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Hello and happy summer! Friends of Nevada Wilderness has been working hard to make your Wild Nevada bigger, wilderness, healthier and more beautiful in lots of ways! Read on for updates on our work over the last month.
The Zappos Family and KEEN Footwear step up
to make a difference on Mt. Charleston.
Boots on the Ground
Zappos/Keen Day on Mt. Charleston
On the 4th annual KEEN/Zappos Day in June, 124 volunteers from the Zappos Family and KEEN Footwear teamed up with Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the U.S. Forest Service to volunteer to help Mt. Charleston.
The volunteers sanded and stained picnic tables, cleaned and painted BBQ grills at Hilltop Campground, while others roamed the area picking up litter. The event was topped off by a top-notch BBQ serving burgers with all the fixings. Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers, visitors will enjoy a cleaner, well-cared-for Mt. Charleston!
Mount Rose Weed Pulls
In May and June volunteers with Friends Nevada Wilderness worked hard to treat noxious weeds in the Mount Rose Wilderness. So far, 15 volunteers have worked in the Hunter Creek drainage area to remove over 8,000 noxious weeds from roughly 20 acres of wilderness.
Weeds can out-compete native plants, reducing food for wildlife and increasing fire danger. Removing them quickly nips the problem in the bud and keeps infestations from getting bigger.
We have more work to do in July, so our numbers will only go up! Great job volunteers, thank you for your hard work. And thank you to the Truckee River Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada for making this project possible!
Burnt Springs Development Repair
During the heat wave on June 28-30, 15 volunteers headed high into the North Black Rock Range Wilderness, high above the valleys below, for a project at Burnt Springs. Volunteers worked hard to repair 300 feet of fence that protects the sensitive riparian area (riparian = by springs or streams) and which had fallen over. They also removed 10 cubic yards of trash and installed five wilderness boundary signs. It was a great way to beat the heat and get some great work done!
Thank you for your great work, volunteers!
Nye County Trail Crew Livin’ the Dream
As the golden light of the summer solstice flows through the shimmering leaves of the quakies in the late afternoon, the Friends of Nevada Wilderness Nye County Trail Crew reaches their backcountry camp just in time to help unload the pack horses and set up camp for the upcoming eight-day hitch (work week).
Click here to read more...
Wildfire Season is Here Again
Recent lightning has sparked several wildfire burning in or near wilderness. The Carpenter Fire is burning in the high, rugged and remote reaches of the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. Although smoke is making it hard to see specifics, the fire appears to have engulfed most of the South Loop Trail and is moving into Kyle Canyon. Evacuations are in place for residents in the area, and Friends has cancelled several upcoming stewardship events on Mt. Charleston until further notice. Thanks to Jon Santos for the photo below.
In northern Nevada, the Bison Fire has been burning on the western slopes of the Pine Nut Range in Douglas County. It appears to be nearing the western boundary of the Burbank Canyons WSA.
Under 'normal' circumstances, fire is healthy for the land; it clears out accumulated plant matter and returns nutrients to the ground. But with drought, the threat of weeds to infest and overcome native plants, and the needs of sensitive wildlife species like sage-grouse, modern fires are more challenging.
Friends will work with the land management agencies to schedule restoration projects to help these and other areas recover after fire. Stay tuned for updates in the months ahead. For the most up-to-date information about wildfires in Nevada, check out Inciweb.
Campaign Updates
It’s exciting that there are four active bills in Congress to designate wilderness in Nevada. But it’s also critically important that caring citizens like you voice support for these bills to make sure they make it through to the President’s desk.
Even if you’ve called your senators and congressmen to voice support in the past, please take a few minutes to do so again.
These important places NEED YOU!
We will collect and deliver your support to the Congressional offices.
Burbank Canyons!!
Last Tuesday, Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller introduced the Douglas County Conservation Act of 2013 (S. 1263). The culmination of more than a dozen years of work among county, state and federal officials and stakeholders, the bill promotes conservation of open space, flood plains, wildlife habitat and Douglas County’s rural personality, while improving trails and other recreation opportunities, and providing for sensible development.
The bill would also designate the 13,000-acre Burbank
Canyons Wilderness Study Area, a true jewel of Nevada’s
wild heritage, with wild streams, cool aspen and mountain
sanctuary for sage-grouse, bear, mule deer and other wildlife.
“I am happy to join Senator Heller in introducing this balanced piece of legislation to promote development, restore the Washoe Tribe's homeland and protect Nevada's cultural and natural resources for generations to come,” said Senator Harry Reid. “Douglas County is a spectacular place and I commend the local community for all their hard work to protect and promote it.”
Click here to sign a petition of thanks to Senators Reid and Heller.
Gold Butte Needs You Today!
Please take a minute to ask Senator Heller to stand up for Gold Butte.
Bills have been introduced in both the Senate and House, but Gold Butte needs your help to achieve permanent protection as a National Conservation Area with wilderness.
Please take a minute to write to Senator Heller to ask for his support for Gold Butte. It is critical that he hear from Nevadans now. Please run, don't walk, to sign this petition: http://www.nevadawilderness.org/gold_butte_is_important
Wovoka Wilderness
The Lyon County Economic Development and Conservation Act has been introduced in both Senate and House. Your support today will help it move through Congress.
Kids today and for generations to come need wild
country to grow up in. Help them by
supporting the Wovoka Wilderness today.
If you haven’t yet sign our petition in support of the Wovoka Wilderness in Lyon County, click here.
Pine Forest Range Wilderness
The Pine Forest Range Recreation Enhancement Act has been introduced to both House and Senate. Your support will remind our Congressional leaders to keep working to see this bill through to the President's desk.
This high-country jewel of lakes, steams and forests can get protection this Congress. Click here to sign the petition now.
Protecting the Missing Pieces
Friends of Nevada Wilderness Helped Acquire Key Parcel
in the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Area
Friends of Nevada Wilderness donors have stepped up to help give the public better access to the Ruby Mountains Wilderness. The donors worked with Wilderness Land Trust to facilitate the acquisition of the 413-acre Murphy Parcel.
Click here to read more...
Upcoming Events
Wild Wednesdays, 5-7pm, Craft Wine & Beer, Reno
Join the Reno Patagonia Outlet staff and Friends of Nevada Wilderness at Craft Wine & Beer every Wednesday from 5-7pm to meet other people who care about Nevada's backyard. We'll share the latest news about efforts to protect Wild Nevada, and we might even have some fun and SWAG to give away. For more about the next Wild Wednesday, go to our event page, here.
Santa Rosa Fence Pull, July 26-29, north of Winnemucca
Join Friends as we remove obsolete-and-dangerous old fence from the Mullenix Creek area of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Click here for details and to RSVP.
For a complete list of upcoming events, click here.
Wild, Weird and Wonderful
Nevada has a new quarter! With a bristlecone!
Today our Executive Director Shaaron received a $10 roll of shiny new quarters from long time Friends of Nevada Wilderness member Roberta. No, they weren't for laundry--there is something special about these quarters.
Click here to read more...
Who's this?
Look how well this horny toad uses camouflage to protect against predators...but maybe not so well against hikers not paying close attention with their big boots. We hope this lizard's ready to scurry fast if needed. Thanks for the photo, Kirk Peterson!
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