Summary
The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act respects the delicate balance necessary for effective natural resource conservation and management, economic development, environmental stewardship, and local control of growth.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Jacky Rosen and co-sponsored by the entirety of Nevada’s congressional delegation, will protect some of Washoe County’s most valued open space by giving it permanent protection under the Wilderness Act and ensure continued public access. Additionally, the act will allow for the transfer of unused federal lands to local control for orderly growth and development consistent with the planning done by our local government leaders.
The permanent placement of land into wilderness designations will guarantee future generations of Nevadans have access to the wide-open spaces we all enjoy, while preserving recreation and cultural resources throughout Washoe County. Meanwhile, the conversion of unused federal lands near or within the urban areas of the Truckee Meadows will allow for orderly development of our community for decades to come.
Conservation
Washoe County is rich in open space; it’s one of the reasons we love living here. From parks, to trails, to designated wilderness and wildlife study areas, our wide-open spaces are some of our greatest treasures.
Because more than 85 percent of our county’s land is managed by the federal government, conservation must be a partnership between the various levels of government. The disposal of federal lands in the urban areas of the county will help generate the revenue needed for critical conservation projects, including wildlife habitat protection, forest management and fuels reduction to prevent wildfire, and provide greater access to public resources like trails and public lands.
These types of projects will ensure hikers, bikers, hunters, fisherman, campers, and wildlife enthusiasts will continue to enjoy the open spaces for which Washoe County is known.
Additionally, new transportation routes that could open up between north Sparks and the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Center in Storey County will have a significant reduction in air pollution, according to a study by the Desert Research Institute. In fact, diverting just 10 percent of I-80 traffic onto a new La Posada extension would reduce CO2 emissions by 9 tons/day.
Recreation
Some of the best recreational opportunities we have in Washoe County exist because lands have been protected against future development, and the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will follow on that success.
Whether you’re hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail through the Mt. Rose Wilderness or viewing antelope on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, or recreating anywhere in between, the federal designation of public lands in Washoe County has played a critical role in preserving these areas for your access and enjoyment.
The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will ensure northern Nevadans will continue to have, and expand access to, public lands for:
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
- Biking
- Hunting
- Backpacking
- Nature Viewing
Workforce Housing
As people around the world have discovered the wonders of living in northern Nevada, our community has grown. Our housing supply has been unable to keep up with this demand from new residents, leading to the significant spike in housing prices that we are seeing today.
This imbalance has created sizeable increases in both housing and rental costs in the Truckee Meadows:
There is simply not enough land available to build the housing supply we need to meet the demand created by our growing community. hankfully, the Truckee Meadows Public Lands anagement Act can help solve that problem by disposing of land the U.S. Government has decided it no longs wants or needs.
Disposing of this land will allow for new infill residential opportunities, orderly growth on the edges of the community, and the continued opportunity for the creation of workforce housing that will meet our growing needs.
- Sparks median home price hits half million first time Reno sets record high
- Average rent Reno sparks just broke past 1 600 first time
Smart Growth
Building higher density residential units closer to the urban core is a primary component of smart growth principles, and the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will further that aim by freeing up more land for high-density development where it’s most appropriate.
Our federal government managed more land in the Truckee Meadows urban areas than is widely recognized, and with no plans to use those parcels, a transfer of ownership presents an opportunity for northern Nevada.
Turning that land over to local use would mean more orderly development of our community by allowing for high densities in the urban core while preventing sprawling growth on the outskirts of town. The federal government has already identified parcels it would like to dispose of, and giving control back over to local governments makes sense for the smart growth of our region for decades to come.
Jobs
Business magazines across the globe continue to rank northern Nevada as one of the best places for business in the nation; and businesses are listening.
In Fiscal Year 2021, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada assisted companies creating 2,567 new primary jobs in the region. The trend continues to point upward for companies and people looking to relocate to northern Nevada and maintaining the region as a desirable place to live through smart growth, recreation, and conservation is a critical to everyone.
Construction jobs have always been the backbone of Nevada’s middle class, and smart growth through infill development and attainable housing throughout the region will create more jobs in Nevada’s construction industry.
Mobility
Backups on Interstate 80 have become commonplace as the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center has grown into one of the world’s leading industrial parks. With limited ability to expand capacity on I-80 between the Truckee Meadows and TRIC, alternative roads will be necessary to alleviate congestion.
The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act will open up federal lands for an extension of La Posada Drive between northern Sparks and TRIC to alleviate congestion along I-80 and Pyramid Highway, as well as create new industrial land along the new road, creating new jobs and business opportunities.
