One of the largest land swaps ever proposed in the history of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) between Winecup-Gamble Ranch, owned by Kroenke Ranches, and the BLM has caused concern among many surrounding counties, organizations and individuals as it is likely to have a big impact on Nevadans.
At its regular meeting on Nov. 20, the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners discussed the swap with all members present and voted unanimously to voice their concerns to the Democratic Congressional Delegation with a letter of concern that will also be sent to multiple other stakeholders, supporting Elko County’s concerns about the swap. The Board made minor revisions to the proposed letter and authorized Board Chairman Ken Tipton to review and then sign the letter once the revisions are made and have it sent out.
Concerns for transparency, due diligence by the federal government—appropriate review through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, possible efforts by Kroenke Ranches to avoid the financial burden of following the NEPA process, and both human and environmental impacts have been discussed not only by Humboldt County, but by many groups and individuals in Nevada.
The Board agreed that without proper input from local agencies and the support of both Elko County and surrounding counties, the deal would not be in the best interest of the state and set a dangerous precedent.
“Humboldt County urges Nevada’s Congressional delegation to withhold their approval—or even consideration—of Kroenke Ranches’ request for legislation authorizing the Winecup-Gamble land exchange unless there is a clear statement of broad-based support from Elko County and local stakeholders,” states the letter.
Commissioner Mark Evatz said that “Local government support should be required for an exchange of this magnitude, or any exchange but especially of this magnitude, because it needs to be transparent and have public notice and comment, ect., even if it’s small game.”
The NEPA process essentially allows stakeholders, specifically Elko County and those such as Humboldt, a voice in a matter affecting a quarter of a million acres of land that many in Humboldt County not only utilize during hunting season, but enjoy in other ways too.
Commissioner Tom Hoss expressed a lot of concern regarding the broader scope of the potential swap and its impacts locally, as did the rest of the Board.
According to Kroenke Ranches representatives Western Land Group, the deal aims to make the land more manageable because of the checkerboard effect of the private and public lands landscape in Elko County, much like Humboldt County’s own, and would transfer the ownership of 84,000 acres of privately owned land for 230,000 acres of public lands, displacing around 146,000 acres of public lands with no provisions that they may remain open to the public in any form, according to officials.
The Board decided that the letter would be sent to the Congressional Delegation, Elko County, Lander County, the BLM, the National Associations of Counties, the Governor’s Office, the Wildlife Commission, the Nevada Mining Association, Nevada Congressional representatives, and other stakeholders that could be affected.
Commissioner Evatz and Commissioner Jesse Hill also asked that the letter include an inquiry of the Congressional Delegation about the actions they are planning to take that would require follow up to Humboldt County, “putting the ball in their court” essentially.
“There can be no question that the proposed transfer of nearly a quarter-million acres of federal lands into private ownership will have significant human and environmental impacts. Public access for hunting, fishing, OHV use, and many other forms of recreation are obvious examples of impacted uses; Elko County has made clear that little to no enforceable provision for such access is currently a part of the Winecup-Gamble proposal. Given that entire landscapes would change ownership, it is also clear that wildlife and wildlife habitat, cultural and historic sites, and ongoing conservation efforts (among others) are sure to be impacted as well, with additional downstream impacts to Elko County’s economic stability and unique cultural identity and community character,” states the letter.