February 6, 2025 - We are very grateful to Senator Jacky Rosen for reintroducing the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act today. While the bill was voted out of a key Senate Committee in the last Congress, it failed to get final approval. We truly appreciate Senator Rosen's tenacity and commitment to this legislation. Read Senator Rosen's announcement here.
The Act would protect nearly a million acres of public lands in northern Washoe County; lands valued for their dispersed recreation, wildlife habitat, dark sky and cultural values.
We are so grateful to the Senator and her hard-working staff for the many hours they spent conferring with a variety of stakeholders to craft a well-balanced public lands bill. Friends' staff worked tirelessly with Senator Rosen's staff to resolve on-the-ground issues, create and re-create detailed maps and generate public support for the conservation component.
“This legislation is a milestone in the history of public lands conservation in Nevada,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “Northern Washoe County is home to critical wildlife habitat, uniquely dark skies, priceless cultural resources, and amazing outdoor recreation opportunities. Because Senator Rosen and her team spent countless hours consulting with multiple stakeholders, we now have a widely supported bill that will protect these values. We thank the Senator for her persistent leadership and look forward to working with her to help move this bill through Congress.”
Breakdown of the proposed new conservation areas
- Total - 948,385 acres
- New Wilderness Areas - 223,039 acres
- New National Conservation Areas - 551,427 acres
- New Withdrawal Areas - 173,919 acres
Areas that would be protected
- Kiba Canyon Ranch NCA
- Massacre Rim Dark Sky NCA
- Smoke Creek NCA
- Bitner Table Wilderness Area (25,152 acres)
- Wrangler Canyon Wilderness Area (49,540 acres)
- Burro Mountain Wilderness Area (6,344 acres)
- Granite-Banjo Wilderness Area (30,001 acres)
- Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (112,002 acres)
