Douglas County Highlights New Lands Legislation Introduced by Senator Cortez Masto
Douglas County, NV – Douglas County is sharing an important announcement from U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto regarding legislation that could significantly impact local land management, flood mitigation, recreation, and cultural site preservation.
On March 25, 2026, Senator Cortez Masto introduced the Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act, which aims to:
- Convey federal lands to Douglas County and the State of Nevada for local management and recreational use;
- Support economic development while protecting flood-prone areas;
- Preserve critical cultural and ceremonial lands for the Washoe Tribe; and
- Designate new wilderness areas to conserve wildlife habitat.
Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mark Gardner stated, “The Douglas County Lands Bill gives the County the ability to implement locally driven, federally facilitated solutions that protect lives, improve watershed health, and reduce disaster recovery and mitigation costs.”
This legislation reflects ongoing collaboration between federal, state, county, and tribal partners to strengthen community resilience and safeguard public lands.
For the full press release from Senator Cortez Masto’s office, including details of the proposed legislation and maps of the lands involved, see below or visit: https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-introduces-douglas-county-lands-bill-2/
Full Press Release from Senator Cortez Masto’s Office
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Cortez Masto Introduces Douglas County Lands Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act, legislation to improve land management in the Carson Valley, increase local economic and outdoor recreation opportunities, protect public lands, and preserve important Tribal cultural sites within Douglas County.
In 2017, nearly 20,000 acres in Douglas County were flooded, impacting roads, private property, and homes. Northern Nevada continues to experience severe weather events that highlight Douglas County’s need for the authority to mitigate flooding, especially on nearby federal lands that directly impact residential areas. This legislation would also convey federal land to Douglas County so it can manage these flood-prone areas.
“I worked closely with my partners in Douglas County and the Washoe Tribe to create a bill that would prioritize responsible land management, economic development, outdoor recreation, and preservation of cultural sites,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Together, we can pass a bill that will give Douglas County the tools it needs to keep its residents safe and conserve its iconic scenery.”
The Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act would:
- Convey 7,777 acres of BLM and U.S. Forest Service-owned parcels to Douglas County for land management and 67 acres to the State of Nevada to be managed within the Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park;
- Allow the BLM to dispose up to 31.5 acres for the purposes of economic development, with proceeds eligible for projects to protect the floodplain around the Carson River;
- Direct the U.S. Forest Service to convey 1,084 acres to Douglas County for a recreation area and 724 acres at Dance Hill to the Washoe Tribe for cultural and ceremonial purposes;
- Convey 2,669 acres of important cultural sites to the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada; and
- Promote the management of sage grouse habitat by designating nearly 12,400 acres of new Burbank Canyons Wilderness area.
“Floodwater does not respect jurisdictional boundaries, and flooding events do not wait for jurisdictional clarity,” said Mark Gardner, Chairman of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. “The Douglas County Lands Bill gives the County the ability to implement locally-driven, federally-facilitated solutions that protect lives, improve watershed health, and reduce disaster recovery and mitigation costs in Douglas County. We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Cortez Masto, who is working in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners to serve the interests of Douglas County residents with the introduction and highly anticipated passage of this bill.”
“We are grateful to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto for her efforts on the Douglas County Bill,” said Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness. “It is wonderful to have final resolution for the small but beautiful Burbank Canyons Wilderness. In Nevada, these public lands bills, where stakeholders come together to resolve issues, are the appropriate way to find common sense solutions both for conservation and for our communities.”
“From the perspective of the East Fork Fire Protection District, the Douglas County Lands Bill is an important step toward strengthening our community’s resilience to stormwater and flood events,” said Alan Ernst, East Fork Fire Protection District Fire Chief. “By enabling the County to proactively manage stormwater generated on federal lands, this legislation will help the County protect the residents of neighborhoods like Johnson Lane and Ruthenstroth that have experienced significant impacts from multiple flash flooding events over the last decade and will ultimately save the District and the County hundreds of thousands of dollars in flood response over time. This is a practical investment in preparedness, safety, and long-term community resilience.”
“On behalf of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, I express our support for the Douglas County Economic Development and Conservation Act. This bill provides for the transfer of approximately 2,500 acres of federal land to be held in trust for the benefit of the Washoe Tribe. The lands designated to the Washoe Tribe come from many years of work and negotiations from prior Washoe Elders and Tribal Council members, most of whom have passed on. This meaningful action supports tribal sovereignty, restores Washoe connections to the lands, and will provide new opportunities. We appreciate the collaborative effort that led to this legislation and look forward to continued partnership to ensure these lands are managed with Washoe cultural values and benefits the entire region,” said Chairman Serrell Smokey of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
The full text of the legislation can be found here, and a map of the proposal can be found here.
Senator Cortez Masto has worked across the board to strengthen and diversify Nevada’s economy, protect Nevada’s public lands, and plan for responsible growth. She helped pass vital legislation to create thousands of new jobs in Las Vegas at the Apex Industrial Park. Cortez Masto has secured funding for large-scale water recycling projects in Nevada, including $99 million for a project that will serve thousands of households in Southern Nevada and California. She has fought against misguided proposals to allow the indiscriminate sale of public lands to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Cortez Masto has consistently pushed for the passage of her Southern Nevada Lands bill and successfully expanded the Navy’s Fallon Range Training Complex.
###
LINK: https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-introduces-douglas-county-lands-bill-2/