Carson City area clean up and open space event Saturday

Silver Saddle Ranch is ground zero for a cleanup of public lands along the Carson River on Saturday, as well as an open house and open space celebration afterward.

The National Public Lands Day event, which runs from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., puts volunteers and volunteer groups to work in the morning cleaning up lands along the river, Brunswick Canyon and the Pine Nut Mountains, the Prison Hill recreation area and other nearby locations. The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office here said the cleanup goes on from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Cooperating in the effort are BLM, city government with the Open Space division front and center, and several organizations. Among them are Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch and both of Carson City’s Kiwanis Clubs. Volunteer groups or individuals may contact Ann Bollinger, city Open Space manager, to register by telephoning (775) 230-3297.

Folks volunteering for the cleanup are advised to wear long pants, heavy shoes or boots, a hat and sunglasses, plus bring along durable gloves to protect their hands. Yard rakes and boxes also would be helpful. Work includes picking up trash in various locations and perhaps helping with Silver Saddle Ranch conservation projects. The BLM and city government will supply hand tools, as well as trash bags and bins.

A barbecue is slated to begin at 1 p.m. and last 90 minutes. A presentation and speeches will include a color guard ceremony, with remarks by Mayor Bob Crowell and Ralph Thomas, the BLM district manager. This event marks a formal recognition of the conveyance of BLM land in the area to city government, which actually has been done earlier this year.

The celebration also will include music beginning at 12:30 p.m., with the Sierra Sisters and Hick’ry Switch taking the stage from 3-6 p.m.