TRAIL ADVOCACY ALERT! The proposed Washoe County Lands Bill was released earlier this month. While a lands bill of this type has potential to be a good thing for trail connections and access to public lands, the folks putting this one together have been operating in a bubble and sought very little input from stakeholders. Although there are many concerns with this bill and ways it could be improved, of most concern right now is that City of Reno staff has requested a 158 acre parcel of USFS land near Hoge Road for “Affordable Housing Development”. This parcel includes the Upper Evans Trail as well as UNR DH trail. The Forest Service as well as the City Council member we talked to were unaware of this request by City staff. An outpouring of public comment should be successful in removing this parcel from the bill long before it gets introduced in Congress. Will you take a couple moments to write the City Council? This is item J.2 on Wednesday’s meeting(4/25). There will be more info to come as we find out how requests for parcels from other agencies will affect trails.

Please include your own story of what trails mean to you or thoughts on the Lands Bill, but here are some talking points to use if you wish:

- Please direct staff to remove Parcel 003-020-10 from the proposed Washoe County Lands Bill. This parcel includes several trails of the Peavine network that I enjoy using. Losing this parcel to development could significantly reduce the ability of the public to access the Peavine trails as well as impact several permitted events that use trails on that parcel to connect loops.

-Outdoor recreation is a huge factor in the quality of life and economic growth of this region. The City of Reno and other local entities should be supportive of local trail planning and stewardship efforts rather than making it more difficult.

-Please request Washoe County provide an accurate map of the parcels listed on the "Washoe County Land Transfer Requests" spreadsheet. It is unreasonable to expect a member of the public to look up 120 parcel numbers to provide accurate input on how the transfer of those parcels may affect them.

-Please request that Washoe County staff post a map showing an accurate disposal boundary. Several parcels on the spreadsheet including #003-020-10 are outside of the disposal boundary published. This is very misleading to the public.

Here are the emails of Reno’s council members with commas inserted for your cut-and-paste convenience:
mayor@reno.gov, bobziend@reno.gov, brekhusj@reno.gov, duerrn@reno.gov, delgadoo@reno.gov, mckenziep@reno.gov, jardonn@reno.gov

There are two public meetings this week hosted by Washoe County to introduce the Lands Bill. Tuesday, 4/24 and Thursday, 4/26, both at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on South Virginia Street from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The Washoe County website has some limited information and some poor maps here- www.washoecounty.us/csd/planning_and_development/conservation-act.php ...

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group photo from Johnson Lane Clean up. ...

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Pine Nut Mountains Trail Association shared Rachel Lomeli Photography's photo.

22 hours ago

#carsonvalleyfun #dirtbikers #causephotoshootsarefun #rachellomeliphotography #thingsgotdusty #getdirty #gettheshot #carsonvalleyskies #weliveinNevada #rlphoto ...

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Please see information below, we have launched our updated website, as well as scheduled public meetings for the end of April. I hope you find the information helpful. With the bill still being at a point of proposal and subject to changes, information will be updated on this page as we make said changes and appreciate your time and any input you would like to share with us.

A comprehensive federal lands bill is being proposed for Washoe County, which also goes by the name of Washoe County Economic Development and Conservation Act. The bill includes three distinct components:
Economic Development for the Greater Reno/Sparks area
Names, acreages and maps of federal lands in the northern portion of Washoe County that will be proposed for conservation and the release of the remaining wilderness study areas.
The draft language that accompanies these maps.
For more information or to view the updated proposed maps and bill draft language for you to review please visit our website listed below:
www.washoecounty.us/csd/planning_and_development/conservation-act.php
Washoe County is asking for input on our updated proposal based on the input we have received up to now on the bill.
We ask that you please come to our meetings listed below for information and discussion of the 2 components of the bill and so that we can hear from you and answer questions you may have.
For the economic development portion pleas come Tuesday, April 24. 2018 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center.
For the conservation portion please come Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Convention Center.

Thank you
Jamie
Jamie Rodriguez
Management Analyst- Government Affairs
Washoe County Manager's Office
(775) 328-2010 (office)
JARodriguez@washoecounty.us
1001 E. Ninth Street Reno, NV 89512 ...

Washoe County Economic Development and Conservation Act

washoecounty.us

Lands Bill