55°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Closure in Lovell Canyon extended for additional year south of Pahrump

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Spring Mountains National Recreation Area has extended the temporary emergency shooting closure in Lovell Canyon for an additional year, officials announced.

The extended closure will allow the U.S. Forest Service to go through a formal decision-making process to determine what dispersed recreation activities are appropriate in Lovell Canyon and how they can best be managed, the Forest Service said in its announcement earlier this month.

The closure area includes approximately 32,000 acres on both sides of Forest Service Road 45537/Lovell Canyon Road.

“During the second year of the temporary shooting closure, the SMNRA will be soliciting public input and begin creating a long-term plan for the management of dispersed multi-use recreation in Lovell Canyon,” area manager Donn Christiansen said in a statement.

The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area plans to hold two public meetings in 2018 to gather input from the public on what recreation opportunities they would like to see in Lovell Canyon.

One meeting will take place in Pahrump and another in Las Vegas.

Following the public meetings, an interdisciplinary team will analyze the public input and develop a proposed action for managing dispersed recreation. Forest Service officials expect the planning and implementation efforts to be a multi-year process.

The first year of the temporary emergency shooting closure focused on cleaning and rehabilitating the landscape. Since the initial closure, the Forest Service along with nonprofit, local, state, and federal partners have conducted three cleanup efforts in Lovell Canyon.

Each of the cleanups have had over 100 participants from organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Outside Las Vegas Foundation, Pahrump Valley 4-Wheelers, Project Sunshine – Camp Heart &Soul, Republic Services, Save Lovell Canyon, Save Red Rock, Sierra Club, and Spring Mountain Free Trappers.

The cleanup efforts produced seven 40 yard dumpsters full of trash that has been removed from the area.

“The damage caused by irresponsible shooting activities to Lovell Canyon was much more extensive than we expected,” Christiansen said. “So, additional clean-up and restoration efforts are still needed. The extended temporary emergency closure will also help to ensure the safety of SMNRA (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area) employees and volunteers as they continue to restore the canyon back to its natural healthy state.”

Christiansen added that the temporary shooting closure does not prevent licensed hunters from hunting in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations and does not limit a person’s ability to carry or possess a legal firearm.

For anyone who would like to help with ongoing cleanup efforts in Lovell Canyon or have questions about the temporary emergency shooting closure or the planning process, contact Donn Christiansen at 702-515-5448 or dchristiansen@fs.fed.us

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.

Second Source donation for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Nye County Sleep in Heavenly Peace is now better off thanks to a second donation from The Source dispensary’s Round Up program.

Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.