deputy forest supervisor for the Lake Tahoe unit. He replaces Nancy Gibson, who retired at the first of the year.

During that time Marsolais served as manager of projects and initiatives involving ski areas and recreation facilities.

Carson Animal Services Initiative (CASI) would like to thank the Stemler Family and the employees of the State of Nevada Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources for their recent donations.

CASI is an all volunteer 501(c)3 dedicated to helping Carson City build a new animal shelter...a place where animals in need can be safe until they find their forever homes, and where people feel comfortable visiting.

With snowpack in the Lake Tahoe Basin at low levels, the U.S. Forest Service is asking snowmobilers to shift their activities to locations with adequate snow coverage, within permitted snowmobile areas. Snowmobile operators should avoid bare dirt and patchy snow and should not ride across streams or over small trees or brush. Operating snowmobiles on too little snow creates ruts in the soil and crushes vegetation.

Jeff Anderson took measure Friday of a meager mountain snowpack that points to an increasing likelihood the Reno-Tahoe area faces a fourth year of drought.

The hydrologist and snow surveyor with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service hiked into the woods near Mount Rose Summit to assess the snowpack at the end of what is normally the most important month when it comes to building the Sierra snowpack.

Gerlach – As we enter a New Year, it’s time for artists to share their thanks in celebrating one of Northern Nevada's icons by applying for spring residencies at the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. Applications will be accepted until March 31.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada will soon receive 60 percent of its allocated settlement amount of more than $1 billion to be used by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection for contaminant cleanup efforts in Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture has updated its organic program forms for the state’s organic producers and handlers and is hosting statewide workshops about the new changes.

All NDA organic certified operations are required to use new forms starting with the 2015 renewals due March 31, 2015.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture is recommending that bird owners in Nevada adopt extra healthy hygiene practices after avian bird influenza was found in Oregon and Washington.

While health risks to humans are low, the United States Department of Agriculture’sAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service is warning people to avoid contact with sick or dead poultry or wildlife.

Nevada State Veterinarian Michael Greenlee said that the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus has been found in birds in various parts of the world but has not been shown to cause any human infection.

Get outdoors and celebrate the New Year with a free guided hike at Spooner Lake State Park. This will be a snowshoe hike if there is adequate snow. The outing will follow the Spooner Lake loop trail, which is a little over two miles. Very little change in elevation makes this trail a family favorite. Park entrance fees are waived for hike participants.

Enjoy the holidays by taking a sleigh ride around Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe or renting snow shoes to get down to the beach. The park restaurant will be open weekends for holiday drinks and snacks. Special meal and sleigh ride packages will be available as well.

‘Before It Was a Park’ History Talk

Gov. Brian Sandoval traveled to Nevada State Park's Spooner Lake near Tahoe on Wednesday to be the first visitor to a Nevada State Park to have his park passport stamped, officially launching a new program.

The Passport Program is designed to challenge and encourage Nevada residents and visitors to experience the diverse natural, cultural and recreational resources that span all of Nevada’s 23 state parks.

Celebrate the holidays with a sleigh ride along the majestic shores of Lake Tahoe at Sand Harbor State Park. The unique handcrafted sleighs, drawn by mighty Belgian draft horses, accommodate four to six people and can be equipped with wheels to operate when there is no snow. Warm blankets and hot chocolate are provided, and caroling is encouraged.

The park restaurant will be open weekends for holiday drinks and snacks, with special meal and sleigh-ride packages available.

The annual Holiday Open House at Silver Saddle Ranch is this Saturday. The public is welcome. The open house is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is a great opportunity to become more familiar with this popular venue for hiking, walking, horseback riding, bird-watching, bicycling and climbing.

The historic Red House will be open for tours.

Firefighter turned administrator Bob Roper has been named Nevada's new Division of Forestry leader, the director of the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Tuesday. He starts the job Feb. 2, 2015.

Roper, now the chairman of the International Association of Fire Chief’s Wildland Fire Policy Committee, was Fire Chief for Ventura County, Calif., for 15 years prior to his retirement in 2012. He worked his way up through the county organization beginning in 1980 as a firefighter.

By suspension vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Nevada Native Nations Lands Act, legislation sponsored by Congressman Mark Amodei of Nevada's second district.

The legislation includes six tribal land measures, as well as a smaller conveyance to the City of Elko. The bill was amended to match the Senate version, which was reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in August.

As the keynote speaker at last month’s National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation in Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell emphasized the central role collaboration must play for America to protect its natural resources, balance economic needs, and address emerging environmental challenges such as climate change.

“We are moving into an era of epic collaboration,” Jewell said, explaining that regional partnerships across jurisdictional boundaries are more important than ever for the federal department that manages 20 percent of our nation’s land.

Environmental groups and the U.S. Forest Service signed a settlement agreement earlier this month that ends a decade-long legal battle over the 2004 Sierra Nevada Framework Forest Plan Amendment, which affects management of the Sierra Nevada national forests in California.

Each year, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection works in partnership with other public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about local water quality issues, water quality protection, and to participate in watershed research.

These field studies provide a unique hands-on opportunity to learn about the Carson River watershed and the natural environment.

The inaugural Nevada Governor’s Conference on Agriculture will be Nov. 13 at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno, the Nevada Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

“I am pleased to announce the very first Nevada Governor’s Conference on Agriculture,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval. “Agriculture is one of Nevada’s leading industries, contributing more than $3 billion to the state’s economy. This includes our rich and diverse agricultural industries, from ranching and farming to all the associated businesses that keep these industries vibrant.”

National Earth Science Week highlights the dynamics of geosciences while encouraging communities to explore the beauty of their surrounding environments. In celebration of the event, the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology will host the 17th Annual Earth Science Week Field Trip, Oct. 11 and 12, 2014. The same field trip will be run on each day, so you have two chances to attend.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is making materials available to participants in the statewide Recycled Art Contest. Recyclables, including plastic bottles, newspapers, aluminum cans and steel cans, may be picked-up in the lobby of the Bryan Building, 901 S. Stewart Street, Carson City, on Friday, Oct. 3. Please call 775-687-9466 to schedule a time to pick-up materials.

Beginning Oct. 1, boat inspections at Lake Tahoe will move to select launch ramps and winter hours will begin. Tahoe RCD inspectors will be stationed at the Cave Rock boat launch from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, weather permitting.

No inspector will be stationed at Lake Forest boat launch from Sept. 8 through Jan. 2, 2015 due to a rehabilitation project. Inspections will be available at Lake Forest once the project is complete. Please call the hotline for availability of alternative inspection options.