Friends of Nevada Wilderness

Dedicated to preserving Nevada's wild lands through stewardship, advocacy, and education.

[friendsofnvwild]

Looking for a way to plan your own adventure and simultaneously help protect southern Nevada's water resources? Join us for a spring monitoring training to learn and practice how to take water quality and flow measurements - once you’re trained, you will be able to survey springs in Clark County independently whenever you would like! This also allows you to work with our springs team to tailor the spring location to your mobility needs - springs are located everywhere, some deep in back country Wilderness and some a short stroll from a vehicle or ATV, plus everywhere in between. Check out our website for more details, and join our next Springs Spectacular training on July 17-18: www.nevadawilderness.org/snv_spring_stewardship

Experience a trip with our Springs Team to Gold Butte on our IGTV: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQxKIAjhmlP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Apply for a year-long AmeriCorps service volunteer position with our Springs Program: www.nevadawilderness.org/employment

[friendsofnvwild]

Take the trail less traveled....

[friendsofnvwild]

Happy #NationalParkWeek! We’ve got some amazing public lands managed by the National Park Service here in Nevada, including Great Basin National Park and a corner of Death Valley National Park. Nevada is also home to Lake Mead National Recreation Area - America’s first designated National Recreation Area! “With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes.” -NPS Website

Did you know? Legislation introduced by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Dina Titus would expand Wilderness Areas like Bridge Canyon (pictured) in the Lake Mead region! Find out more about the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act: https://www.nevadawilderness.org/historic_bill_announced 

[mypubliclands]

Honoring Trailblazing Women at the BLM

In recognition of women’s history month, we are featuring three trailblazing women who were the first in their field at the BLM: Elaine (Mosher) Pearsons, Lynell Schalk, and Caroline Peters. 

Click below to learn more about the careers of these exceptional women who broke barriers in the 1960s and 70s.

Keep reading

[friendsofnvwild]

#HerStory

[friendsofnvwild]

It’s a whole new Earth day in Reno this year.

The Reno Earth day event held annually at Idlewild park has been cancelled for 2019. The website claims that the event has grown so large they are taking this year off to strategize for 2020. Fret not, eco-conscious community! In the absence of this hugely important and popular celebration of sustainability and climate conscious change, a new group has stepped up to the plate. The first ever Truckee Meadows Earth Day celebration premiers this year.  A cast of dedicated individuals from local sustainability minded organizations has come together to fill this crucial role and assure that the Reno community continues to make sustainability a priority.  

There is a lot that is new and different about this year’s Earth Day. The event takes place on Sunday, April 28th, a little after the official Earth Day holiday. While we will still get to enjoy the river walk, the event will take place at Mayberry Park, instead of the usual Idlewild park location. Typically, this park does not allow events so this is a special treat. What we are most excited about for this Earth day is the zero waste event management and rules. Vendors are prohibited from distributing disposable and paper items. These frequently single use materials can equate to a surprisingly large amount of trash in landfills later on. In addition, the event will be alcohol free and utilize no disposable cutlery. We are really excited to see an event modeling sustainable solutions for event planning and food distribution. These are challenging but rewarding undertakings and it is so important to model that these things are not only possible, but achievable and well received by the community.  We can’t wait to participate and support a more sustainable Nevada. Come visit our booth and check out Truckee Meadows Earth Day celebration, April 28th from 9am to 3pm at Mayberry Park. Happy #Earthday!

[friendsofnvwild]

Please be respectful of our public lands during the government shutdown - respect any and all 'closed' signs, be prepared to pack out trash and waste, and recreate at your own risk, as maintenance and emergency services have been affected in several popular areas in Nevada: "A sign posted at the entrance to Red Rocks Canyon advises visitors to use extreme caution, because Bureau of Land Management employees won't be there to provide guidance, assistance, maintenance or emergency response."

For more information: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2018-12-27/public-lands-wilderness/nv-public-lands-accessible-but-limited-during-government-shutdown/a65064-1?fbclid=IwAR090NzQ34lxCf_I507yH6Sz_35qEma-OAcdSecZycl_FwUj1jXINfcl0gI

Photo of Rainbow Mountain Wilderness by Kurt Kuznicki.

Note: Friends of Nevada Wilderness is a nonpartisan 501c3 nonprofit. We ask that you refrain from partisan rhetoric in the comments. We are focused on protecting and caring for our public lands together, and providing information during this time.

