Agreement signed to maintain central Nevada wilderness

The U.S. Forest Service and the Friends of Nevada Wilderness have signed an agreement on Thursday to permit the organization to support and maintain 128,000 acres of the Alta Toquima and Table Mountain wildernesses in central Nevada.

"The Friends of Nevada Wilderness continue to provide much needed support and maintenance of these special areas," said Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor Ed Monnig. "Most of the public probably doesn't realize the huge amount of work that Friends' accomplishes towards improving and enhancing their wilderness experiences."

Monnig and friends Executive Director Shaaron Netherton signed the agreement that would allow the two entities to work together to improve wilderness stewardship of the two wilderness areas located on the Austin/Tonopah Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe.

Friends' work will begin in early August and run through the fall.

Friends' staff and volunteers will collect visitation and resource information, assist with trail and sign maintenance, and conduct resource restoration projects in and around the Toquima and Monitor mountain ranges. Friends will help monitor and maintain over 130 miles of its trails.

"There's a second important story to tell that will greatly improve another important trail in addition to today's agreement with the Forest Service," said Netherton. "Friends of Nevada Wilderness just received a $46,000 Recreation Trails Program grant for the Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail from the Nevada State Parks."

The funding will provide a supervisor and five-person crew to restore sections of this 72-mile trail (30 miles of this trail is within the Arc Dome Wilderness), and add new trailhead kiosks and needed signs.