Resource Concepts, Inc., is a 2009 winner of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s “Best in the Basin” award award for a commercial rebuild project.

The engineering, natural resource and environmental consulting firm provided civil design and permitting services for South Lake’s Ski Run Center, a 1.7-acre site owned by Gersick Enterprises.

“The site had numerous constraints, including high groundwater, active remediation of contaminated soil and a shallow adjacent storm-drain facility,” said Lynn Zonge, hydrologist and fluvial geomorphologist at RCI. “We appreciate TRPA for its recognition of this project.”

RCI provided all civil design for the site at U.S. Highway 50 and Ski Run Boulevard, which included parking lots, walkways, water service, sewer facilities and a storm drain system. The architectural work was completed by MWA, Inc. and the Ski Run Center was constructed by Gardner Construction.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s “Best in the Basin” awards recognize projects demonstrating exceptional planning, design and compatibility with the Lake Tahoe environment. The “Best in the Basin” awards were presented at the TRPA Governing Board meeting last week.

Collecting water quality samples of perennial streams along the proposed route

RCI recently began environmental impact work for PG&E’s Salt Springs Powerhouse to its service area in Kirkwood, California. Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District is proposing to construct a power line from PG&E’s Salt Springs Powerhouse to its service area in Kirkwood, California.

The proposed project would involve the Eldorado National Forest authorizing a 50-year term special use permit for the construction, use and maintenance of power line connecting the Public Utilities District – in Alpine, Amador and El Dorado Counties — to an existing transmission line owned by Pacific Gas & Electric Company near the PG&E hydroelectric facility at Salt Springs Reservoir, in Amador County.

“The initial proposals included cross-country overhead lines in a roadless area and people were understandably upset about that,” said Lynn Zonge, Hydrologist / Fluvial Geomorphologist at Resource Concepts, Inc. “The current, refined proposal has eliminated all of the cross-country routes.”

RCI is preparing the Environmental Impact Statement and other permit application documents for Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District. The draft statement is scheduled to be available for public review in the summer 2010, and construction on the project is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

RCI is working with Indian Hills GID on the funding and design of the proposed Indian Hills Water Transmission Main. Currently, the main source of water for Indian Hills GID has levels of arsenic above the state and federal MCL. Indian Hills GID has been researching various solutions since 2002, including the option of constructing a microfiltration plant. As an alternative to the construction (with associated ongoing operations and maintenance costs) of such a treatment plant, Indian Hills GID is pursuing participation in the future North Douglas County Regional Water System. The Regional project is a cooperative effort in which the Town of Minden will provide high quality drinking water to Douglas County, Carson City, and Indian Hills GID.

Staking the alignment for the surveyors

The Indian Hills Water Transmission Main project includes the construction of a water main teeing off the proposed new regional system main line in Heybourne Road and connecting to the existing booster pump station at the Hobo Water Treatment Plant. The proposed water main construction will include horizontal directional drilling beneath the Carson River to protect the riverbed and banks and boring beneath US Hwy 395. Funding is being sought from the State of Nevada AB198 and USDA RUS. The project is anticipated to be approved for funding this spring with construction beginning in mid-summer of 2010.

The Carson River at the proposed crossing

The ‘Eagles and Ag’ tours and workshops focus on the influx of bald eagles and other birds of prey that come to the scenic Carson Valley each year during the winter calving season. This remarkable interaction between nature and agriculture attracts photographers, birders and nature-lovers of all kinds who come to closely observe bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and a variety of other bird and wildlife species. A complete schedule of events and information can be viewed at www.visitcarsonvalley.org.

