BLM seeks public input on Minister Road right-of-way
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Carson City, Nev – The Sierra Front Field Office is seeking public input that will be used to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects for a proposal from Nevada Division of State Parks (NDSP). The BLM is also seeking information to assist in identifying historic properties, and properties that may be of religious and cultural significance to Native American tribes. Public comments will be accepted through November 14, 2022.
Over 12,000 acres of land within the Walker River basin was conveyed to the State of Nevada by the Walker Basin Conservancy in July 2017. The purpose for this land conveyance via gift deeds was to establish the Walker River State Recreation Area. One of the properties conveyed to the state was the Pitchfork Ranch, located south of Yerington, Nevada, in Lyon County.
An EA was completed by NDSP in 2018 to evaluate the proposed development plans within the Pitchfork Ranch Unit campground, and a Finding of No Significant Effect was determined for the campground development plans at the Pitchfork Ranch Unit. Two items that were not included in that EA include:
- Road improvements and realignment for primary access to the Pitchfork Ranch Unit, which will provide safe, year-round public access to the Pitchfork Ranch Unit with the least amount of neighbor conflicts.
- Construction of a multi-use recreation trail, which will provide a non-motorized safe access route into the Pitchfork Ranch Unit.
The proposed road improvements and realignment along with the multi-use trail construction make up the Minister Road Right-of-way Dedication and Multi-use Recreational Trail Project. The project is partially located on land held in title by the NDSL and managed by NDSP. Both elements of the Proposed Action also cross public lands administered by and requiring a right-of-way (ROW) authorization from the BLM. Details and maps for the proposed access route and ROW, and trail construction can be found at https://bit.ly/3SSVba
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-including your personal information- may be publicly available at any time. While you ask us in your comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. After the public review period has ended, comments will be analyzed and considered part of the decision-making process.
If you have any questions, please contact Terah Malsam, Realty Specialist, at (775) 885-6153, email tmalsam@blm.gov, or at the above address. For cultural questions, please contact Christine McCollum, BLM Archaeologist, at cmccollum@blm.gov or (775) 885-6005.
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.