[friendsofnvwild]

Wilderness designation provides a buffer between development and military activities, plus it conserves vital habitat for wildlife and popular recreation areas like Job Peak. No development and darkness are needed for training at the Navy’s Fallon Training Range Complex - qualities that Wilderness designation of the entire Stillwater Range would provide. Elimination of Wilderness Study Areas would be a lose-lose, but Wilderness designation for the Stillwater Range and the Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness Study Area would be win-win.

[friendsofnvwild]

Don’t let the military eliminate 74,400 acres of Wilderness Study Areas and close off 360,000 acres of public land so they can QUADRUPLE the size of the Navy’s Fallon Range Training Complex – speak up for wild places and wildlife: nevadawilderness.org/fallonexpansion

You can submit an official comment against the proposed expansion, sign our petition to let the Nevada Congressional designation your support WSAs and open access to public lands, and join us at a public meeting. Help us defend places like Job Peak Wilderness Study Area, where bighorn sheep were successfully re-introduced in 1981 after they were eliminated from the area by poaching and disease eliminated in the 1940s.

Speak up for the wild places and wildlife that can’t defend themselves against military over-reach - submit a comment, attend a public meeting, and let the military know you want our wildlife protected and our wild places open!

[friendsofnvwild]

Wilderness Wingding Celebration

Friday, Dec. 7 from 5:30-9:00pm

at the California Building in Idlewild Park

Join us in celebrating our wonderful volunteers and supporters, and the public lands they care for and defend! We'll be enjoying great music, delicious food, and wonderful Friends, and recognizing people who went above and beyond for our wild places in 2018. Open to the public. Suggested $10 donation.

[friendsofnvwild]

Job Peak Wilderness Study Area is a western wildlife success story - desert bighorn sheep were successfully reintroduced to the WSA in 1981 after being eliminated through poaching and diseases transmitted by domestic sheep, which grazed the area until the 1940s. Today, bighorn sheep can be spotted traversing the WSA’s 90,000 acres of scenic ridges and rugged canyons, including towards the summit of Job Peak at 8,785 feet. Managed by the BLM, Job Peak WSA is part of America’s National Conservation Lands. Photo by @nevada_outside

[friendsofnvwild]

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and the rabbit brush is making us sneeze uncontrollably. All of this can mean only one thing: National Public Lands Day on the Black Rock and the annual fall dutch oven cook-off!

This year, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Friends of Black Rock-High Rock, Nevada Outdoor School, and the BLM Winnemucca District gathered with a group of wonderful volunteers at Soldier Meadows to celebrate America’s public lands in Nevada through on-the-ground stewardship. Volunteers improved the habitat of the endemic Desert Dace, by clearing out excess vegetation in the fish’s native springs that cause flooding and create access for the predatory sunfish. Projects also included painting the interior of the public-use cabin at Soldier Meadows, repairing an illegal route barrier, collecting water temperature data, and cleaning up the Soldier Meadows campground.

We are so thankful to have a great group of partners and volunteers who care so much about Nevada and its public lands!

Stewardship Coordinator Chris Cutshaw won the dutch oven cook-off with his mind-blowing Pork Chile Verde - check out the recipe below!

Chris’s Dutch Oven Pork Chile Verde

Salsa Verde - Make ahead of time

4 lbs tomatillos

6 poblano chilies

1 serrano chile

1 large onion

1 bunch epazote (Winco usually has this by the fresh herbs and bulk brussels sprouts, Marketon has it as well)

Oregano

Cumin

Salt and Pepper

1. De-husk tomatillos. Roast along with peeled and quartered onion at 425, 15-20 minutes.

2. Broil chilies until blistered and charred. Seal in tupperware or plastic bag and let cool, peel skin when cool to touch.

3. Blend tomatillos, onion, chiles together with epazote and 2 tsp oregano and salt and pepper to taste. May need to add liquid to thin sauce. 

Pork - Cut and prep ahead of time

4-6 pounds of pork shoulder, also known as pork butt

2 limes

Apple Cider Vinegar

Cumin

Salt and Pepper

1. Cube pork into 1-inch pieces and toss with 2 tbsp cumin powder, lime zest, and 1 tsp each of salt and pepper, freeze pork. Make sure it is thawed when you begin cooking.

