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TESTIMONY OF FRED WRIGHT, NEVADA WILDLIFE FEDERATION, June 30, 1987 



use. With regard to mining, there are approximately 560 acres of 

 patented mining claims held mostly by nonresidents, the US Government, 

 and the primary developer in the McQueen Planning Area. There are 

 approximately 150 unpatented mining claims on the BLM lands, some now 

 adjacent to residential developments. The patented mining claims will 

 not be affected by an administrative change were it to occur. New 

 mining ventures on public land would come under stricter surface 

 control and bonding reguirements to assure site reclamation if the 

 USFS were administering the area. Because there is interest in mining 

 in the area, we feel that the stricter management measures required by 

 the USFS are highly justified, considering the heavy use the area 

 receives from the public. 



Recreational use of the public and private (presently posted) 

 land includes sightseeing, picnicing, participation in snow sports, 

 off-road vehicle driving, and deer huting, among others. The general 

 area is used by wintering deer, with the highest numbers in the key 

 wintering area. 



Peavine Mountain is home to a resident population of 100-200 deer 

 and a wintering population of up to 2,000 animals depending upon the 

 overall size of the Loyal ton-Truckee interstate deer herd and the 

 severity of the winters in California. Washoe County is adopting the 

 Verdi Area Plan which recognizes the value of retaining views, scenic 

 features, and wildlife habitat in conjunction with development on 

 private lands. The north Peavine wat^ershed is being evaluated to 



