BLM Director Kornze Announces $79 Million for Conservation and Recreation Projects in Nevada
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Bureau of Land Management
BLM Office:
Southern Nevada District Office
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LAS VEGAS, NV – Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze today announced a package of 30 conservation and recreation projects totaling nearly $80 million in a ceremony at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Joining the BLM Director to celebrate today’s announcement were Andy Hafen, the Mayor of Henderson, NV, and Mauricia Baca, the Executive Director of Outside Las Vegas.
Funding for the projects was generated through the sale of public lands under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA). Today’s announcement of $79 million in projects, in conjunction with $30 million previously announced, brings the total SNPLMA funding this year to nearly $109 million.
“These projects are a benefit to both the environment and the economy," said Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider, who approved the grants. “This program supports an incredible legacy of improved quality of life for all Nevadans.”
Through SNPLMA the BLM, in collaboration with its partners, funds projects that benefit local communities and improve the overall quality of life by restoring landscapes, protecting environmentally-sensitive areas, supporting recreation opportunities, and protecting rural communities from wildfire. A significant portion of the funds are shared with local governments and the State of Nevada.
“I am excited to be back in my home state to announce these important community projects,” said BLM Director Neil Kornze. “These investments will strengthen outdoor opportunities in the Las Vegas Valley and in many of Nevada’s small towns.”
The 30 projects announced today include $1.5 million for the acquisition of land adjoining the Kiel Ranch Historic Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the first settlement sites in the Las Vegas Valley. Funding will allow the City of North Las Vegas to more than double the existing park.
The funding will also allow the restoration of Wheeler Peak Campground in Great Basin National Park. The 37-unit campground is one of the highest elevation developed campgrounds in the United States and was a point of national pride when it was originally constructed in the 1950s. The campsites will be fully restored, strengthening recreation opportunities in White Pine County.
The funding also includes $1.1 million for the continued development of the Caliente Mountain Bike System in Lincoln County. This project is a partnership between the BLM, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, the City of Caliente, Nevada Division of State Parks, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and local partners. Funding will provide for the design and construction of 24 to 37 miles of new bike trails, a trailhead, and parking facilities.
Earlier this year at the 20th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider announced nearly $30 million in SNPLMA project funding. Those funds will be used for hazardous fuels and wildfire prevention projects for the Lake Tahoe region, to include the Carson Valley, to make Nevada’s landscapes more resilient in the face of longer wildfire seasons and restore and enhance unique ecosystems across the state.
The following is a complete list of projects funded by today’s announcement:
Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas
- Las Vegas Wash Enhancement and Stabilization (Southern Nevada Water Authority), $4,000,000
- McGill Ball Park Upgrade Phase II (White Pine County), $996,199
- Northern Nevada Historic Railroad Museum Interpretive Trail Phase II (White Pine County) $1,287,999
- Carson River Trail System Phase II - Ranch Connection (Carson City), $1,843,685
- Kiel Ranch Historic Park 6.81 Acre Acquisition (City of North Las Vegas), $1,520,700
- Robert E. "Bob" Price Park Improvements (Clark County), $2,348,173
- Southwest Ridge Park/Trailhead Phase I (Clark County), $4,876,966
- Craig Ranch Regional Park 5.34 Acre Acquisition (City of North Las Vegas), $3,824,600
- Craig Ranch Regional Park 20.57 Acre Acquisition (City of North Las Vegas), $4,025,000
Capital Improvements
- Colorado River Heritage Trail – Arizona (Bureau of Reclamation), $5,999,773
- Water in the Desert: Water Conservation Delivery System (Fish and Wildlife Serve), $1,308,514
- Lincoln County Partners Non-Motorized Multipurpose Trail System, Phase II (BLM), $1,119,683
- Reconstruct and Restore the Historic Wheeler Peak Campground (National Park Service), $4,438,406
- Hoover Dam Visitor Center, Theater Level Refurbishment (Bureau of Reclamation) $2,702,471
- Rehabilitate Boulder Beach Campground North Loop (National Park Service) $1,451,701
- Hilltop Campground Reconstruction Project (Forest Service), $5,286,300
Conservation Initiatives
- Preservation of bats in the western US (National Park Service), $1,193,632
- Building Stewardship of Public Lands with Displaced User Groups (National Park Service), $2,978,100
- Protecting Gold Butte’s Cultural Heritage (Bureau of Land Management), $1,749,218
- Butterfly Autecology Phase IV (Forest Service), $1,608,015
- Protection, Stabilization, Restoration of Lehman Caves Historic Area (National Park Service), $926,597
- Endemic and Sensitive Species Biological Mitigations for Spring Mountains National Recreation Area Capital Improvement Projects (Forest Service), $734,200
Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisitions
- Jack’s Valley Ranch Conservation Easement (Forest Service), $12,419,000
Eastern Nevada Landscape Restoration Project
- Atlanta Road Sage-Grouse Habitat Improvement Continuation (Bureau of Land Management), $566,000
- Sagebrush Habitat Restoration (Forest Service), $1,185,520
- Ely District Noxious and Invasive Weeds: Inventory, Treatment, Restoration, and Education (Forest Service), $920,560
- South Spring and Hamblin Valley Watershed Restoration Plan (Bureau of Land Management), $350,000
- Forgotten Grasslands: Restoration of Basin Wildrye Ecosystems on Great Basin National Park (National Park Service) $320,950
Multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan
- Desert Tortoise Connectivity (Clark County), $2,448,000
- Riparian Restoration - Muddy River Riparian Reserve Unit (Clark County), $2,770,000
For more information about SNPLMA and project funding please visit https://www.blm.gov/snplma.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.