Commission okays proceeding towards buying Dayton floodplain land

In a step to prevent further development in the Carson River floodplain in Dayton, the Lyon County Board of Commissioners March 20 approved moving forward on seeking a grant to buy land along the Carson River.

Commissioner Bob Milz explained the county would apply for Question 1 grant funding from the state (program authorize by a Question 1 statewide ballot question approved by voters) and the 25 percent match would come from equity in the land value, as he said the owner would sell the land to the county below the value given from an appraisal, so that could be used as the required match.

Read the complete story at the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Court upholds Carson’s Ash Canyon water rights

CARSON CITY, Nev.–The Nevada Supreme Court has unanimously upheld Carson City’s 1885 priority to water rights in Ash Canyon.

When Carson ran into regulatory troubles eight years ago, the state temporarily canceled the city’s permit to use the water. The city owns 60 percent of the water rights to the canyon, but because in many years the amount of water is very limited, that priority is important.

Read the complete story at the Nevada Appeal.

Tahoe pier dispute continues (AP)

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (AP) — Lake Tahoe land use regulators have tentatively endorsed new rules designed to end years of controversy over new pier construction and other shoreline activities.

But property owners and environmentalists said problems remain with proposed shoreline development rules hammered out during February discussions among the lieutenant governors of Nevada and California and other officials.

“What I heard today is everybody really dislikes this plan so we must be getting close,” Allen Biaggi, director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and an appointee to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency governing board, said during an agency meeting Wednesday.

Read the complete story at the Nevada Appeal.

Panel seeks emergency declaration in Tahoe Basin (Nevada Appeal)

The commission established to look into June’s Angora fire unanimously agreed on dozens of recommendations Friday and will ask the Bush administration to declare a state of emergency for the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The emergency request move would allow for federal funding to prevent future catastrophic wildlife. A five-year emergency plan has been estimated at $7.8 million.

The commission finalized dozens of recommendations to the governors of California and Nevada this afternoon after monthly and twice monthly meetings since August.

Read the complete story at the Nevada Appeal.