BLM eyes purchase of land for parks

Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 | 11:48 a.m.

Comments

Comments may be mailed or delivered to the BLM Southern Nevada Special Project Office, 4765 W. Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108.

The BLM website is: www.blm.gov.

Land that could be used for parks, trails and other natural areas is being considered for purchase by the Bureau of Land Management with money generated from the sales of parcels in the Las Vegas Valley.

The public has until Feb. 28 to comment on the proposed purchases, the second such round.

The purchase of environmentally sensitive lands within the state is allowed under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act passed in 1998 by Congress.

The act allows the BLM to hold auctions twice a year to sell holdings to individuals and developers. Money earned from the auctions is then used to buy lands that need protection.

The first purchase of lands under the act was in July 2000. The next purchase will take place once the proposed purchases are approved -- following evaluation of the public comment -- by a committee of federal agencies. For the coming purchase, $21 million is available.

Parcels proposed for the purchase include Perkins Ranch and the Anniversary Mine in the Muddy River region, both about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

These two sites would protect endangered species of birds and fish.

Another seven areas span the Virgin and Muddy river regions. These include:

The Virgin River lands were funded last June and purchased.

The current list of proposed parcels for purchase includes 24 nominations in total. Several are in Clark County, in addition to the Muddy and Virgin River properties.

One of the sites is the 165-acre Torino Ranch, next to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, southwest of Las Vegas. The ranch would increase access to the area, BLM background information said.

Another parcel is the 80-acre Horseshutern Springs, also southwest of Las Vegas. Another recommended site is the White Beauty Mine next to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 20 miles west of Las Vegas.

Two other holdings available for purchase are the 120-acre Eagle Mining Claims in Eldorado Canyon and the 110-acre mining Rockefeller Mining claims in Cottonwood Cove, both more than 80 miles south of Las Vegas.

Other properties listed in Clark County are:

The remaining properties recommended for purchase by federal, state and local agencies are outside Clark County.

Funding assistance for the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Ceinega Wetlands, north of Alta Drive and east of Valley View Boulevard, is also recommended. Trail work includes Bootleg Canyon and the River Mountains Loop Trail, the Loop Trail itself, a Wetlands Trail Connection and a multi-use pedestrian pathway at the Las Vegas Wash, all southeast of Las Vegas.

Detailed information will be available on each of the properties at BLM field offices, including the Las Vegas District, in early February. The comment period closes Feb. 28. The recommendations will then be considered by the executive committee composed of members from regional federal agencies.