DIVISION OF STATE LANDS
Pamela B. Wilcox, Administrator
Purpose:
The Division of State Lands provides land and
land use planning services to the State, its agencies and its
people. The Division has four major program areas: holding title to the State's land and
providing land services to state agencies and the general public; providing
land use planning training and assistance to local governments; representing
the state on federal land issues and developing state policies and plans for
federal lands; and coordinating Nevada's Tahoe Environmental Improvement
Program. The Division also administers
other special programs and provides staff assistance to the Nevada Tahoe
Regional Planning Agency and the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council.
Organizational
Structure:
The executive officer of the Division is the Administrator/State Land Registrar. The Division is organized into five sections: the state land office; the state land use planning agency; the Nevada Tahoe resource team; technical services; and clerical and fiscal services. The agency is assisted by the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council, which is comprised of one representative from each of the 17 counties.
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Statutory Authority: |
NRS 321-324, 445A.170 |
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Number of Employees: |
18.6 FTE/2002 |
(Use the authorized number) |
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telephone: |
(775) 687-4363 (main office) (775) 687-4735 (Tahoe office) |
(Use 800 number(s), if you
have one) |
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Web Site address: |
www.state.nv.us/lands |
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Key Objectives:
Process all requests for services related to state lands as efficiently as possible, meeting time constraints and needs of the public and the state agency being served, including requests for acquisitions, disposals, leases, easements, certifications and assignments.
Maintain accurate and complete records for all state lands, protect historic land records and maps, make information about state lands and state land records available to the public and other agencies.
Establish and maintain positive working relationships with all federal land management agencies to assure state and local government participation in federal land management actions. With local governments throughout the state, develop plans and policies for the federal lands that will be used to guide agency management decisions affecting federal lands. Assure that the state and local interests and policies regarding federal land management are considered and addressed by federal land management agencies. Respond promptly to federal land planning initiatives and proposals for activities on federal lands.
Provide technical planning assistance to all local governments requesting agency assistance in land use planning. Convene the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council at least three times a year. Regularly publish information on land use planning for use by local governments. Conduct educational workshops on planning matters.
Coordinate state implementation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). Acquire and manage sensitive parcels in the Lake Take basin, and promote the forest health on state parcels within the basin.
Accomplishments:
During the biennium over 870 transactions involving leases, easements, permits and other authorizations on state lands were processed. The agency program of preserving and protecting historic land records continued through the same period with hundreds of historic documents given permanent protection. Data on state land transactions in the State Land Information System (SLIMS) has continued to be updated and verified, providing a dynamic tool in the management of state land.
Significant activities in the public land planning assistance program included: continued updating of state public land policies; coordination of the state’s enlibra program; state team leadership on planning for the Black Rock - High Rock Emigrant Trail National Conservation Area; participation on the Governor’s sage grouse recovery team; state representation for land acquisitions funded from land sales under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act; and providing staff services for the state’s Advisory Board on Natural Resources.
Technical planning assistance to local governments was provided to Humboldt, Lincoln and Lander counties and to the cities of Wells, Winnemucca and Carlin, at their request. The agency has developed an extensive planning commissioner training program that has been well received.
The Tahoe Resource Team has funded and managed 26 environmental improvement projects in the Lake Tahoe basin using state bond money and 12 using revenues from the Tahoe license plate. The team has also managed state-acquired environmentally sensitive properties to protect the natural qualities present on such properties. The team coordinates Nevada's partnership in the multi-agency Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program and ensures continued progress toward program goals.
significant legislation or executive action affecting the agency:
AB 9 of the 2001 Special Session of the Legislature provides for the placing on the November 2002 ballot a bond measure in the amount of $200,000,000 for protection and preservation of natural resources. If passed by the electorate, the Division of State Lands will be responsible for the administration of a large part of the bond program.
