IFC accepts stimulus cash for weed control

The Interim Finance Committee Thursday voted to accept $5.27 million in federal stimulus funding for a series of weed control projects.

Noxious Weed Coordinator Scott Marsh said nine projects are on the list in seven western Nevada counties.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, asked if any projects were considered for eastern Nevada. Marsh told him no because the project funds were awarded based on unemployment rates in the different counties.

Elko and Eureka counties have among the state's lowest unemployment rates because of the health of the mining industry in that area.

Marsh said the projects operated through the State and Private Forestry Program will employ about 160 people to do weed abatement on some 11,000 acres in western Nevada.

Among the projects on the list is a $627,660 project along the Carson River.