January 16, 2024 - The years of time and effort invested by Friends, other conservation groups, tribal leaders and others paid off today when Senator Jacky Rosen introduced the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act in the United States Senate. 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 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.”

Watch Senator Rosen discuss her landmark proposal, read an overview and view maps. 

Read exclusive coverage by the Nevada Independent.

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

Breakdown of proposed new Wilderness Areas:

Managed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

112,002 acres - Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Managed by Bureau of Land Management

25,152 acres - Bitner Table Wilderness Area

49,540 acres - Wrangler Canyon Wilderness Area

  6,344 acres - Burro Mountain Wilderness Area

30,001 acres - Granite-Banjo Wilderness Area

223,039 acres - Total proposed new Wilderness Area

Proposed Kiba Canyon National Conservation Area - photo by Kirk Peterson