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Federal land sale fund growing again for Nevada

WASHINGTON — A program that has generated $3.5 billion since 1998 for Nevada parks and trails, open spaces, forest fire prevention and hundreds of other projects is back after being hit hard by the Great Recession.

Another $39.1 million will be provided for 43 more projects in the state this year, with more sales planned until the end of the federal fiscal year in October.

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced this week that the biggest share of the new funding — $12.2 million — will go for environmentally sensitive land acquisition with $5.1 million for capital improvements, $4.7 million for parks, trails and natural areas, and $4.1 million for a landscape restoration project in eastern Nevada.

Funds also will go for hazardous fuels reduction and wildfire prevention, conservation initiatives and multi-species habitat conservation.

Some of the projects include:

* Long-term restoration actions on 4,369 acres in the Harris Springs Canyon watershed that were damaged in the Carpenter 1 Fire in July 2013.

* Enhancement of Pahrump poolfish habitat within the Shoshone Ponds Area in South Spring Valley.

* Acquisition of 8.2 acres by the U.S. Forest Service in the Lee Canyon area of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area to consolidate federal ownership and prevent additional development.

* Restoration of about 1,500 acres within the Lake Valley watershed to improve sage grouse habitat.

* Implementation of desert tortoise monitoring within Clark County.

* An outdoor education and nature connection center at the Clark County Wetlands Park.

* Upgrades to plaza and safety enhancements at Hoover Dam.

* A stargazing theater and gathering center for a science camp at the Great Basin National Park in White Pine County.

Funding comes from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998, which allows revenue generated by sales of public lands in the Las Vegas area to be divided among the state’s general education fund, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and a fund under the Interior secretary for recreation and conservation projects.

“Thanks to productive partnerships at every level of government, these projects will restore and enhance Nevada’s natural beauty and unique landscapes while improving the quality of life for millions of people in the state,” Jewell said.

“This year’s funding will make landscapes more resilient in the face of longer wildfire seasons, create economic opportunities through increased outdoor recreation, and enhance protections for environmentally and culturally sensitive areas.”

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who promoted the 1998 law, welcomed the agency’s announcement and said the level of funding is the largest under the program since the recession.

Until the recession cut the demand for Bureau of Land Management land, the program was a welcome and dependable source of money for parks and other projects.

According to a report, 10,329 acres of public land were sold in 2004 for $884 million with $248 million going to Las Vegas and $280 million to Clark County. The fund brought in only $457,000 in 2010, near the end of the recession.

Wetlands Park and the Clark County Shooting Park were built with that money, along with dozens of trails.

The land sale funds also paid for the construction of Centennial Hills Park, a new Red Rock Visitors Center, outdoor exhibits at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve and the Neon Museum and Boneyard.

More public land is scheduled to go up for sale soon. The Bureau of Land Management announced it was seeking public comments on a proposal to sell 608.57 acres of public land in Clark County.

Contact Jim Myers at jmyers@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @myers_dc

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