2. Juice zested limes and add apple cider vinegar to double liquid volume. Set aside.

Day Of in Dutch Oven

Chile Verde

Pork

1 sliced onion

Lime Juice/Apple Cider Mix

1 head chopped garlic (2-3 tbsp)

Chopped Cilantro

2 Limes, juiced

1. Preheat Dutch oven for with a few extra coals on bottom.

2. Add thawed pork chunks and sear on all sides, after 3-5 minutes, add sliced onions. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes. Deglaze with lime juice/vinegar liquid. Be sure to scrape up any bits that stick to Dutch oven.

3. Add garlic and cook, 1-2 minutes.

4. Check coals and make sure they are good to maintain 300-350 F for 1.5 hours. Add coals as necessary.

5. Cover pork with Salsa Verde and bake for at least 1 hour, 2 hours is best. Stir occasionally.

6. Just before serving, add 1 or 2 bunches of chopped cilantro and juice of 2 limes. (~1/2 cup)

7. Serve with corn tortillas.

[friendsofnvwild]

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25 through Friday, Sept. 28, during the NV Energy Power Of Good giveaway, vote to support funding for post-Martin Fire native seedling plantings in the N. Fork Little Humboldt Wilderness Study Area: nvenergy.com/poggiveaway.

Invasive species like cheatgrass flourish in burnt areas - but not if our volunteers can get there first! The BLM needs our help to hand-plant native seedlings that attract pollinators in the riparian areas so they can focus on larger-scale restoration efforts. Help us ensure our native bees and butterflies come back to this rugged slice of wild Nevada - vote all four days!

[friendsofnvwild]

Join us at our Reno/Sparks office on Sept. 20 as Friends celebrates the 25th anniversary of National Public Lands Day. View our brand new art exhibit “Wild Washoe – Where the Pavement Ends” by local landscape artist Erik Holland.  Be one of the first to get your 2019 Wild Nevada Calendar, featuring stunning photos of our wild public lands throughout the state. Snacks and beverages, too!

NPLD Celebration Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 4 – 6 pm Friends of Nevada Wilderness 1360 Greg St., Suite 111 Sparks, NV  89431

[friendsofnvwild]

Fall in love with wild Nevada this autumn....

Antelope Range Wilderness Study Area by Jamey Pyles.

[friendsofnvwild]

Tucked in the northwestern corner of Nevada is the Sheldon Contiguous Wilderness Study Area. This special place gets its mouthful of a name from its border with the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, protecting the wildlands that cross from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction to BLM. But on the ground, and in the eyes of wildlife and visitors, it’s all part of the same landscape.

Find out why WSAs are so important, and how you can defend them: https://www.nevadawilderness.org/heller_attacks_wsa

[friendsofnvwild]

Our favorite way to celebrate National Public Lands Day in the Nevada backcountry? With some delicious cowboy cookin’!

Here’s Wilderness warrior Brian Beffort’s prize-winning recipe for his Dutch oven Thai Chicken Curry - the first place entree at the National Public Lands Day 2012 Dutch Oven Round-Up! Ingredients 2 shallots 1 stalk lemon grass 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste) 1 cup chicken stock 1 inch of galangal (Thai ginger) 4 kaffir lime leaves 6 bird’s eye chilis, bruised (or more to taste) 4 boneless breasts of chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 red pepper, chopped 1 cup green beans, chopped 1-2 tablespoons red curry paste (more to taste) 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce (more to taste) 1-2 tablespoons sour tamarind soup base (more to taste) 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 20-oz can of coconut milk 1 fresh lime 1 bunch Thai basil, chopped

1. Prep: Peel shallots and slice into thin rings. Thinly slice the lemongrass, from thin end until it starts to get thick and woody. Bruise the lime leaves and chilis. Cut the galangal into thin slices.

2. Heat the oil to medium heat in the Dutch oven, then add shallots and let them cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add lemongrass, lime leaves, chilis and galangal. Let them simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors out.

3. Then add the chicken stock and chicken pieces and let it all simmer for a few minutes. Then add coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce and soup base. Cook all this at a low boil for 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. 4. Add the red peppers, green beans and Thai basil, cook for 5 more minutes. Adjust your flavors. Squeeze lime into it. Sprinkle the remaining Thai basil and serve over rice. This recipe will serve 4 to 6.

[friendsofnvwild]

We’ll be at Burning Man! Stop by the BLM Camp at 5:15 & Esplanade from 10 am to 6 pm during the festival to learn about Leave No Trace on the playa, and why the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is such a special piece of our public lands system.