New Staff Member Assists with Visits to Public Lands

LAS VEGAS - The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has selected a new program officer to assist faculty, staff, and students in gaining access to the area’s public lands for organized UNLV activities. As the public land permits program officer, Cathy Willey will ensure that any university research, travel, field trips, or programs conducted on public lands meet federal regulations.

Willey will work closely with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to assist with the issuance of public land permits to conduct activities on public lands in Nevada and contiguous states. Willey brings to the position nearly 20 years of administrative and accounting experience. Prior to joining UNLV, she worked in vendor services for the State of Nevada Controller’s Office. Willey has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.

The program officer coordinates applications with federal agencies; obtains permits for faculty, staff, and students; and assists with any required reports. The program officer works through the office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Community Outreach and is housed at the UNLV Public Lands Institute. The Public Land Permits Program was created by the offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies to provide a simple and effective way to ensure that UNLV-coordinated educational and recreational activities on public lands are conducted in a legal manner.

UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Take Pride in America Announces 2006 National Award Winners

"Take Pride in America Announces 2006 National Award Winners." (PDF)

Reid Secures Additional Funding to Preserve Walking Box Ranch, Research Facility

Projects help preserve local history and provide facility for

arid lands conservation research and education

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has secured $200,000 for Walking Box Ranch and the Mojave Desert Education and Research Center in the FY07 Senate Interior Appropriations bill.



“The Walking Box Ranch has some of the richest history in Nevada. This project helps preserve and protect Nevada's natural heritage and the fragile ecosystems of the Mojave Desert,” said Reid.



These funds are in addition to the $16 million that Reid procured through Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act to rehabilitate the Ranch and to build a science center. The funds provided in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill will allow UNLV to hire staff and operate the site for the coming year as the Bureau of Land Management and UNLV locate long-term funding sources for the project.



“These emergency funds are critical to act as a bridge between immediate needs and long-term plans,” said Margaret Rees, Associate Vice President for Research at UNLV. “We will be able to maintain and protect the area’s historical and natural resources as we are planning for the long-term, which includes the development of a nationally renowned Mojave Desert Science Center to enhance conservation, restoration, and adaptive management of arid lands ecosystems.”



Walking Box Ranch, one of the most historic ranches in Southern Nevada, was built in 1931 by legendary silent film stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow. Environmentally, most of the property is designated as critical desert tortoise habitat.



Now that the bill has been passed out of the Appropriations Committee, it will head to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.

Students learn about water quality and insects on the Forever Earth

"Students learn about water quality and insects on the Forever Earth," Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (PDF)

Southern Nevada to Celebrate National Trails Day

Volunteers trek to the Spring Mountains to restore trails on June 3  

May 23, 2006

LAS VEGAS -With the theme “Experience Your Outdoors,” the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program will join with the American Hiking Association to celebrate National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 3, 2006.

The Interagency Volunteer Program is seeking approximately 60 volunteers to work on a variety of projects at Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Also participating in the event will be Lisa Young, an official with Take Pride in America, a Washington, D.C.-based national volunteer program within the U.S. Department of Interior.

The event will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at noon on June 3. Volunteers will restore trails, pick up litter, and paint picnic tables. It is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring a hat, gloves, and sunscreen.

To pre-register, visit www.getoutdoorsnevada.org or call 895-5734. The deadline is May 29, 2006.

Several organizations are joining with the Interagency Volunteer Program to sponsor the event. They are American Land & Leisure, American Hiking Association, Spring Mountains Volunteer Association, Starbucks Coffee Company, Take Pride in America, and the Las Vegas Regional Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program, Get Outdoors Nevada, is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and managed by the UNLV Public Lands Institute on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. More information about the Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.

UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Grady , Interagency Volunteer Program

702-895-4890

Hillarie Patton, Bureau of Land Management

702-515-5046

Local Take Pride Affiliate Gains National Attention

"Local Take Pride Affiliate Gains National Attention."(PDF)

Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada teams up with Boy Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 181 and Eagle Scout Candidate take on

litter and dumping at Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Environmental stewardship and community service were in full display on May 13, 2006 at Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada and Boy Scout Troop 181 teamed up to tackle the litter and dumping problem on an access road leading into the refuge. The clean-up effort also helped Eagle Scout candidate Zac Ipson in his quest to earn the highest rank in scouting.

Approximately 60 boy scouts and their family and friends ventured out to the three-mile section of the access road at 7:30 that morning. By noon, they had removed 60 cubic yards of waste, including discarded appliances, furniture, landscape debris, household waste, and thousands of shotgun shells.

“This was a very rewarding experience for our program,” said Doug Joslin, project manager of Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada. “In a matter of hours, we were able to see a huge improvement in a very important wildlife refuge in Southern Nevada. In addition to that, we had young people giving back to their community and helping one of their own achieve membership in an elite group.”

Joslin also thanked Republic Services of Southern Nevada for its sponsorship. “Republic donated the waste receptacles and disposal services, which saved us hundreds of dollars.”

The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and managed by the UNLV Public Lands Institute on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.