Open Spaces, Special Places
Clouds over Washoe Valley.
If the view over a pristine ridgeline is important to you, or if you value Nevada's rivers and the streams that feed them…
If you want to see wildlife habitats preserved, or be able to hike to the top of a favorite mountain…
If you see open space as critical to your quality of life…
You are not alone.
The Nevada Land Conservancy is Nevada's “homegrown” non-profit land trust working with landowners and communities to protect and preserve open space for an enhanced quality of life. We invite you to learn more about our mission, the special places we protect, and how to get involved.
NEW!
Hawken Fire Tree Planting, April 26
Dozens of volunteers will plant 300 Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pine trees and 75 shrubs along Alum Creek in the Hawken Fire burn area on Saturday, April 26. Thankfully, the community response has been amazing and we have all the volunteers we need at this point! Special thanks is due to Allstate Insurance for their $500 donation to assist with the drip irrigation system for our newly planted trees, and Lahontan Audubon Society for their $1,675 donation for trees and irrigation costs. Lahontan Audobon Society also provided a volunteer to check burnt trees for signs of nests and use by woodpeckers before being felled, marking and preserving four snags that are important to wildlife.
Check back soon for photos and updates. If our fundraising efforts are successful, we plan on planting another 150 trees and more shrubs in either fall of 2008 or spring of 2009!
Swan Lake Weed Pull on May 3
Silver Lake/Swan Lake Field Trip Held February 23
Nevada Land Conservancy hosted a free field trip Saturday, February 23, 2008 to explore Swan Lake in Lemmon Valley and Silver Lake in Stead as part of its new Conservation Outreach Program. More than 50 folks turned out for the tour, learning about natural and cultural resources associated with these ephemeral lakes, and observing a variety of birds, including the tundra swans for which Swan Lake is named. Local photographer and birder Bob Goodman discussed the creation of Swan Lake as a nature study area and the many birds and animals that rely on its habitat, as well as Silver Lake's. Bob Kautz informed the group of the many archaeological and cultural resources that are still being discovered in the area.
This second trip in Nevada Land Conservancy's "Conservation Outreach Program" was sponsored by grant from REI. The first trip offered a tour of protected lands and cultural resources in Washoe Valley this past July. The Conservation Outreach Program trips are designed to give our community the opportunity to visit protected lands, learn about recreational opportunities, and become involved in the preservation of valuable natural resources.
Photo by Alison Marsh
Hawken Fire Restoration Efforts: Update
Rehabilitation work has begun! Kelley Erosion control completed hydromulching 43 acres immediately behind homes on Friday, November 2, 2007. Washoe County Public Works also completed the construction of two drainage basins to help capture sediment before it flows out of Alum Creek into the Truckee River. Aerial seeding of 350 acres in the upper elevations and aerial mulching of 160 of those acres occured in February 2008. Hazardous trees have been removed, a new flood early-warning system has been installed on Alum Creek, and replanting of 300 Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pines is slated for April 26, 2008.
A big thanks is due Lynda Nelson, Kurt Latipow, and Greg Belancio of Washoe County for coordinating these treatments.
Nevada Land Conservancy is serving as the fiscal agent, principal fundraiser and volunteer coordinator for the Hawken Fire restoration effort. Project partners include Washoe County, the Caughlin Ranch Homeowners' Association, City of Reno, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Fire Safe Council, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. To date, more than $365,000 has been raised for this effort.
Thank you for your support of wildlife, recreation, and water quality!
Hawken Fire Restoration Donors
City of Reno Ward One Neighborhood Advisory Board
City of Reno Ward Five Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board
The Phil and Jennifer Satre Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Sierra Pacific Resources Foundation
The Ranson and Norma Webster Charitable Fund at the Communiy Foundation of Western Nevada
Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation
Gaston & Wilkerson Management Group
...and many donations from generous individuals!
In-kind printing provided by Bear Industries
Goats graze invasive weeds at Swan Lake -- Saturday, May 12 to Thursday, May 31, 2007, and Sunday, July 1 to Monday, July 16, 2007. A herd of more than 100 goats worked to help remove troublesome tall whitetop through coordination by Nevada Land Conservancy. Funds received for this project will also be used to map trends in weed populations, educate the public on invasive weed control, and reseed high priority habitat. Partners in this project include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Truckee Meadows Cooperative Weed Management Group, Washoe County, the City of Reno, City of Sparks, UNR Cooperative Extension, BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Carson Truckee Water Conservation District. Click here to see a video of the goats in action and an interview with Project Director Becky Stock.
Contact us for information about these and other exciting happenings!