Earlier This Year, Senator Rosen Introduced Legislation To Increase Affordable Housing Opportunities, Support Responsible Development, & Protect Public Lands in Washoe County
RENO, NV – Leaders across a wide range of sectors have praised Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act. From local government officials to conservation advocates to business leaders, support is growing for her historic legislation to expand economic development and affordable housing opportunities in Washoe County, support local Tribal communities, and protect public lands.
Arlan D. Melendez, former Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony: “We appreciate the merit, transparency & inclusion Senator Rosen’s Office provided Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in drafting the proposed lands bill. We have been involved since 2017 and it’s good to see it may come to fruition.”
Bryce Pollock, Vice Chair, Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: “The Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is pleased to support the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act as recently introduced by Sen. Rosen and we thank her for her leadership. We see this legislation as a good representation of compromise by many stakeholders and interests that took many years and many versions to achieve. We are very appreciative of Sen. Rosen’s consideration to ensure that public land access would not be limited for hunters and anglers along the Truckee River. We look forward to the conservation of more than 900,000 acres of public lands, including many valuable recreation areas in North Washoe County, and are excited for the addition of a public shooting range that hunters can utilize for many generations to come.”
Mandi Elliott, Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition Executive Director: “The Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition celebrates Senator Rosen and her historic proposal. Public lands are not just a facet of Nevada’s economy, they are the heart of our quality of life. This proposed legislation will hugely benefit our communities, our economy, and our state’s legacy.”
Darcie Goodman Collins, CEO of League to Save Lake Tahoe: “The League to Save Lake Tahoe appreciates Senator Rosen’s leadership and support for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The bill, as drafted, will improve public lands and promote conservation while providing important economic opportunities for the Lake Tahoe Basin and the rest of Washoe County. We thank Senator Rosen for conducting the extensive stakeholder outreach required to even get to this point in the process.”
Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, Deputy Director of the Nevada Conservation League: “We applaud Senator Rosen’s leadership in advancing the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act to harmonize sustainable growth, economic prosperity, and environmental stewardship in Northern Nevada. This is a step forward in safeguarding our public lands while also fostering collaboration with local Tribal communities. It is also a testament to the Senator’s dedication to the well-being of Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage, creating a legacy of responsible land management, and inclusive development for generations to come.”
Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer – based in Nevada – for the Conservation Lands Foundation: “The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Senator Rosen’s leadership in crafting legislation with community members and Tribal Nations that advances significant land protections. The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act protects wildlife habitat, access to outdoor recreation and Nevada’s unique dark skies and conveys lands of significant importance to Indigenous communities. We celebrate the proposed designation of five new National Conservation Areas including the Massacre Rim Dark Sky, Smoke Creek and the Pah Rah, and we are committed to supporting Senator Rosen in passing this key legislation through Congress.”
Meghan Wolf, Senior Manager of Environmental Campaigns at Patagonia: “As the climate crisis becomes more urgent, this is the type of legislation we need to pass. This bill would strengthen Nevada’s commitment to preserving land for the protection of wildlife, water resources, sacred cultural sites and outdoor recreation. Patagonia has long supported conservation across the West as a tool for saving our planet, and we urge Congress to pass the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act.”
PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR SENATOR ROSEN’S LEGISLATION:
Alexis Hill, Vice Chair of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners: “I’m so proud that the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners supported Senator Rosen’s Truckee Meadows Public Lands Bill. We are committed to preserving our natural resources while allocating appropriate land for affordable and workforce housing, local governmental and tribal interests. We are especially excited about the potential revenue opportunities for Truckee River investments. This Bill will be a game changer for the future of northern Nevada.”
Ed Lawson, Mayor of the City of Sparks: “Thank you to Senator Rosen for taking this all-important step to introduce a Lands Bill, which I believe is the single largest federal priority for the City of Sparks, Washoe County, and Reno areas. It will have a significant impact for all of us as we address the affordable housing issues throughout the region.”
Daryl D. Gardipe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Chairman: “Reno-Sparks Indian Colony applauds Senator Rosen and her staff for their extensive collaboration with the various Washoe County local governments. This has led to the introduction of a lands bill benefitting all parties in an equitable fashion. We are pleased with the support we received from multiple stakeholders to preserve our culturally important areas, while also allowing the surrounding cities to continue their growth. We have been involved with the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act since 2017, and the compromises reached in this bill are going to greatly benefit the entire Truckee Meadows region.”
Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness: “This legislation is a milestone in the history of public lands conservation in Nevada. Northern Washoe County is home to critical wildlife habitat, uniquely dark skies, priceless cultural resources, and amazing outdoor recreation opportunities. Because Senator Rosen and her team spent countless hours consulting with multiple stakeholders, we now have a widely supported bill that will protect these values. We thank the Senator for her persistent leadership and look forward to working with her to help move this bill through Congress.”
Russell Kuhlman, Nevada Wildlife Federation’s Executive Director: “The Nevada Wildlife Federation thanks Senator Rosen for bringing all stakeholders together to create the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act. This legislation provides the county with the opportunity to balance our increasing human population while safeguarding our access to public lands, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation, which includes hunting and fishing.”
Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce: “The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support Senator Rosen’s land management legislation. The legislation provides a pathway for communities in the Truckee Meadows to develop much-needed affordable housing and expanded land uses that can be managed as we continue to grow. The legislation also conserves pristine areas in northern Nevada where residents and visitors can explore and recreate.”
Taylor Adams, President and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN): “EDAWN truly appreciates the dedication Senator Rosen has given this critical issue. In addition to safeguarding the natural beauty of Northern Nevada for future generations, this bill provides much-needed land that will ensure our region can continue to deliver sustainable growth of commercial development, housing, and the infrastructure required for both.”
A topline overview of the legislation can be found HERE.
A map of areas impacted by this legislation can be found HERE.
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