The Bureau of Land Management has approved its management plan for the Moon Rocks Off-highway Vehicle Area north of Reno.
The BLM-administered land has been largely unregulated in the past, but a spike in visitation and an increase in incidents that require law enforcement s presence helped drive the need for a management plan.
“The BLM approving this important project addresses many public health and safety issues at this popular OHV recreation area,” said Ken Collum, Carson City district manager.
Moon Rocks is in the Hungry Valley about 15 miles north of Reno off State Route 445 and Winnemucca Ranch Road. The 19,000-acre site offers free off-road riding and camping and attracts about 40,000 people per year. In 2020, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people visited the area just over Memorial Day weekend.
The Bureau of Land Management approves Hungry Valley Off-highway Vehicle Area Public Health and Safety Improvements blm.gov - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from blm.gov Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Bureau of Land Management will be closing sections of public land in Washoe and Lyon counties to overnight camping as the federal agency sees more and more campers ignore the 14-day camping limit.
Starting April 1, areas of Golden and Sun valleys near Chimney Drive and an area off Highway 50 near Mound House will be closed to overnight camping. Those areas have seen an uptick in people living in unofficial camps for extended periods, negatively impacting people who want to use the public land, said Carson City District Manager Ken Collum.
“People who want to use public lands are reluctant to go out where camps have been for a while,” Collum said. “We are hitting the biggest areas that have the biggest impact to public lands users.”
Some public lands in Nevada closed to overnight camping
March 17, 2021
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RENO, Nev. (AP) Land management officials in Nevada have announced a federal agency is closing sections of public land in Washoe and Lyon counties to overnight camping because people are violating the 14-day camping limit.
The Bureau of Land Management, known as BLM, said areas of Golden and Sun valleys near Chimney Drive and an area off State Route 50 will be closed starting April 1, The Reno Gazette-Journal reported Wednesday. The locations will remain open for day use and hiking.
Carson City District Manager Ken Collum said both of areas have had more people living in unofficial camps for extended periods, negatively impacting people who want to use the land.
Some public lands in Nevada closed to overnight camping washingtontimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtontimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.