Residents seek to preserve Carson Valley's ag land, open space

Residents of the area, many of them ranchers and farmers, said the spacious valley at the base of the Sierra 60 miles south of Reno is threatened by rapid development.

"What do we want? Do we want cows or condos?" asked rancher Dallas Byington, chairman of the Douglas County Planning Commission.

The meeting Saturday at Douglas High School was the first of two aimed at finding ways to protect the valley for future generations. The second will be held June 5 in Minden.

An unusual coalition of ranchers, environmentalists, and business and industry leaders is mulling options for protecting the valley's verdant pastures from strip malls and parking lots.

Among the ideas discussed was using the proceeds of Bureau of Land Management land sales in Nevada to buy development rights in the Carson Valley.

Other ideas include outright acquisition of land, agricultural land trusts and estate planning.

"Basically, I believe agriculture and the green open space in the valley should be preserved and if there's a way it can be done, I'm all for it," said rancher Charlie Hone.

Rancher Jerry Whitmire said many local ranches have gone out of business in recent years and many more will follow suit if action isn't taken soon.

"The most scenic parts of the valley are truly our ranches - they are the reason people and businesses move here," he said.

Rancher James Settlemeyer said he would like to see a ballot measure in 2000 asking whether residents want to preserve the valley's open space and agricultural land.

A representative of the Sonoran Institute environmental group made a presentation on what has been done to preserve open space elsewhere.

Luther Propst, executive director of the Tucson, Ariz,-based group, said Carson Valley residents need not start from scratch because of the successes.

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