Friends supporters encouraged to attend Reno public hearing on critical new conservation rule
May 12, 2023 - Nevadans who support conservation of public lands are encouraged to attend the Bureau of Land Management’s open hearing on June 1 to urge adoption of a proposed new rule that will move conservation up on the list of priorities when making public land use decisions. Friends applauds BLM’s new emphasis on conservation in land use planning and joins groups throughout the West in encouraging public feedback.
Truckee Meadows Public Lands Bill Draft Released
April 7, 2023 - Friends of Nevada Wilderness is grateful to Senator Jacky Rosen and her staff for today’s release of a working draft of the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act (TMPLMA), a proposal that contains significant new conservation measures for popular recreation areas, ancient cultural sites and wild lands in Washoe County.
Friends celebrates, stewards newest National Monument
March 21, 2023 - The designation of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is a historical addition to the list of legacy public land designations in Nevada, according to the non-profit Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
Friends Names NV Energy Foundation as 2022 Corporate Sponsor of the Year
February 1, 2023 - NV Energy Foundation has received the coveted “Corporate Sponsor of the Year” award from Friends of Nevada Wilderness in recognition of the company’s generous financial support of the non-profit’s stewardship and outreach programs.
Friends joins suit against BLM for approving well drilling in Gerlach
January 13, 2023 - Friends of Nevada Wilderness has signed on to a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca District for allowing Ormat Technologies, Inc. to proceed with drilling 19 exploratory geothermal wells adjacent to the town of Gerlach.
Friends Celebrates 1st Designation of New Nevada Wilderness Areas in Eight Years
Dec. 23, 2022 - Today, President Biden signed into law H.R.7776 - James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This bill, which was approved by both the House and Senate earlier in the month designed more than 182,000 acres of new Wilderness Area, marking the first time since 2014 that new Wilderness has been added to the previous inventory of 3.4 million acres in Nevada. The new Wilderness areas are the Clan Alpine Mountains (128,362 in Churchill County), the Desatoya Mountains (40,303 acres in Churchill and Lander Counties), and the Cain Mountain Wilderness Area (14,050 acres in Churchill and Lander Counties).
In addition, Congress created the Numunaa Nobe National Conservation Area which encompasses much of the Stillwater Range and the Numu Newe Special Management Area to help protect important cultural values. In total there are more than 500,000 acres of new conservation protections.
Friends Celebrates Volunteers and Supporters at Annual Wingding
So many volunteers and so little time!
Friends of Nevada Wilderness honored its outstanding volunteers and supporters at the annual Wingding at Rancho San Rafael Friday night, but didn’t have time to read off the names of every person who donated time, money and energy in 2022.
Friends Celebrates Announcement of Nevada's Newest National Monument
Nov. 30, 2022 - The pending designation of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument will be a historic addition to the list of legacy public land designations in Nevada, according to the non-profit Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of this act announced by the Biden Administration,” said Friends Executive Director Shaaron Netherton. “Permanent protection of this place expresses reverence for cultural antiquity and the spiritual power this land will always hold for Indigenous people.”
Thanks to You, Friends Met Our Match!
Thanks to many generous donors who love Nevada's wild lands, we received over $32,000 towards our Truck Match Fund - surpassing our goal by $4,000 - for a total of $60,000 with the additional matching grant of $28,000!
Friends Opposes Ill-Conceived Gerlach Project
October 6, 2022 - Friends of Nevada Wilderness has submitted formal comments asking the Bureau of Land Management to deny plans by Ormat to drill for and subsequently build an industrial scale geothermal project abutting the town of Gerlach and valuable public lands. The comments were submitted in partnership with the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).