AB 176 of the 2001 Session granted authority to the state land registrar to make grants and enter into agreements to carry out various programs in the Lake Tahoe basin. Local governments were also allowed to receive those grant monies.
significant legislation or executive action affecting the agency:
None
NEVADA TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY
NEVADA TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING
AGENCY GOVERNING BOARD
Pamela B. Wilcox, Executive Officer
Purpose:
The Nevada Tahoe
Regional Planning Agency implements provisions of the Tahoe Regional Planning
Compact relating to “structures housing gaming” (casinos) in the Tahoe basin.
The agency establishes and maintains base data plans for all such structures,
maintains chronological files of changes made, and reviews plans for changes in
order to ensure compliance with the compact provisions.
The Division of State Lands provides staff services to the agency governing board. The Administrator of the Division serves as Executive Officer to the board and one planning position provides technical support. The board consists of seven members as follows: Douglas County Commissioner, Carson City Supervisor, Washoe County Commissioner, Secretary of State, Governor’s Appointee, Conservation and Natural Resources Department Director, and a member-at-large selected annually by the other six members.
Key Objective/Accomplishments:
Assist the governing board of the Nevada Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to implement the provisions of the Tahoe Compact relating to “structures housing gaming”.
The governing board met nine times reviewing matters regarding “structures housing gaming” and developing board policy relating to such structures. A major accomplishment by the board during the biennium was establishing policy that allows consideration of the reconfiguration of an existing structure, where there is no expansion of volume, and when a substantial benefit to the natural and aesthetic environment of the basin will result.
additional key long-term objective:
Although the actions of the governing board and the agency are limited to implementing those provisions of the Tahoe Compact relating to “structures housing gaming,” in addition, their actions contribute indirectly to the larger objective of the Tahoe Compact in protecting the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe basin.
significant legislation or executive action affecting the agency:
None
DIVISION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Pamela B. Wilcox, Acting Administrator
Purpose:
The Division of Conservation Districts provides
administrative support to the State Conservation Commission, which develops
policy and regulations for Nevada's 28 locally elected conservation
districts. Division staff implement
Commission programs and provide assistance to conservation districts. Districts provide services to individual
landowners and coordinate with other public and private agencies for the
conservation, protection and orderly development of the State's natural
resources. The Division is the official
state agency cooperating with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
which provides technical assistance to conservation districts.
Organizational
Structure:
The Division's chief executive office is its acting administrator (who is designated as "acting" because she is also administrator of the Division of State Lands and is not an authorized/funded FTE in the Division of Conservation Districts), who also serves as executive secretary to the State Conservation Commission.
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Statutory Authority: |
NRS 548 |
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Number of Employees: |
3 FTE/2002 |
(Use the authorized number) |
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telephone: |
(775) 687-6977 |
(Use 800 number(s), if you
have one) |
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Web Site address: |
www.state.nv.us/cnr/conv01
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Key
Objectives/Accomplishments:
The
Commission continues its critically important program of providing grants to
all conservation districts which are "in good standing." In 2001 all 28 districts received grants. Districts
are matching and leveraging the $5,000 provided by the State.
Division staff provide training for conservation districts
in many areas, including conservation planning and district operations. A major focus of training is to build the
capacity of local districts.
With grant funds, conservation districts have developed a
wide variety of conservation programs.
More than half of the districts now have active programs for the control
of invasive plant species (weeds). Most
districts have educational programs for young people. Many districts are working to improve water quality and restore
streams. The Conservation District of
Southern Nevada has developed water conservation programs and educational
programs relating to water quality for the residents of Clark County. The Nevada Tahoe Conservation District is
implementing a Backyard Conservation Program for residents of the Tahoe basin,
and is also active in assisting the State to implement its Tahoe Environmental
Program. The three conservation
districts of the Carson River (Carson Valley, Dayton and Lahontan Conservation
Districts) all have strong programs of maintaining and restoring the river, in coordination
with other public and private entities.
Division staff participate in many interagency conservation efforts and provide support to the Nevada Association of Conservation Districts and the National Association of Conservation Districts.
additional key long-term objectives:
Under the leadership of the Commission, the Division seeks ways to improve the capacities and increase the funds available to local conservation districts.
significant legislation or executive action affecting the agency:
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