MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Sixty-seventh Session
April 21, 1993
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman R. Hal Smith, at 8:40 a.m., on Wednesday, April 21, 1993, in Room 224 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Vice Chairman
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
Senator Dina Titus
Senator Ernest E. Adler
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mark A. James (Excused)
Senator Thomas J. Hickey
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Senator Mike McGinness, Central Nevada Senatorial District
Marcia de Braga, Assemblywoman, Assembly District 35
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst
Caroline Allen, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Willie Molini, Director, Nevada Department of Wildlife
Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President, Nevada Farm Bureau
Tina Nappe, Coordinator, Lahontan Valley Wetlands Coalition
Lyle De Braga, Carson Pasture Grazer
Larry Miller, Carson Pasture Grazer
David Ziegler, Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Chairman Smith opened the hearing on Senate Bill (S.B.) 348.
SENATE BILL 348: Protects lessees of grazing in Carson Lake Pasture.
Mike McGinness, Senator, Central Nevada Senatorial District,
introduced himself to members of the committee. Senator McGinness
explained to the committee that what they were trying to come into compliance with U.S. Senator Reid's water bill affecting the Lahontan's Valley Newlands Project. He also stated the Carson Lake Pasture will be transferred from control of Truckee-Carson Irrigation District to the Nevada Department of Wildlife. He stated there had been historical cattle raising on the Carson Lake Pasture, indicating
this had worked very well.
He further expounded on his views.
Senator Rhoads asked how big was the pasture?
Senator McGinness responded it was 34,000 acres.
Marcia de Braga, Assemblywoman, Assembly District 35, introduced herself to members of the committee and proceeded to make her presentation historically and currently. She stated the current law provides the leasing of grazing rights on a wildlife management area has to be put out to bid, indicating specifically it requires the Nevada Department of Wildlife to advertise and accept bids from individuals.
She mentioned it does not allow for the formation of a livestock grazer's association or something on that order. She informed the
committee that as part of Public Law 101618, that is, the Negotiator Water Settlement, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be taking over the management of the Carson Lake Pasture. She stated the Carson Lake Pasture has been a community pasture since the early 1900s and has been managed by the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District since 1926. She emphasized that part of the pasture had been set aside as a bird sanctuary about 10 or 15 years ago, stating also, at its peak about
5,000 head of cattle were run there. She further expounded on her views.
She emphasized that Senate Bill (S.B.) 348 seeks to change the existing law to allow the users of the Carson Lake Pasture, that is, the present users, first right of lease on a pasture after the Nevada
Department of Wildlife takes over management of the pasture.
She stated that under the conditions of the amendment they are offering to this bill, the Department of Wildlife will determine the amount of grazing that will be allowed in any year, and will set reasonable customer fees for the use of the grazing. She further expounded on her views.
Senator Rhoads asked if the fees were set in the past by bidding?
Assemblywoman de Braga stated the fees were set by the TCID (Truckee-Carson Irrigation District).
Senator Rhoads asked what were the fees in the past?
Assemblywoman de Braga stated the fees were just raised to $6.25 per head, per month, emphasizing this was a little high for that area, stating also that it had changed over the years.
Further discussion ensued.
Willie Molini, Director, Nevada Department of Wildlife, introduced himself to members of the committee. He informed the committee his agency had worked with Senator McGinness and Assemblywoman de Braga on the amended language, and they were in support of the language. He stated the amended language according to Public Law 101618, authorizes the Secretary of Interior to transfer the pasture to them. He ex- plained the reason for why the pasture is called Carson Lake Pasture, stating it is one of the most significant and important wetlands for migratory birds in the entire state of Nevada. He further indicated it supports probably 70 to 80 percent of the migrant showbirds that come into the entire state, and it has the largest nesting colony of white faced ibis in North America. He further expounded on his views and concluded that he was in support of the bill.
Further discussion ensued.
Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President, Nevada Farm Bureau, introduced himself to members of the committee. He stated they were there to support the concepts expressed in Senate Bill 348. He
stated that during the discussions on the water bill, one of the things their members brought to them was their very strong concern over how the Carson Lake Pasture would fit into this entire legislative package. He further expounded on his views.
Tina Nappe, Coordinator, Lahontan Valley Wetlands Coalition, introduced herself to members of the committee. She stated the coalition was formed in 1988, basically to support the creation of water rights for the wetlands in the Lahontan Valley. She further emphasized her close working relationship with the people in Churchill County, the Chamber of Commerce, with federal and state agencies and with the Coalition of Sportsmen and Conservation Organizations to review and pass Public Law 101618. She further expressed she was there to support the revisions being proposed for Senate Bill 348 because it was their goal at that time and still is, indicating they were very concerned about the creation of the wetlands. She stated they did not want to disrupt any more than they had to, the current community in Churchill County or for that matter the Pyramid Lake Tribe's interest in assuring that sufficient water was available for the cui-ui. She gave further testimony to support the intent of the amendments which were proposed.
Further discussion ensued.
Lyle de Braga, Carson Pasture Grazer, introduced himself to members of the committee. He presented his views in favor of Senate Bill 348.
Larry Miller, Carson Pasture Grazer, introduced himself to members of the committee. He presented his views in favor of Senate Bill 348.
Chairman Smith closed the hearing on Senate Bill 348.
Chairman Smith opened the hearing on Assembly Joint Resolution (A.J.R.) 3.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 3: Urges Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to consider certain factors in regulating development in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
David S. Ziegler, Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, introduced himself to members of the committee. He explained this was one of those policy resolutions that came out of the oversight of the interim committee Assembly Joint Resolution (A.J.R.) 17 of the Sixty-
sixth Session.
ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 17
of the SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION: Creates committee of Legislators from Nevada to meet with Legislators from California to review Tahoe Regional Planning Compact.
He further emphasized from their perspective that this was non- controversial and it urges them to adopt stronger measures to protect scenery, analyze future demand for outdoor recreation and develop a plan for that and report to the next legislature.
Further discussion ensued.
The next order of business before the committee was a call for action from Chairman Smith on Assembly Joint Resolution 3.
SENATOR RHOADS MOVED TO DO PASS A.J.R. 3.
SENATOR TITUS SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS HICKEY AND JAMES WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
* * * * *
Chairman Smith called for committee discussion of Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.R.) 7 and asked for support but there was no action taken.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 7: Directs Legislative Commission to appoint committee to continue review of Tahoe Regional Planning Compact.
There being no further business before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Smith adjourned the hearing at 9:21 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Caroline Allen,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator R. Hal Smith, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Natural Resources
April 21, 1993
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