Nevada
Nevada Chapter Spotlight
Sept./Oct. 2007
By Billie and Fawna Gregory
Nevada Chapters Spread the Wealth Around
In 2006, Nevada was ravaged by fire from one end of the state to the other. Realizing that there was no way that our one little chapter from Reno was going to be able to help restore all of the damage, we decided to spread our help around and join forces with other wildlife groups. We started by helping the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) by getting their helicopter back in the air. This was a joint effort with other wildlife groups such as NBU, SCI, and the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife.
What we were able to do, was use the funding that is in Nevada’s Wildlife Heritage Fund. This money comes from the sale of Governor’s tags; such as the Nevada statewide mule deer tag which was sold at the MDF National Convention. By doing this, NDOW was able to take more wildlife surveys and get a more accurate account of what the effects of the fires were.
Moving northeast, the Great Basin Chapter located in Elko, put more than $18,000 dollars on the ground to rehabilitate the Conservation Easement that MDF holds with the Ellison Ranch. This area of Nevada lost more than 1.5 million acres to fire during 2006.
One major project, which is dear to our hearts, is the Rosaschi Ranch south of Wellington. The Rosaschi Ranch is 2,397 acres that was sold to the Forest Service so that it could be returned to its natural habitat. A major deer migration path, the ranch had approximately fifteen miles of internal barbed-wire fence––a deadly obstacle for deer. For three years now, the Reno Chapter has been going to the ranch to take down the fencing and in May of this year, after many cuts and bruises, (and one close call with a bear), the last pile of fencing was laid to rest in a clearing. For the final fence removal, the Forest Service’s Fire Crew was there to help pile fence, cut fallen trees from the road, and clear other debris. The fire crews will eventually go in and burn the piles of fencing so that the wire may be picked up later. In addition, the old houses have been tore down to make way for an interpretive center, pathways to the Walker River, and restrooms.
The future of the ranch is promising and the Forest Service has been working hard planting native vegetation, restoring the river bank and cleaning up the area to make it a great home for wildlife and a place outdoor enthusiast will enjoy visiting. The Walker River has approximately seven miles of ‘catch and release only’ fly fishing that runs through this area and the efforts being put forth by the Forest Service will only enhance the fishing. This project has been a joint effort between the Reno and Carson chapters of the MDF.
Early Spring brought together more than 100 volunteers to plant bitterbrush seedlings along a burned out canyon in Verdi, Nevada. The area is home to not only a local deer herd, but also an interstate herd shared with California. Over 1,500 plants were planted using bamboo stakes and plastic covers to protect the seedlings from the wind.
The volunteers were divided into groups that would plant, make the shelters, or water the seedlings. This project was done in conjunction with the Nature Land Conservancy, Washoe County Parks and Recreation, the MDF and other local volunteers. After checking the progress of the plants, about 1 in 10 were doing really well. Some looked like they were struggling, and some just couldn’t make the fight. This year has been extremely dry in Nevada and without water, the seedlings are struggling to survive.
Once again fire is ravaging the state and not only the deer, but all wildlife are being forced to run from what they once knew as “home” to areas that are unfamiliar to them. This will cause an increase in fatalities as the deer move from the mountains to roadways seeking shelter from the fire. The drought will also find wildlife moving closer to the cities seeking food and water.
The Winnemucca Chapter has agreed to help fund a Laser Shot program to increase the number of Hunter Education instructors. Members from the committee have also volunteered to become certified instructors. This is one way the Winnemucca chapter will be able to help bring more youth to the field and teach our future generations the importance of gun safety along with instilling the importance of family as more parents are able to take their youth out to the field.
Winnemucca is also involved with the Northern Nevada Outdoor School. They are currently funding a project in the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon National Conservation Area that incorporates 350,000 acres in Washoe, Pershing, and Humboldt counties. The Winnemucca Chapter raised $5,000 for this project while the BLM is also contributing funds. The project will close off heavily trampled spring sources from cattle and wild horses while allowing mule deer and other wildlife to drink freely. Some roads will either be closed or rehabbed to significantly increase the natural habitat of the mule deer. Signs will be installed to heighten awareness to wilderness borders, limiting the amount of motor vehicle use in mule deer habitats. Eight congressionally designated wilderness areas will be affected including some of Nevada’s most beautiful mountain ranges. This will be an important project as it will also be used as a teaching project in conjunction with Britain’s largest conservation volunteer organization, BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers).
The success of this year’s banquets in Nevada has been instrumental in raising more than $34,000 that will help with habitat restoration throughout the state. Ely has been working with the Forest Service to install a water guzzler in the Ely area. The Reno and Carson chapters will look for projects they can fund with NDOW or the Forest Service. Las Vegas will be contacting the Forest Service as well to locate a potential project in southern Nevada. The remaining chapters, such as Elko, will again try to restore northeastern Nevada to what was once beautiful landscape destroyed by Mother Nature’s fury.
If you would like to volunteer on a project, have a project in mind that will benefit mule deer, or would like to help in any other way, please contact the Mule Deer Foundation, your local Regional Director, or your State Chair.