Special Place: Home Camp

Second-largest Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act acquisition conserves valuable wildlife habitat in northern Washoe County

Feb. 22, 2010 -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed the purchase of the Home Camp ranch located in northern Washoe County in the vicinity of the Wall Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA). The Nevada Land Conservancy nominated Home Camp in Round 7 of SNPLMA, and assisted BLM from the beginning to successfully complete the acquisition.

At 14,824 acres, this wildlife-rich area is the second largest land acquisition made under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) program. The largest acquisition was 17,173 acres in and around the Granite Range and Wall Canyon north of Gerlach, completed in August 2008 and also nominated by Nevada Land Conservancy.

"The public benefits include protection for specially designated species like the greater sage grouse, Wall Canyon sucker, California big horn sheep, and pika," said Craig Schriber, Board Chair of Nevada Land Conservancy, "not to mention significantly better access for hiking, hunting, birdwatching, and other recreational activities," he continued. Nevada Land Conservancy, an independent nonprofit land trust organization, was founded in 1998 to protect critical open space, wildlife habitat, water resources, working landscapes, and recreational access for the public.

"We are particularly thrilled with our ability to increase public access through this acquisition," said Alicia Reban, of the Nevada Land Conservancy. "BLM can also do a much better job of managing the resources for wildlife. The springs, wet meadows, and streams like the headwaters of Mountain View Creek that are part of this acquisition, will allow BLM to maintain the high quality of the habitat," Reban added.

"This is precisely the kind of acquisition that we had in mind when the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act was passed in 1998," said former Senator Richard Bryan, one of the authors of the original legislation. "It's an outstanding example of how a successful public-private partnership can benefit the land and the people of Nevada," said Bryan.

"Nevada has such a rich, natural heritage," said Senator John Ensign, who was the original co-sponsor of the SNPLMA legislation while serving in the House of Representatives.   "The Home Camp acquisition is a great example of this, with its abundant wildlife, historic sites and water sources.  There was a great deal of public support for this project, particularly from the sportsman's and conservation groups.  This is the type of acquisition I envisioned when I authored the SNPLMA legislation.  I'm pleased to see it completed."

The acquisition has significantly increased publicly-managed riparian and wetland sites in northern Washoe County. These riparian and wetland sites represent an estimated 10 percent of all wetland and riparian sites north of Gerlach. Deep rim-bound canyons containing meadow-lined creeks and high mountain slopes with aspen groves are part of the Home Camp acquisition.

Perhaps of most importance are the thousands of acres gained for the Greater sage grouse, for mating and the rearing of young. This species is currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and current interim guidelines call for purchase of habitats for this species. Loss of habitat to development is thought to be one of the greatest causes for its decline. Several miles of stream habitat for the Wall Canyon sucker, a species of fish with special status due to its significant decline, also exist within Home Camp. Both summer and lambing habitat for the California Bighorn sheep as well as critical range for mule deer and pronghorn antelope are also part of the acquisition.

According to BLM staff analysis, there are significant historic and prehistoric sites included in the acquisition. The historic sites are associated with historic cattle and sheep ranching. The prehistoric sites vary in size and complexity according to activities that occurred at the site and include villages, base camps, petroglyphs, and rock shelters.

"Having owned other ranches in the region for the last 39 years, we were well aware of the important historical and natural resources Home Camp contained.  Conveying Home Camp to the BLM to protect for future generations was a perfect fit based on our vision and their mission to manage on behalf of the public," said Todd Jaksick, landowner.

Public access to recreational fishing sites, like Boulder Reservoir, has been improved through this purchase. Boulder Reservoir is stocked by NDOW with rainbow trout and along with dozens of other dispersed hunting, fishing and camping sites would be permanently managed for public use.