Douglas County, after more than 2.5 years of stakeholder meetings, it is moving forward on the Douglas County Conservation Bill by having public open houses at several locations through mid-December to share information and seek public input.

“The bill is locally developed, comprehensive federal legislation that will improve public lands management and help achieve Douglas County’s long-term master plan goals for growth, conservation, and public recreation,” Steve Mokrohisky, Douglas County manager, said in a press release.

The measure would transfer federally owned cultural lands to the Washoe Tribe, transfer federal lands to Douglas County for water resource infrastructure and flood attenuation projects, improve the management of certain federally owned public recreation parcels, address the proposed Burbank Canyons Wilderness Area, and provide for the sale of excess and difficult to manage federal lands in the Carson Valley, ensuring that the sales proceeds are used locally to acquire conservation easements from willing landowners in Douglas County.

The Douglas County Conservation Bill balances the county’s development and planning needs with the protection of its cultural heritage, historical agricultural operations, floodplain lands, and natural resources. It is designed to improve access to public lands, and strengthen the ability of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to focus on their respective core responsibilities of forest and rangeland management.

The meetings are:

Minden: Dec. 5, 5:30–7:30pm, Emergency Operations Center, 1694 County Road, Minden

North Douglas County: Dec. 6, 5:30–7:30pm, North Sunridge Fire Station, 3620 N. Sunridge Drive, Carson City

South Douglas County–Topaz Area: Dec. 7, 5:30–7:30pm, Topaz Ranch Estates Community Center, 4001 Carter Way, Wellington

Lake Tahoe: Dec. 12, 5:30–7:30pm, Tahoe Transportation Center, 169 Highway 50, Stateline

Genoa: Dec. 14, 5:30–7:30pm, Genoa Town Hall, 2287 Main St., Genoa.