BLM-Volunteer Feature of the Month

In the shadows of the Pine Nut Mountains, along the banks of the Carson River, sits a piece of pioneering history from the American West. This special place is called the Silver Saddle Ranch and it represents some of the last

The beautiful Silver Saddle Ranch is managed by BLM with the assistance of volunteers.

undeveloped open space in the scenic Eagle Valley, located southeast of Carson City, Nevada. The Ranch is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and is being managed with the assistance of several volunteers who carry on the pioneering spirit of hard work and promise of better days ahead

Because volunteers have played such an important role in the success at the Ranch, the BLM's Volunteer Program Adjunct Team (VPAT), took a field trip to the site as part of their annual meeting in August. The VPAT is an eight-person committee that assists in implementing the agency's national volunteer strategy. At the Ranch, VPAT members met with volunteers Becky Quigley and Jim Dye who have contributed hundreds of hours of dedicated service to improve this beautiful site.

Traditionally, this land was home to the Washoe Indian Tribe, who used the area for gathering plants and hunting. Ranch's history can be traced to the early 1860s when a dam and ditch were constructed to divert water from the river to a nearby silver processing mill. Over the years, several individuals owned the 700-acre Ranch and numerous improvements were made to the property. In 1997, the BLM acquired the Ranch for its recreation potential, unique natural features and strategic location.

Jim Dye, a volunteer who helps the BLM manage the Silver Saddle Ranch in Nevada, welcomes you to the wide open spaces of Silver Saddle Ranch.

Volunteer Becky Quigley from Carson City, Nevada.

Today a management plan guides the operations at the Ranch and BLM employees Chris Miller and Mike Bailey keep volunteers busy helping them accomplish their goals which include painting buildings, mending fences, maintaining equipment, controlling noxious weeds and removing litter. Ultimately, the Ranch, with its river access, trails, wildlife and scenic location, will provide outstanding recreational and environmental education opportunities for visitors. In the past 5 years, hundreds of volunteers have contributed their valuable services to the Ranch. Whether working as individuals like Jim and Becky or by participating in large National Public Lands Day events, volunteers have made, and will continue to make, a big difference at the Silver Saddle Ranch.

For more information on the Silver Saddle Ranch, contact Chris Miller of BLM's Nevada State Office.

To visit the Nevada BLM Silver Saddle Ranch web page, click here.

For information about BLM's Volunteer Program Adjunct Team, contact author Doug Huntington. at the BLM District Office in Eugene, Oregon.

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Feature

Bureau of Land Management
Volunteer Feature