Gas for Goodness: Fill Up For Friends!
Pump your fuel at Sierra Car Care in Reno on Wednesdays during the month of January to help Friends of Nevada Wilderness. Part of every gallon pumped will be donated to Friends of Nevada Wilderness as their charity of the month for January 2021. Help us fuel our mission!
Military Expansions Denied, Desert Coalition Reacts
A broad coalition of conservationists, Native Americans, sportsmen and women, elected officials and others are celebrating the Congressional vote today that denies the U.S. military its long sought-after expansions of two major facilities in Nevada, at the Fallon Naval Air Station and the Nellis Test and Training Range.
In passing the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress instead approved language that maintains both facilities at their current size for the next 25 years. All six members of the Nevada Congressional delegation voted in favor of the NDAA with no military expansions.
Opt Outside With a Purpose!
With the number of people choosing to opt outside skyrocketing, it is no surprise that our public lands are suffering. The pandemic and shutdown have many people heading to nature for healing and solace while, for much of the year, organizations like Friends have been unable to lead volunteer projects leaving public lands suffering as a result. Lucky for us, there are several individuals who go above and beyond for public lands. These anonymous stewards have been filling in gaps and you should join them.
The Benefits of National Wildlife Refuges
The second week of October is dedicated to the celebration of America’s National Wildlife Refuges. These ecological safe-houses are the life vein for many species of plants and animals who would die out without these protective borders. The National Wildlife Refuge System was created to be a “national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of the present and future generations of Americans." Many Americans live near refuges but few know why they exist, how they work or what are the benefits. Let's take a closer look.
Help Celebrate National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is September 26 and we’re celebrating for many reasons – primarily because Nevada is incredibly rich in public lands that provide us endless opportunities to seek physical, mental and spiritual renewal in the great outdoors. From the arid valleys of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge to the lake-strewn peaks of the Ruby Mountains, we have much to be grateful for.
A whole host of public and non-profit agencies are getting together for some fun to mark the occasion. We invite you to join the virtual celebration!
Nevadans Urge U.S. Senate to Pass Pershing County Wilderness Bill
September 3, 2020 -
Vast stretches of land in rural northwest Nevada will be preserved if Congress can finally pass legislation that would protect wilderness in Pershing County while encouraging economic development.
You're Invited to a Star Party!
Please join us, the Basin and Range Dark Sky Cooperative, the Great Basin Observatory and other “luminaries” for a virtually stunning Star Party on Saturday, September 5 from 8 – 9:30 PM.
See LIVE images of star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, planets, and other celestial objects from telescope operators in Nevada and neighboring Oregon. Star Party-goers will learn to use a planisphere, computer software and apps, and how to star hop!
NV Democrats step up demands to protect wildlife refuge
E&E news published this article today showing our Nevada representatives are stepping up to protect the Desert Refuge against this sudden betrayal.
Full article follows and source can be accessed here.
"Nev. Democrats step up demands to protect wildlife refuge
Emma Dumain and Jennifer Yachnin, E&E News reportersPublished: Thursday, July 9, 2020
The three Democrats in Nevada's four-member House delegation are pleading with committee chairs to reverse a controversial amendment they say would threaten 840,000 acres of federally protected land in their state.
Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford want to undo the adoption of an amendment from last week's markup of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act in the House Armed Services Committee, H.R. 6395, relating to control of Nevada's Desert National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to desert bighorn sheep and endangered Mojave desert tortoises (E&E Daily, July 2).
House committee’s vote to bomb Nevada is a stunning betrayal
Thursday, July 9, 2020: The LV Sun published this editorial examining the surprise betrayal to the Desert Refuge. The full article follows and the source can be accessed here.
"House committee’s vote to bomb Nevada is a stunning betrayal
Members of the House Armed Services Committee slapped Nevada hard in the face last week by voting to allow the Air Force to take a huge chunk of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge to use as a bombing range.
Now, it’s up to the state’s House members to slap back and keep this deeply troublesome proposal from being rammed down our throat.
Reps. Titus, Horsford, and Lee Urge House Leadership to Protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Nevada Representatives are urging house leadership to oppose the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This press release and a joint letter from the representatives were released today July 8, 2020.
"Washington, D.C. – Representatives Dina Titus (NV-1), Steven Horsford (NV-4) and Susie Lee (NV-3) are urging House leadership to protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. In a letter to the Chairs of the House Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees, the Members of Congress argued in opposition to a recent amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.
“This amendment would directly threaten over 840,000 acres of unique plant and animal habitats in Nevada’s Desert National Wildlife Refuge,” said Reps. Titus, Horsford, and Lee. “The decision to allow this amendment to be included in this legislation , without consulting the members of Nevada’s Congressional Delegation, is particularly concerning… If this matter is not addressed prior to the legislation coming to the House floor, we will file an amendment to strike these provisions.”
The full text of the letter is below:
