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Last Updated 02/23/2010
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By Keith Trout • News Editor, RGJ • February 15, 2008 A map that came forth showing expanded acreage sought for wilderness designation in southwest Lyon County alarmed some of those in attendance at an informational meeting for the Lyon County Lands Bill late last month. The new map apparently showing additional proposed lands for wilderness designation as sought by an environmental/wilderness group was displayed near the end of a meeting of grazing allotment permit holders with Congressional officials and the wilderness representatives. Lyon County Commissioner Phyllis Hunewill brought up the new map at last Thursday's commission meeting, expressing concern with the expanded wilderness area. The issue was brought up later that morning at the Walker River Irrigation District Board meeting (Feb. 7) by Manager Ken Spooner while Director Steve Fulstone, who had attended the meeting, also spoke about the situation. The board directed the manager to draft a resolution expressing the board's stance on the matter and the resolution would be presented for board action at the March meeting (likely on March 7). The prior meeting on Jan. 25 had included grazing allotment permit holders within the prior proposed wilderness designation, while representatives of Senators Reid and Ensign attended and Representative Dean Heller, along with county commissioners Hunewill and Don Tibbals and County Manager Dennis Stark, along with the environmental persons seeking the designation. The prior request mainly involved lands in the Bald Mountain and East Sisters area south of Smith Valley. Hunewill said they asked the U.S. Forest Service to send a letter detailing how they assess the areas proposed for addition to the wilderness area. She and the others noted the land proposed for inclusion for wilderness designation, according to the map that was presented at the end of the Jan. 25 meeting, included land in areas in the Pine Grove, noting there are mining claims in that area, two areas in the Pine Nut mountains, Rawe Peak and Lyon Peak (BLM land), where there are grazing allotments, plus up to the Wilson Canyon area and as far south to the Mineral County line (and south beyond that in Mineral). Other designated areas shown on the new map for inclusion in the wilderness area are Mt. Etna, Sleeping Dog, O'Banion Canyon, Wovoka, Sonoma Canyon, East Canyon, Rough Creek. The organization listed on the map is Nevada Wilderness Project, with a Reno address and an email address of wildnevada.org, although others such as Fulstone used the term, Friends of the Wilderness for the group seeking the wilderness designation. Hunewill said of the new map "It took us by surprise. In fact I think it's ridiculous." She felt a public hearing should be conducted on this proposal, which could affect many. She also said the proposal was that the roadless areas (a federal government designation) in southern Lyon County should also be added to the wilderness designation. Hunewill noted Steve Fulstone only attended the meeting for an uncle, Fred, who has grazing allotments in the initial wilderness proposal. However, she said his family ranching operation has grazing allotments in the proposed area of the Pine Nuts. The Walker Basin water legislation proposed by Senator Harry Reid has been tied in with the Lyon County Lands Bill, for which work had occurred several years ago before the request for wilderness areas had halted Lyon County's involvement. Now the new proposal is that a Mineral County lands bill also be joined for inclusion in the water legislation. Fulstone said 188,000 acres was the total proposed for wilderness. "It is time we let the community know what is being proposed by the wilderness community," he said. "Friends of the Wilderness are not friends of ours," said Spooner of the proposal. Responding to a query about what would be allowed in a wilderness area, Fulstone said no mechanized machinery is allowed, including chain saws and ATVs. He said this makes it difficult to repair or maintain areas where grazing is done. WRID Director Eddie Snyder asked about WRID approving a resolution expressing opposition to the plan and Spooner said that could occur and it would be placed for action at next month's meeting. In response to a question about the timeline, Spooner said the plan was to conclude the entire legislation by next fall. Fulstone noted other places where public lands bills had been approved it had been a 2-5 year process. "This is on the fast track." Snyder said, "The public needs to know about this if it's going to be done in five months." |
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