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THE NATIONAL FOREST TASK FORCE OF NEVADA 



TESTIMONY OF 



SUE WAGNER 



NEVADA STATE SENATOR 



Page 4 



efficient and cost-effective. Both Nevadans and tourists will 

 experience less confusion and more convenience. 



In 1906, Nevadans partitioned Congress to establish 

 National Forests to bring regulation and management to the range 

 resource. Congress responded by creating the Toiyabe National 

 Forest in 1907 and the Humboldt National Forest in 1908. Again, 

 Nevadans are coming to Congress asking its members to increase 

 National Forest System acreage. 



At the end of your session last year, I was disturbed when 

 1 found out the Enhancement Act did not pass because of contro- 

 versy over water rights. 



First of all, the land which we are proposing to add to 

 the National Forest System should not be any different or come 

 under any other rules and regulations than the land already 

 existing in the System. Water is a precious natural resource 

 in Nevada, as it is in other western states. National Forests' 

 use of water is basically non-consumptive and is essential for 

 management of the wildlands. Most of the water on lands 

 involved in this bill in the Sierras is federally adjudicated, 

 and there is very little water involved on the lands under 

 consideration in the Spring Mountains near Las Vegas. It seems 

 terribly inappropriate to try to resolve a national issue 

 involving water rights with a bill whose primary constituency 



