Bird Viewing Preserve, mountain bike trails get funding in Conserve Nevada grants
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Two Las Vegas-area projects were among the 11 recipients of Conserve Nevada grant funding announced on Friday by the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
A $400,000 grant will fund improvements to pathways in the Henderson Bird Viewing Park, and a $100,000 grant will help to develop the Redrock Canyon National Conservation Area Trail Network for mountain bikers.
In all, about $3.6 million was awarded to various projects. The largest grant — $900,000 — will be used to purchase about 13.5 acres in Washoe County to protect a critically endangered plant species, Steamboat buckwheat. Matching grants will help the Conserve Nevada grants go farther — including a $2.3 million match for a $682,500 grant that will create three easements in the Eastern Sierra Front to mitigate fire risks and protect watershed health.
Most of the money went to projects in Northern Nevada. Information on the two projects in the Las Vegas area is provided below:
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
The popular spot on Galleria Drive just west of Boulder Highway has plenty of desert birds, but it’s best known for seeing birds that migrate through the region. A 3/4-mile-long paved path and other paths on soft surfaces. “When you visit, expect to do a lot of walking and allow yourself adequate time to visit the area,” according to the preserve’s website.
The $400,000 grant “will support improved pathway accessibility through improvements to 2 miles of trail within the park. This will enhance access while improving this recreational resource,” according to Conserve Nevada.
Funding to match the grant will bring the total to nearly $500,000.
“We are happy to have received a grant from Conserve Nevada,” Henderson public information officer Justin Emerson said. “We plan to use the funds to improve our existing trails and mitigate invasive species. We look forward to continued improvement and ensuring the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve remains a gem in our City for our visitors to enjoy.”
Southern Nevada Mountain Biking Association (SNMBA)
A $100,000 grant will go toward “legalizing” more than 100 miles of trails built over the years inside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Those social trails aren’t currently sanctioned by the Bureau of Land Management, but the grant will pay for surveying and environmental studies that will make them official, according to Alison Cormier, SNMBA’s manager of community engagement/education.
That work will take 12 to 18 months, but when it’s complete, Cormier said the trails will be protected and maintained.
“With over 3 million visitors to Red Rock every year the trails get a lot of use, so keeping them in good condition is critical,” Cormier said.
It will also allow SNMBA to coordinate organized events on the trails.
A matching grant of $30,660 will require some fundraising. Cormier said SNMBA will be reaching out for community support — volunteers and contributions to come up with the matching funds.
“The trails these projects will plan for will be available for use by all trail users,” she said. “Hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers will all benefit from these projects.”
Legacy Trail connections, 3 Mile Smile
In addition to the larger grant, Cormier provided updates on more projects that have received funding this year.
A $32,000 project with the BLM and the International Mountain Bicycling Association will allow for professional trail planning in the Campground and Calico areas of Red Rock Canyon, Cormier said. The trails will connect to the Legacy Trail, increasing access to neighborhoods, the Legacy Trail and other trails in the area.
A $15,000 grant through the Recreational Trails Program will pay for planning an uphill alternate trail to one of the most popular trails in Red Rock. “The 3 Mile Smile is most coveted for the fast and fun downhill ride it provides, but currently one has to ride it uphill to get to the top,” Cormier said. “This creates some user conflicts, which is why it is crucial for us to plan for an alternate trail for people to use to get to the top of the 3 Mile Smile. Once this alternate trail is in place the 3 Mile Smile will be designated as a downhill only biking trail.”
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