Feds sending Ash Meadows $50,000 for damage road

Many areas in Southern Nevada were hit hard during last month's string of strong storms, but some areas were hit harder than others.

One of the hardest hit areas was Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. To aid the recovery efforts of Ash Meadows, a political heavyweight stepped in to offer the area a boost.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has provided a $50,000 grant to repair the flood-damaged West Entrance Road leading into Ash Meadows.

"The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is an oasis in the desert and a perfect representation of the beauty that makes up Nevada's rugged landscape. It is home to some of the rarest habitats and some of the most breathtaking sights in all of the Southwest," Reid said. "Tourism is the lifeblood of Nevada's economy, and this funding will ensure people from all walks of life will continue to enjoy this area of our state for many years to come. I thank the Department of Transportation for their work on this project. I will continue to do everything I can for the Silver State and its wondrous outdoor areas."

The grant is funded through the Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Program.

The grant is designed to repair and reconstruct federal roads to pre-disaster conditions. This is the second weather-related incident in the same area of Ash Meadows, as West Entrance Road was originally damaged by flooding in 2010.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge during one of the storms that occurred on Oct. 20 as a safety precaution. The heavy storms that took place the prior weekend left many of the roads in nearly impassable condition due to washouts and debris.

Contact reporter Mick Akers atmakers@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @mickakers