Friday evening, February 19, join us for the kickoff of Eagles & Agriculture 2010. Meet fellow enthusiasts and see what’s new at displays from the many agency and business sponsors who make this event possible. A generous lineup of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and guest presenters set the tone for an evening of socializing and learning. Our presenters this year are Dr. Alan Gubanich, emeritus faculty member at the University of Nevada-Reno and Vice-President of the Lahontan Audubon Society, on “Tell Me Why It’s Not a Red-tailed Hawk” and Don Henderson, an agriculture and rangeland science expert on “Exactly What is Agriculture in Nevada?” Of course, Falconer Lew Souder will return, and this year will be accompanied by Northern Goshawk. Lew’s presentation and Q&A session is always a high point of the reception.

Saturday morning, February 20, luxury motor coaches depart for the private “Ranch and Eagle” tour. As the guest of the ranches, you’ll observe their operations up close and meet the men and women who run them. Attendees will learn about Carson Valley ranching and conservation plus have the opportunity to observe birds of prey from vantage points not available to the general public. This is a once in a year opportunity for eagle viewing and photography. Following the tour, a sumptuous buffet lunch will be served with a group discussion on sightings allowing participants to compare experiences and observations with their fellow attendees. The tour and luncheon is being offered for just $60 per person and includes luxury motor coach transportation along with expert guides on Carson Valley history and wildlife.

On Saturday afternoon participants are invited on the popular Owl Prowl Tour and Live Falconing Field Demonstration. Led by a local naturalist, the Owl Prowl goes to historic area barns to view owls in their habitat. Watch Falconer Lew Souder fly his Northern Goshawk! The tour is limited to only 45 participants, weather permitting. The cost is $35 per person.

A two-day wildlife photography workshop led by Steve Ting of Steve Ting Photography is offered on Saturday and Sunday with instruction and discussion on Saturday and a nature photo shoot on location at an area ranch on Sunday. This is a very affordable opportunity to take your nature photography skills up a notch or two. The cost is $60 or the two-day workshop and is limited to 20 participants.

On either Saturday or Sunday participants can join in the “Raptor Highway and Byway Tour” by Birding Under Nevada Skies. This is a supplemental tour for those interested in the Buteos, Accipiters and Falcons which commonly winter in Carson Valley and the perfect complement to the Ranch and Eagle Tour. The cost is $45 and is limited to 15 participants per tour.

Another unique way to observe the eagles, hawks and falcons occurs on Sunday, February 21, when a guided Raft/Canoe Trip conducted by Great Basin Sports is offered. Participants will paddle down the beautiful Carson River and enjoy scenery and wildlife. This is a great event for photography buffs! The cost is $75.

In conjunction with the ‘Eagles and Ag’ event, there is the annual Photography Contest. A $125 prize will be awarded for the best birding photo and another $125 prize is available for the best agricultural/wildlife photo taken in Carson Valley. To qualify, photos of 5 x 7 or larger along with a CD must be submitted by March 16 to the Carson Valley Visitors Authority. A photo release must be signed for eligibility. Enter as many photos as you would like!

Over 3,000 people have attended previous year’s events and have given rave reviews. Participants are encouraged to sign up soon as space is limited for all Eagles and Agriculture events. The tours and workshops demonstrate how agricultural stewardship benefits wildlife and their habitat in Nevada. All proceeds benefit local wildlife, conservation and agriculture projects. All tours and events are staged at or hosted by the Carson Valley Inn on US Hwy 395 in Minden, Nevada.

To register for ‘Eagles and Ag’, contact the Carson Valley Arts Council at 775-782-8207 or go on-line to www.visitcarsonvalley.org to download the registration form, check out the great lodging specials and learn more about this unique event. For additional lodging and visitor information call the Carson Valley Visitors Authority at 775-782-8144 or toll-free at 800-727-7677.

Salazar Seeks Congressional Support for Sustainable National Program to Manage Iconic Wild Horses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today proposed a national solution to restore the health of America’s wild horse herds and the rangelands that support them by creating a cost-efficient, sustainable management program that includes the possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East.

