Historic ranch to be split into nature preserve, industrial park

RENO, Nev. - A historic 1,591-acre ranch along the Truckee River east of here will be divided into a nature preserve and industrial park under a deal announced by The Nature Conservancy.

The arrangement calls for the conservation group to acquire 400 acres of the McCarran Ranch's riverfront property and wetlands for wildlife habitat and public recreation.

Developers of the adjacent Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center will acquire the remaining 1,191 acres. While up to 400 acres of the ranch is targeted for development, most of the remaining land will continue as open space.

Under the deal, the bulk of the ranch's water rights will go to a local group to improve the Truckee River's water quality and keep it flowing in the summer.

The ranch, located 12 miles east of Reno, was settled in 1875 by the parents of former Nevada Sen. Patrick McCarran, who served from 1933 to 1954. His daughter died last year, leaving the ranch to Catholic institutions.

Stretching along the Truckee for five miles, the ranch is the largest private parcel along the river. It's home to more than 125 bird species as well as deer, bobcats, mountain lions and other wildlife.

''The McCarran Ranch will anchor what we hope will eventually be a protected 20-mile corridor along the Truckee River from Mustang downstream to Derby Dam,'' said Graham Chisholm, the conservancy's state director.

''In addition to the important benefits to wildlife, this agreement ensures that our children will have the opportunity to fish, hike and canoe along the lower river.''

The river flows easterly for more than 90 miles from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, located 30 miles northeast of Reno.

The deal was brokered by Sparks-based Granite Construction Co., which exercised its right-of-first-refusal after the conservancy announced plans earlier this year to buy the ranch for $2.2 million.

Granite, which has leased a portion of the ranch for 30 years for gravel operations, arranged for developers of the adjacent industrial park to purchase the ranch and its water rights.

Under the deal, the developers will transfer 400 acres of the ranch to the conservancy as part of a $500,000 donation, and will convey the bulk of the water rights to Great Basin Land and Water.

The group represents Washoe County and the cities of Reno and Sparks, which must acquire water to dilute local wastewater discharges into the Truckee under terms of a 1996 settlement with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

The group will get about 850 acre feet of water from the ranch in the largest purchase of water rights ever to benefit the Truckee, Chisholm said.

The conservancy, in conjunction with local and federal agencies, now will develop a restoration and public access plan for the property. Plans call for it to open to the public next summer.