Open space preservation topic of meeting

Carson Valley residents are invited Monday to participate in what officials envision as the development of a federal lands bill with local control to finance conservation easements.

An information meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. at the CVIC Hall in Minden to introduce the Ranching and Nevada Cultural Heritage Act.

To be facilitated by Terra Firma Associates Jacques Etchegoyhen and his son Dominique, the goal is to create a federal funding stream that will pay for the preservation of historic ranching, riparian lands, open space and natural resources.

Proponents say it is an implementation measure of the goals and policies of the Douglas County master plan and open space preservation plan.

"How do we take the next quantum leap?" asked Jacques Etchegoyhen in a recent interview. "Right now, we don't have a checkbook."

The RANCH Act would create federal legislation that places the majority of the monitoring and management of the conservation easement program in the hands of a local entity.

"Somehow, a federal program connotes the 'strong arm' of Washington," Etchegoyhen said. "This program will bring it home to Douglas County and its citizens."

Douglas County residents are "very fearful of the federal government and very individualistic," he said.

"This program is based on willing seller-willing buyer. If you don't want to participate, you don't have to," Etchegoyhen said.

"This really is a success story," Dominique Etchegoyhen said. "Locally, we've got 12,000 acres protected using transfer of development rights, clustering, Question 1 funds and the Nature Conservancy. Here is an opportunity for a county-run program to get (additional) federal funding."

Eight years ago, Douglas County and Carson City produced the North Douglas County specific plan amendment under which $40 million of Bureau of Land Management property was transferred into private ownership under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.

That was to result in the BLM's acquisition of conservation easements and environmentally sensitive lands of equivalent value in Douglas County. To date, officials said, no more than $22 million of federal funds have been spent in Douglas County.

A federal opinion prevents any money from the north Douglas land sale proceeds from being spent in Carson Valley.

On July 25, 2010, the proceeds are to be transferred into a special account in the federal treasury with none of it finding its way back to Nevada.

Developers of the RANCH Act hope to beat the deadline with a funding mechanism that would release the money for Douglas County.

Monday's meeting is information-only, Jacques Etchegoyhen said.

Participants will be introduced to the RANCH Act process and asked to come up with priorities on public and private lands of importance.

He said four-to-six public meetings are planned with property owners, residents and anyone interested in the process.

"It's the very first step," Etchegoyhen said. "We'll start with the community meetings, then the stakeholder meetings, federal agencies, Washoe Tribe, local tourism and recreational groups, large landowners, the towns. Every meeting is open. It's an opportunity for people to sit down and hear what is going on."

He said Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign were supportive.

"But they want it grass roots from the dirt up," Etchegoyhen said.

Dominique Etchegoyhen hopes the process will attract newcomers as well as longtime residents.

"What is it that caused them to move here " those views, those open spaces. This is an opportunity to preserve that," he said.

Attendees are asked to call Terra Firma at 782-0848 to make reservations for the meeting. That's to ensure enough handout material is available.

ON THE WEB

RANCH Act Flier

www.douglascountynv.gov