Date: January 19, 2005

CONTACT: Jamie Thompson, Public Affairs Officer, (775) 623-1500

KNOTT CREEK FISHERY BECOMES PUBLIC LAND

The Bureau of Land Management’s Winnemucca Field Office announced today that nearly the entire length of Knott Creek, located on the west slope of the Pine Forest Range about 70 miles northwest of Winnemucca, has become public property.

"We want to thank Richard Drake, who ranches southwest of Denio and proposed that the BLM acquire 624 acres of his private property, for his patience and perseverance in seeing this lengthy process through to a successful conclusion," said Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wildlife Biologist Ken Detweiler.

Mr. Drake's nomination package proposed that the BLM utilize some of the moneys collected from the sales of public lands in Clark County to acquire his private land under the provisions of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA). His proposal was approved by the Secretary of the Interior as part of SNPLMA Round 2 in 2000. The property includes parcels that could allow a public access route to Knott Creek Reservoir from the south to be reopened for the first time in years. Other parcels transfer nearly all of Knott Creek above Knott Creek Reservoir to public ownership. The proposal was facilitated by The Conservation Fund and supported by the Humboldt County Commissioners.

"The stretch of stream that is now on public land is an important component of the Knott Creek fishery" added Detweiler. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) restricts the use of bait and places minimum size limits on fish that can be kept and a 1988 NDOW agreement with Mr. Drake prevents the reservoir from falling below a 500 acre-foot volume of water (known as a minimum pool requirement). Together, these actions have maintained and improved the fishery. BLM acquired an additional 500 acre-feet of storage as part of the acquisition. "Twice the volume of water in the reservoir will greatly improve an already important fishery," said Detweiler.

In addition to the aquatic resources, the Knott Creek lands provide habitat for several species of wildlife including California bighorn sheep and sage-grouse. Numerous meadows in the acquired parcels are critical brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse.

More information is available by contacting Ken Detweiler at the Winnemucca BLM Office at 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca NV 89445-2921, or by phone at 775-623-1500.
 

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