County to discuss ranch easements

Commissioners could support conservation easements on three Douglas County ranches at their regular meeting Thursday,

Applications for this cycle, Round 7 of the Southern Nevada Public Management Act, must be submitted to the Bureau of Land Management by Aug. 10. If successful, 1,358 acres of prime agricultural land will be preserved.

Portions of Ranch One near Genoa, the Mack Ranch near Minden, and River Ranch, located along the East Fork of the Carson River in southern Douglas County, are being considered.

The following is a description of the properties and locations, provided by Terra Firma, a local organization that specializes in these transactions.

• Founded in 1852 by Colonel John Reese, Ranch No. 1 is the oldest ranch homestead in Nevada.

Nearly all the property is irrigated. As a result of the irrigation and rotational grazing, many acres of riparian habitat have been created and continue to work synergistically to create a complicated mosaic of wildlife species extending from the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada to wetlands along the Carson River.

• River Ranch straddles the East Fork of the Carson River. The area is used extensively in the spring and summer for white-water rafting and supports a complex of wetland types ranging from wet meadow to aspen/cottonwood riparian zones.

• Located in the heart of Carson Valley next to Minden, the Mack Ranch has been run by the same family since 1858. The ranch is linked with several other large ranches along the Carson River floodplain that make up the agricultural core of the Carson Valley.

The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act provides funding for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands through the sale of Bureau of Land Management lands in and around Las Vegas.

Entities from all over the state can apply for these funds.

In other business:

• Commissioners could approve an amendment to allow for the licensing of dog fancier or breeder kennels, dog rescue kennels and pet services. The revisions adds provisions for residents boarding welfare animals and/or rescue dogs.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.

What: Douglas County Commissioners meeting

When: 1 p.m. Thursday

Where: Old courtroom of the Douglas County Administration Building, 1616 Eighth St. in Minden