"Other Flume Trail" Gets Major Boost from Duffields’ Gift to Nevada Land Trust
MARCH 14, 2016 – Incline Village, NV
The critical first step toward future public ownership of 18.6 acres of land near Incline Village has been taken with the generous donation by Cheryl and David Duffield of the property to Nevada Land Trust. This gift of land provides the missing link needed to connect the 7-mile trail known as the Incline Flume Trail from Mt. Rose Highway all the way to Tunnel Creek. “We are very pleased to give this land to Nevada Land Trust so that it may lead to a terrific community trail and to long-term public ownership of the iconic Incline Bull Wheel," said David Duffield.
For years, many have hoped to see this section of trail in public ownership. The Nevada Land Trust (NLT) will work with a number of private and public partners in order to move the property into public ownership over the next two years. "We are grateful to Cheryl and David Duffield for their very generous donation of this important part of Nevada’s past and a vital link in the trail system. We’ll realign and restore this section of trail to better protect the historic area and the natural environment to prepare for public use," said Alicia Reban, NLT Executive Director. Nevada Land Trust is the state’s first independent, nationally-accredited conservation land trust, founded in 1998 to protect special places like the Bull Wheel property, through facilitating gifts of land and water, purchasing threatened habitat, protecting recreational opportunities and historic sites, and working with private landowners on conservation easements.
This property is adjacent to US Forest Service land and the area has many user-created trails. “With plans being developed to improve this portion of the trail, we look forward to enhancing public access along the network of trails in the area,” said Jeff Marsolais, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor. “In addition, collaboration among property owners to ensure protection of the historic Bull Wheel structure will continue.”
Washoe County Commissioner Marsha Birkbigler noted that , “David and Cheryl Duffield have been generous to the Incline Village community. This phenomenal gift not only brings the community closer to having the historic site for which Incline Village is named under public ownership but it will also provide a back country trail that young and old can enjoy and we all know in Incline Village that is a rare opportunity.”
With the Bull Wheel property now in the hands of the Nevada Land Trust, work can begin to realign this new trail link . "We have been working behind the scenes for years to put the pieces in place to be able to restore and improve the entire Incline Flume Trail. Until now, that was all wishful thinking," said Sue Hughes of project partner Friends of Incline Trails. "Thanks to the Duffields, we have the missing link and can finally move toward completion and official designation for this wonderful trail,” Hughes concluded.
The Incline Flume Trail starts near the Incline Lookout on Mt. Rose Highway and runs south through Diamond Peak Ski Resort before hitting the newly donated land and continuing on to Tunnel Creek. This trail is sometimes known as the “Other Flume Trail” to distinguish it from the Flume Trail that runs 14 miles from Tunnel Creek south past Marlette Lake to Spooner Lake.
"The Incline Flume Trail is the most family-friendly backcountry trail in the Basin. It offers spectacular views and connects with so many other trails in the area, but it needs restoration and signage," said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry, one of the project partners. "We look forward to working with the Nevada Land Trust and the Friends of Incline Trails to raise the funds needed to get the trail improved for our community and our environment."
With Nevada Land Trust focused on the trail realignment and protection efforts on the land they now own, the broader campaign to get the trail reconstructed is being led by the Friends of Incline Trails with support from the Incline Tahoe Foundation and the Tahoe Fund. Anticipated work includes some trail widening, erosion control, minor trail reconstruction, and installation of educational and way-finding signs.
Visit NLT’s website at www.nevadalandtrust.org or call 775.851.5180 to learn more.
