Bureau of Land Management

Monday's Democratic Luncheon will kick off Earth Week with a presentation by Clifford Banuelos, Tribal-State Environmental Liaison for the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) with the State of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP). In that role he works with bureaus under NDEP and the Tribes of Nevada to coordinate and consult on environmental projects and concerns. He also works with the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which NDEP falls under.

The featured speaker at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Paul McGrath, who served eight years as Sheriff of Carson City (1987-1995). The principal topic of his remarks will be the reasons for his implacable opposition to the legal marijuana trade.

McGrath moved to Nevada in 1955 and married his wife Darlene in 1961. They had four children, two boys and two girls, three of whom pursued careers in public safety. With their children and grandchildren, Paul and Darlene celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2021.

Carson City Historical Society is proud to present Jonah S. Blustain, BLM Assistant Field Manager, who will present a lecture, "More than a Ghost Town: Cultural Resource Management in the Phantom City of Rhyolite, Nevada" on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.

It was an eventful year around the Carson City region notwithstanding the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's some notable stories that were not pandemic related that happened in 2020.

Wildland fire officials have lifted fire restrictions across much of Nevada’s public lands. The Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Nevada Division of Forestry have rescinded the current 2020 Nevada-wide fire restrictions as of Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020.

The Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department opened three new segments of trail following an Oct. 30 ribbon cutting. These fun new trails are part of a network of non-motorized paths that connect residents with almost 5,000 acres of Carson City Parks and Open Space within the Carson River/Prison Hill area. Future plans include completing a multi-use path around Prison Hill.

When inmate Austin Miller started working with wild horses nearly two years ago at the Stewart Conservation Camp in Carson City, he knew very little about horses.

The Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Nevada Division of Forestry will jointly reduce the current 2020 Nevada-wide fire restrictions, effective for all three agencies by Friday, Oct. 16, until further notice. The reduced fire restrictions will allow campfires in designated campground areas within Nevada.

On September 14, 2020, the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS), Division of Investigations (NDI) Tri-NET Narcotic Task Force conducted an operation with partnering local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The 2020 pine nut harvest season kicks off on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Both agencies are working together to ensure the public is safely harvesting pine nuts and aware of the regulations.

With the Slink Fire burning south of Topaz Lake continuing to grow westward, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest expanded the fire closure area as of Saturday evening. The closure now includes all areas, campgrounds trails and roads at the following areas:

U.S. Bureau of Land Management law enforcement recently removed approximately 45 abandoned vehicles illegally dumped on public land. Many of the vehicles were removed from the Mound House area east of Carson City and north of Reno in the Sun Valley area.

UPDATE 4:24PM: Both fires have been knocked down, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.
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UPDATE 2:42PM: The fire on Como Mountain is around 1/10th of an acre in size with a slow rate of spread, according to Central Lyon County Fire. Firefighting efforts have been turned over to the Nevada Division of Forestry and the Bureau of Land Management.
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Central Lyon Fire crews responded Sunday afternoon to brush fires in the Dayton area and one possible in Stagecoach. One fire near the "D" hill behind Dayton High School was reportedly knocked down just after 2 p.m. and firefighters are continuing to work on a fire located on Como Mountain.

In response to the current severe risk of wildfire, the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Division of Forestry and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest elevated the current fire restrictions on August 7. The heightened restrictions prohibit all open flame campfires on state and federal lands, including within developed campgrounds, day use areas and dispersed camp areas.

In the midst of an unexpected recession and staggering job losses across the country, NV Energy has proposed a massive new transmission infrastructure project that it says will create jobs, boost the economy and help promote renewable energy development.

Patricia Ackerman, Democratic candidate for Nevada Congressional District 2, last Friday stated her vehement opposition to news that President Donald Trump plans to nominate William Perry Pendley to be the Bureau of Land Management Director.

UPDATE: Fire investigators say a semi-tractor trailer truck with a faulty exhaust system is the likely cause of the #NumbersFire south of Gardnerville.

In keeping with its commitment to protect customers and the environment from the threat of natural disasters, NV Energy is working to improve situational awareness of fire and other weather-related threats by installing wildfire cameras and weather stations in natural disaster risk zones across its service territory.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management reports Sunday that the Number Fire, which started Monday night 10 miles southeast of Gardnerville, is 88 percent contained and has burned approximately 18,342 acres.

Nevada Humanities presents A Virtual Salon: Valley of the Sun — the next installment of its bimonthly Salon series — online at facebook.com/nevadahumanities on Friday, July 17, 2020, 6 to 7 p.m.

This virtual conversation will feature a discussion about Sun Valley, Nevada, the history of this region, the stereotypes associated with trailer park culture, and the creativity that is born out of this place.

Firefighters continue to make progress on the Numbers Fire southeast of Gardnerville, reaching 20 percent containment as of Wednesday evening.

Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports Wednesday that the #NumbersFire southeast of Gardnerville has grown to 20,500 acres. The Bureau of Land Management reports a lower figure, 18,000 acres, with 5 percent containment, or a fuel break around the fire.

UPDATE: Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch reports Wednesday that the #NumbersFire southeast of Gardnerville has grown to 20,500 acres. The Bureau of Land Management reports a lower figure, 18,000 acres, with 5 percent containment. The recommended evacuations for the Bodie Flats and Pineview areas have been lifted. Only residents are allowed to these areas.
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UPDATE 3:40PM From Douglas County: The Numbers Fire is 0 percent contained and the fire is estimated to be at 10,000 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the county's Facebook page. Multiple local, state and federal fire agencies are assisting and there are numerous fire apparatus and firefighters working on the scene.

Equipment on scene includes dozers, handcrews and aircraft. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. No injuries have been reported at this time. The Carson Valley Inn and the Holiday Inn Express are serving as evacuation sites. The fire is on Washoe tribe land south of Gardnerville, continues to put up dense smoke. The fire has burned at least 1 home and 10 outbuildings.
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Smoke and haze from the Numbers Fire burning south of Gardnerville will be apparent Tuesday throughout much of the Carson Valley and surrounding areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Sierra Front Team 1 and assigned units made good progress Saturday on the Monarch Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains east of Gardnerville, Nev. The Monarch Fire was reported at 12:41 p.m. on June 24, 2020, and is burning three miles south of Sierra Spirit Ranch in Douglas County.

As of Friday morning, the Monarch Fire in Douglas County near Fish Springs and Pine Nut Road is covering a total of 2,500 acres.

UPDATE 3:39PM: The Monarch Fire is approximately 2,500 acres and currently 5 percent contained. No structures are immediately threatened at this time and the fire is believed to be lightning caused from the previous day. Responding agencies include East Fork, Central Lyon, North Lake Tahoe, North Lyon, Story County, Tahoe Douglas and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection Districts, Reno Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service.
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As of 9:45 a.m. Thursday morning, the fire in the Pine Nuts in Douglas County, which has been named the Monarch Fire, now covers a total of 1,794 acres.

Multiple agencies are on scene to try and control the fire which is thought to have been caused by a lightning strike during yesterday’s thunderstorm.

UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: the acreage of the fire has been updated to 1,600 acres.

UPDATE 4:12 p.m.: the acreage of the fire has been updated to 800 acres.

UPDATE 3:21 p.m.: Douglas County releases the following press release:

Minden, NV- Several agencies including Bureau of Land Management, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, East Fork Fire, the US Forrest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry are currently responding to the Monarch Fire, a Brush fire in the Fish Springs Pinenut Creek Rd area.

No structures are threatened at this time.

No active road closures at this time.

Douglas County is asking the public to please stay aware of your surroundings. The fire is moving possibly East of community. Stay aware and alert in the event of wind changes. The fire is currently estimated to be around 800 acres. (subject to change)

Please Call 911 if you need help. We have sent out a cell phone message to those in the area but you may also receive the alert in other areas in the valley.

As a reminder, please make sure your cell phone is signed up for our reverse 911 emergency alert notification system. You can register your cell phone here.

We will continue to update you as the information becomes available on this page: https://www.douglascountynv.gov/cms/One.aspx

UPDATE 3:10 p.m: a second fire was reported near Topaz Lake.

UPDATE 2:31 p.m.: the acreage of the fire has been updated to 250 acres.

UPDATE 2:19 p.m. the acreage of the fire has been updated to 80 acres.

UPDATE 1:56 p.m.
A press release was issued regarding the fire which states the following:

East Fork fire is currently responding to a Brush fire named the #MonarchFire in the Fish Springs Pinenut Creek Rd area, and is asking the public to please stay aware of your surroundings. The fire is moving possibly East of community. Stay aware and alert in the event of wind changes. Call 911 if you need help. Fish Springs, South and East of the community and covering the Sierra Spirit Ranch. We have sent out a cell phone message to those in the area but you may also receive the alert in other areas in the valley. We will continue to update you as the information becomes available.

East Fork Fire Protection District responded Wednesday afternoon to a brush fire off of Pine Nut Road in Douglas County.

The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is excited to announce that Coeur Rochester, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining, Inc. and Crawford Cattle, LLC have entered into a first-of-its-kind agreement to protect critical sagebrush habitat in Nevada while ensuring continued environmentally sensitive and sustainable mining practices.

Nevada’s public land management agencies remain committed to protecting all residents and visitors through fostering wildfire-resilient landscapes and communities. As the weather warms up and Nevadans spend more time outdoors, land managers are encouraging residents to recreate safely and responsibly to help prevent wildfires, protect lives and property, and preserve our precious natural wonders that we all love.

MASON VALLEY — The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection says work to revitalize and restore the former Anaconda Copper Mine site continues to progress on schedule. The first phase of the project began in August 2019, and all necessary construction work at the site is on track to be complete by 2029.