“The current path of the wild horse and burro program is not sustainable for the animals, the environment, or the taxpayer,” Salazar said in a letter outlining his proposals to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and eight other key members of Congress with jurisdiction over wild horse issues. Salazar said he is “proposing to develop new approaches that will require bold efforts from the Administration and from Congress to put this program on a more sustainable track, enhance the conservation for this iconic animal, and provide better value for the taxpayer.”

Bob Abbey, Director of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), commended the Secretary for his initiative, saying, “The proposals we are unveiling today represent a forward-looking, responsive effort to deal with the myriad challenges facing our agency’s wild horse and burro program.” Abbey added, “We owe wild horses and burros on Western rangelands high-quality habitat. We owe the unadopted wild horses and burros in holding good care and treatment. And we owe the American taxpayer a well-run, cost-effective wild horse program. Today’s package of proposals will achieve those ends.”

The challenges to the BLM associated with maintaining robust wild horse populations in the West have been recognized by the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has warned that gathering and holding costs have risen beyond sustainable levels and directed the BLM to prepare a long-term plan for the program. The Government Accountability Office also found the program to be at a “critical crossroads,” affirmed the need to control off-the-range holding costs, and recommended that the BLM work with Congress to find a responsible way to manage the increasing number of unadopted horses. In response to Congressional direction, Salazar’s proposals aim to achieve a “truly national solution” to a traditionally Western issue.

In four decades under the BLM’s protection, wild horses that were fast disappearing from the American scene have returned to rapid growth. “As wild horses have no natural predators and herds grow quickly,” Salazar said in his letter, “more than 33,000 wild horses live in 10 western states. Unfortunately, arid western lands and watersheds cannot support a population this large without significant damage to the environment.”

The BLM works to achieve an ecological balance on the range by removing thousands of wild horses and burros from public rangelands each year and then offering them for adoption. Unadopted animals are cared for in short-term corrals and long-term pastures. With the sharp decline in wild horse adoptions in recent years because of the economic downturn, the Bureau now maintains nearly 32,000 wild horses and burros in holding, including more than 9,500 in expensive short-term corrals. In Fiscal Year 2008, the cost of holding and caring for these animals exceeded $27 million – or three-fourths of the FY 2008 enacted funding level of $36.2 million for the entire wild horse and burro program. In the most recent fiscal year (2009), which ended September 30, holding costs were approximately $29 million, or about 70 percent of the total 2009 enacted wild horse and burro program budget of $40.6 million.

A key element of the Secretary’s plan, designed to address concerns raised by the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Government Accountability Office, would designate a new set of wild horse preserves across the nation. Citing limits on forage and water in the West because of persistent drought and wildfire, Salazar said the lands acquired by the BLM and/or its partners “would provide excellent opportunities to celebrate the historic significance of wild horses, showcase these animals to the American public, and serve as natural assets that support local tourism and economic activity.” The wild horse herds placed in these preserves would be non-reproducing.

In his letter, Salazar also proposed:

• Managing the new preserves either directly by the BLM or through cooperative agreements between the BLM and private non-profit organizations or other partners to reduce the Bureau’s off-the-range holding costs. This coordinated effort would harness the energy of wild horse and burro supporters, whose enthusiasm would also be tapped to promote wild horse adoptions at a time when adoption demand has softened.
• Showcasing certain herds on public lands in the West that warrant distinct recognition with Secretarial or possibly congressional designations. These would highlight the special qualities of America’s wild horses while generating eco-tourism for nearby rural communities.
• Applying new strategies aimed at balancing wild horse and burro population growth rates with public adoption demand. This effort would involve slowing population growth rates of wild horses on Western public rangelands through the aggressive use of fertility control, the active management of sex ratios on the range, and perhaps even the introduction of non-reproducing herds in some of the BLM’s existing Herd Management Areas in 10 Western states. The new strategies would also include placing more animals into private care by making adoptions more flexible where appropriate.

