Governor Sisolak Signs Recreation Stewardship Agreement

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) — Governor Sisolak signed the Nevada Agreement for Recreation Shared Stewardship alongside 12 other state and federal agencies at Mormon Station Historic State Park in Genoa.

“I strongly believe that protecting our natural and cultural resources can go hand-in-hand with enhancing recreational experiences that will boost tourism and economic development,” Governor Sisolak said.

The agreement solidifies partnerships between federal, state and tribal organizations in hopes of establishing sustainable ecotourism while protecting public lands.

“By coordinating the money available to each level of government, we simply create more opportunities for our citizens and our visitors,” said Brad Crowell, director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Nevada Department of Wildlife Director Tony Wasley said some agencies weren’t on the same page before this deal.

“Without some influence, a voice, a seat at the table around how these lands are managed for outdoor recreation, our hands are somewhat tied,” Wasley said.

But now state agencies will have closer partnerships with the federal government, which manages 87% of Nevada’s land.

“What this type of agreement does is it forces and formalizes that communication and achieves efficiencies between entities,” Wasley said.

The agencies hope this agreement will specifically protect frequently visited places like Lake Tahoe.

“We need to make sure our most popular places like Tahoe aren’t loved to death. That we are able to accommodate all visitors who want to be there without undermining the natural resources that people have come to experience and see,” Crowell said.

Signatories of the agreement:

• nevada state,
  
• Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
  
• Nevada Outdoor Recreation Division,
  
• Nevada State Parks Division,
  
• Nevada Wildlife Department,
  
• Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs,
  
• Nevada Department of Transportation,
  
• United States Bureau of Reclamation,
  
• United States Forest Service,
  
• US Fish and Wildlife Service,
  
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and
  
• the National Park Service.
  

Objectives of the agreement:

• Create a strategic plan to advance sustainable outdoor recreation across Nevada by strengthening collaboration, sharing data and resources, and leveraging access to funding opportunities
  
• Support healthy communities and a vibrant economy by creating a wide range of sustainable recreation opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities
  
• Promote environmental stewardship through strategic and coordinated messages centered on responsible recreation ethics
  

Read the full agreement here: http://dcnr.nv.gov/divisions-boards/ndor

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