July Director's Update

[NOTE: This was sent to DCNR employees on July 10 and is being reposted because of a database error.]

Good afternoon to everyone in DCNR.  Sorry for the delay in the July Director’s Report.  For the last couple of weeks I have been on the road throughout Nevada looking at natural resource issues.  I spent four days in the Jarbidge area with Governor Gibbons, Governor Butch Otter from Idaho and federal land managers and agricultural users looking at range conditions, discussing fire policy, grazing, endangered species and other matters facing Nevada and Idaho.  I then drove to Owyhee for their Fourth of July celebration which included a parade and a community lunch.  I was there along with former DCNR Director Pete Morros to celebrate the signing and Congressional approval of an agreement allocating water between the upstream agricultural users on the Owyhee River and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of Duck Valley.  Pete was Nevada’s lead negotiator on the agreement which took almost two decades from start to finish.  Earlier this week I was in Las Vegas in water negotiations with my counterpart in Utah.  I also had the opportunity to speak to the Southern Nevada chapter of the Sierra Club about DCNR and the financial and policy issues we face.

These trips have reminded me what a diverse state we have and how beautiful it is.  (As a result of the June rains I have never seen Nevada so green … this is no way to run a desert!)  It also made me appreciate even more the important job we all have in protecting our natural resources.  I hope you are able to take some time off this summer and enjoy Nevada’s vast open spaces and beauty.  It is something we should never take for granted.

Furloughs

I want to thank you for your cooperation in addressing the mandatory furloughs.  The process has been relatively smooth in DCNR in large part to your understanding and accommodation of your personal and work schedules.

DCNR stimulus funding showing results

To date, State of Nevada agencies have received a little more than $2 billion in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding, with the amount received so far by DCNR agencies totaling nearly $44 million.  In the last director’s newsletter I talked about the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant to NDEP to buy cleaner-running school buses.  This month I’d like to provide you with information about additional grant activity at NDEP, as well as the NDF first-round project that is underway.

NDEP: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund received a grant award of $19.2 million.  A priority list was finalized and posted on the NDEP Recovery web site following a public comment period/public workshop.  To date, loan agreements have been executed with seven entities.  The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund received $19.5 million.  Following a public comment period and workshop, the Board for Financing Water Projects (BFWP) met and adopted the final priority list (also posted on the NDEP site).  At its June 15 meeting, the BWFP approved funding for six projects.  The next BFWP meeting is July 24 and more project approvals are expected.

NDF: The Lincoln County multidisciplinary project has created and retained 19 jobs so far with work in the NDOT right-of-way. About 328 acres of hazardous fuels along Highway 93 and State Route 319 have been cleared, with the majority of the biomass transferred to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City for fuel and some left on the ground as mulch. Work at Beaver Dam State Park will begin July 13 with another 10 jobs likely to be created by the contractor as a result of this work. The round one funding for the Lincoln Country project is a little more than $1.3 million. More: http://www.dcnr.nv.gov/?p=1416

State Parks events in July

July is a fun filled month at Nevada State Parks.  I hope you can take advantage of some of these great events.

• Spring Mountain Ranch-Ash Grove Night Hike July 9
• Intro to Basic GPS navigation at Washoe Lake State Parks July 11
• Guy Rocha presents Carson Valley Myth-Busting at Dangberg Home Ranch July 18
• Spring Mountain Ranch-New Moon Sandstone Canyon Hike July 21
• Wetlands and birding at Washoe Lake State Park on July 25.

Nevada State Parks events are posted on the Parks calendar: http://parks.nv.gov/events1.htm.

As a side note, as a result of economic conditions more people are staying close to home and taking advantage of state parks.  So far this year visitation is up 7.6%.

Parks and Forestry partner on rebuilding a fire truck for southern Nevada region

The Division of Forestry recently obtained, and then completely rebuilt, a fire truck for State Parks. The refurbished truck will be stationed at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and NDF staff has trained Parks staff on its operation. The addition will help the park be better prepared in its fire prone area. More: http://www.dcnr.nv.gov/?p=1422.

A huge thanks to both divisions for their cooperation in making this project happen.

Nevada Conservation District featured nationally

Started by an illegal campfire, California’s Angora Fire destroyed 254 homes and burned 3,100 acres in the summer of 2007. It also stole much of the scenic beauty from the South Lake Tahoe region. Not long after the fire was extinguished, local residents began to discuss a restoration plan. The result is the Angora Fire Urban Forest Stewardship Project, which has since helped to plant more than 9,000 native trees in the area. Nevada’s Tahoe Conservation District has played a significant role in these restoration efforts and is featured this month on the cover of “Forestry Notes,” the national publication for the National Association for Conservation Districts. You may read more about it here: http://www.nacdnet.org/news/publications/forestrynotes/ForestryNotes_July09.pdf.

Wild Horse Commission accomplishments report

The Nevada Commission for the Preservation for Wild Horses recently released a report called “Overview and History.”  As many of you know, the funding source for the Wild Horse Commission – the Heil Trust – will be depleted by the end of FY10.  This report celebrates the many years of hard work and dedication given by both the administrator of the program (Cathy Barcomb) and the commission members themselves. You may download the report here: http://wildhorse.nv.gov/docs/2009_report.pdf.

State Engineer’s office updates fee schedule

As a result of legislation passed in the 2009 session, the Division of Water Resources has updated its fee schedule. The new fees are available here: http://water.nv.gov/home/pdfs/new%20fees%2007-09.pdf

A visual swing through State Parks

Department Communications Officer Bob toured some of Nevada’s rural state parks in late June to capture video and still photos of these park units for promotional purposes.  Bob will be posting photos from various parks on the department web site in the weeks ahead.  The first location, Ward Charcoal Ovens, is viewable here: http://www.dcnr.nv.gov/?p=1393.

When discussing the Ward Charcoal Ovens I like to point out they were built by Italian immigrants.  Maybe a Biaggi contributed to the effort?

Have a fun and safe July!