LINCOLN CO. CONSERVATION, RECREATION &

DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2004

 

TITLE I – FEDERAL LAND SALES

 

This legislation directs the completion of the auctions of two parcels (totaling approximately 13,341 acres) authorized by the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000. The two parcels, of roughly 6,355 acres and 6,986 would be auctioned within 75 days of the bill’s enactment.  The proceeds from these auctions would be spent according to the provisions of the Lincoln County Land Act of 2000

 

The bill also authorizes the sale of up to 87,005 acres of federal land in areas adjacent to existing private property in Lincoln County.  Land will be selected for annual auctions through a cooperative process between Lincoln County, municipalities in Lincoln County and the Bureau of Land Management. Land identified for sale through the joint selection process will be sold to the highest qualified bidder at annual auctions.  The Secretary of Interior is authorized to withhold up to 10,000 acres identified for sale in this bill if such sale would be inconsistent with the protection of habitat and cultural resources.

 

The proceeds from these annual auctions would be distributed as follows:

 

  5% -- State of Nevada Education Fund

45% -- Lincoln Co. for economic development including parks, trails and natural areas

50% -- Special Account available for use by the Secretary of Interior for:

A.      Inventory, evaluation, protection, and management of archeological resources

B.       Development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan for the County

C.       Reimbursement of Ely BLM Field Office expenses associated with land sales

D.      Management of the Silver State Off-Highway Vehicle Trail designated herein

E.       Management of the Wilderness designated herein

 

TITLE II – WILDERNESS ISSUES

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 designates approximately 769,611 acres as wilderness and releases 245,516 acres from wilderness study area consideration. Wilderness management and release provisions are similar to those used for BLM wilderness areas in the Clark County Conservation of Public Lands and Natural Resources Act of 2002.

 

Wilderness Area                                  Acres Designated                                                                Acres Released

Far South Egans                                   36,384                                                                     16,195

Fortifications Range                            28,837                                                                     13,574

White Rock Range                               24,413                                                                       125

Parsnip Peak                                         45,837                                                                     44,078

Table Mountain                                       0                                                                          35,958

Tunnel Spring                                       5,530                                                                            0

Clover Mountains                                85,757                                                                     4,993

Evergreen A, B, and C                              0                                                                         2,694

Delamar Mountains                             111,389                                                                   19,021

Meadow Valley Range                        124,833                                                                   60,910

Mormon Mountains                            153,939                                                                   16,875

Weepah Springs                                  51,117                                                                     11,524

Worthington Mountains                    30,936                                                                     14,892

Big Rock                                                13,913                                                                          0

Mt. Irish                                                 31,088                                                                          0

South Pahroc Range                            25,638                                                                       4,677       

Total                                                       769,611                                                                 245,516

 

TITLE III – UTILITY CORRIDORS

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 establishes utility corridors for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Lincoln County Water District.  In addition, contingent upon the successful compliance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, this legislation designates rights-of-way for the roads, wells, pipelines and other infrastructure needed for the construction and operation of a water conveyance system in Clark and Lincoln counties.  The bill explicitly notes that the establishment of corridors and rights-of-way, in and of themselves, have no bearing on water rights adjudications, which are solely under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Water Engineer.  The bill also authorizes a U.S. Geological Survey water resource study for White Pine County.

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 relocates an existing utility corridor from the east to the west side of Highway 93 between the Highway 93-Highway 168 junction and the Kane Springs Road-Highway 93 junction.  The relocated utility corridor will be in the same place it was prior to passage of the Nevada-Florida Land Exchange bill. The owners of the private property to the east of Highway 93 will pay the federal government fair market value for the appreciation of their property due to this provision.

 

TITLE IV – SILVER STATE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE TRAIL

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 establishes the Silver State Off-Highway Vehicle Trail in central Lincoln County. The Silver State Trail is a 260-mile combination of existing, back-country roads that are currently open and being used by off-highway vehicle enthusiasts.  The bill provides for the creation of a Silver State Trail Management Plan to minimize impacts on natural resources and to protect cultural and archeological resources.  The bill also provides for the temporary closure of the Trail in the event that there unintended adverse impacts on resources associated with the Trail.

 

TITLE V – STATE & COUNTY PARKS

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 provides for the conveyance of BLM land to the State and County for use as parks and open space.  The conveyance to the State is contingent upon a written agreement between the State and County supporting the transfer of ownership and totals 4,845 acres.  The conveyances to the County total approximately 14,000 acres.

 

State Parks                                                            Acreage Conveyed

Cathedral Gorge                                                   160

Beaver Dam                                                           3,236

Kershaw Ryan                                                      1,449      

Total                                                                       4,845

 

 

TITLE VI – JURISDICTION TRANSFERS

 

The Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation and Development Act of 2004 transfers the administrative jurisdiction for 8,382 acres associated with the utility corridor relocated in Title IV from the Fish and Wildlife Service to the Bureau of Land Management. The bill further transfers jurisdiction for 8,503 acres of land from the BLM to the FWS at the northeast boundary of the Desert National Wildlife Range.