Nevada lawmakers approve gift of 160 acres to expand Mason Valley Wildlife area

The Interim Finance Committee on Thursday gave final approval for the Wildlife Department to accept a gift of 160 acres of land adjacent to the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area outside of Yerington.

Pat Kelly of Wildlife said the donation by Ritter Ranch will be converted from hay production and restored to natural habitat with native plants to provide upland habitat for mule deer as well as a buffer to the wetlands to the north. The Walker Basin Conservancy, he said, is purchasing water rights to feed more water to Walker Lake.

State Lands Administrator Charlie Donahue told the Board of Examiners when the donation was first presented that the value of the property is about $192,000.

He said this is the fifth or sixth donation of land around the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area. Lawmakers were told the wildlife management area is one of western Nevada’s most popular.