218 acres of Wetlands Habitat Preserved as Open Space
Reno, Nevada. Nearly 218 acres of important migratory bird habitat near Stead will be saved as open space thanks to a purchase agreement ' between the Peter Echeverria Family Limited Partnership and Nevada Land Trust to preserve the land. Nevada Land Trust used the Nevada State Lands Conservation and Resource Protection grant program, matched by a generous donation from the Echeverria family, to purchase the land Friday, September 7.
"The preservation of this land is truly something to celebrate," Nevada Land Trust Projects Director Becky Stock said. "Through the acquisition, we'll be able to almost double the amount of protected valuable wildlife, wetlands and recreational resources in the Silver Lake area."
The purchase completes the protection of the lake bed of Silver Lake, and will allow for future recreational trails.
"Silver Lake is one of our region's special places," Nevada Land Trust Co-Executive Director Alicia Reban said. "It is an important part of the pacific inland flyway and a vital nesting and migratory bird stopover. A place where the public may enjoy and learn more about the more than 80 species of birds and other wildlife that use the wetland and surrounding uplands throughout the year."
Nevada Land Trust will work with partner agencies, including Washoe County and local residents, to maintain a nature study area at Silver Lake similar to the one that currently exists at nearby Swan Lake, less than three miles to the southeast.
Nevada Land Trust is Nevada's first independent, non-profit land trust working with landowners and communities to protect and preserve the special places and open spaces of Nevada for future generations. NLT has protected more than five acres a day in the past fourteen years. For information on Nevada Land Trust's projects, please call 775-851-5180 or visit www.nevadalandtrust.org.