Noting that his proposals are subject to Congressional approval and appropriations, Salazar said he and Director Abbey look forward to discussing them with members of Congress “as we work together to protect and manage America’s ‘Living Legends.’”

A copy of the letter is online at www.doi.gov and can be found here . For background information on the national wild horse and burro program, please visit the BLM’s Website at www.blm.gov.

Rex Cleary from Carson City, Nevada based Resource Concepts, Inc. (RCI) will be a featured speaker discussing Alternative Management Models at the SRM conference. RCI’s Jeremy Drew will also speak on “Wildlife Consequences of Current Authorization and Proposed Legislation.”

RCI is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm specializing in engineering, environmental services, and natural resources. RCI provides its clients with cost effective and innovative solutions. Working with districts and towns in Nevada, RCI understands political, social and economic realities that face these entities. Their expertise will provide conference participants with a unique perspective on Wild and Feral Horse and Burro Management Policy.

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter flew over several miles of the river downstream from the Deer Run Road Bridge and plucked out 20 vehicles illegally dumped in the river that could not be removed from shore. The aircraft deposited the cars at an onshore site to be hauled to the dump.

“Removing the cars was a difficult exercise, but they couldn’t have been pulled out any other way and we love being able to help out our local communities.”

“This project gave the Guard an unusual opportunity to fulfill our requirement for aircraft slingload training while also making the river safer for people to enjoy,” said Chief Warrant Officer Sean Laycox, an operations officer for the Army Aviation Support Facility in Stead. “Removing the cars was a difficult exercise, but they couldn’t have been pulled out any other way and we love being able to help out our local communities.”

The Guard removed the junk cars without charge to Carson City, accomplishing a task that was prohibitively difficult and costly for local government to undertake. Division of State Lands agent Rick Murray, who arranged for the removal project, said private helicopter companies would have charged $8,000 to $10,000 an hour to remove the cars. The National Guard has an innovative readiness program that allows them to use federal training dollars to increase their mission readiness, while performing select community service projects. State Lands has authority over river bottoms and banks to the normal high water mark.

“Carson City has tried for years to find a way to get those horrible junk cars out of the river before they caused a boat wreck that hurt or killed someone,” Carson City Supervisor Pete Livermore said. “The National Guard has performed a valuable community service that has removed dangerous objects and restored the river’s natural beauty, and we are very grateful.”

Removal by helicopter was the only way to get the cars out of the riverbed, where many had lain for years, oozing contaminants into the water and filling the rusted bodies with heavy sediment.

“In the spring, when river flows are at their highest, junk cars below the surface expose whitewater rafters and kayakers to an invisible hazard that could rip apart their boats and trap them in swirling fast-moving water,” Ed James, general manager of the Carson Water Subconservancy District, said.

The Carson River Regional Recreation Steering Committee, organized by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, works on projects to make the Carson River safer and more accessible for recreational boating. Examples include a boat launching ramp, paved parking, and restrooms that Carson City is building at the Morgan Mill Road river put-in area and parking and restrooms in Dayton at the Santa Maria Ranch subdivision boat take-out area.

Serving on the committee are officials of the Carson City Board of Supervisors, Carson City Department of Parks and Recreation, Carson Water Subconservancy District, Lyon County Engineering Department, Nevada Commission on Tourism, Nevada Division of State Lands, Resource Concepts, Inc., and the Western Nevada Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.

Full report (PDF file, 24MB)

The free Adobe Reader, or another PDF viewer, is required to read this document.

In June 2009, a team of two performed fish habitat mitigation monitoring on a (first-order) perennial creek draining directly to the Tahoe Basin.  Fish habitat displaced by recent pier construction in the lake was mitigated with fish habitat improvements to the creek to facilitate spawning.  One team member seine netted the creek for six species of native and nonnative fish while the second member sampled the benthic macroinvertebrate population for density and diversity.  The creek will be surveyed in this manner twice a year for three years in order to sasitfy a special condition of a TRPA permit.