Nevada's newest wildlife management area set to open

The 6,440-acre Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area near Ely - prime habitat for elk, antelope, waterfowl, eagles and hawks - is set to become the state's 16th such refuge next month.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife has acquired the 3-C Ranch property for $4 million mostly through funds provided by Question 5, which was approved by Nevada voters in 1991.

A dedication ceremony for the refuge nine miles south of Ely is set for July 29 after the deal is formally approved by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners.

''It's a phenomenal piece of property. There are going to be so many opportunities for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing with that kind of resource,'' said Doug Hunt, the division's habitat bureau chief.

''I think this is going to be a real boom for the people of Ely and White Pine County. It's not every place where you can look out your car window and see elk grazing in fields.''

The division acquired rights to 10,000 acre-feet of water along with the ranch, guaranteeing the area's wetland and fishing potential.

At the same time, the division acquired an adjacent 27,000-acre grazing allotment on Bureau of Land Management land from the ranch.

A deal allows the El Tejon Corp. of California to run cattle on the allotment over the next decade.

''After that, we'll be using that allotment for primarily wildlife values,'' Hunt said. ''It effectively expands the wildlife management area.''

The area, located along U.S. Highway 93 near 1,200-acre Cave Lake State Park, features one of the state's largest elk herds and popular Cummins Lake.

Hunt said the acquisition of the water rights was critical.

''That's the key to life at Steptoe Valley, as it is in all of Nevada,'' he said. ''Water is the key to providing wildlife habitat there.''

A 10-year management plan for the area will be developed later this year with the help of a local 11-member advisory committee.

The division's 15 existing refuges range in size from the 2,000-acre Scripps Wildlife Management Area at Washoe Lake south of Reno to the 32,000-acre Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area near Yerington.