Nevada Division of Wildlife, Wetland Conservation Plans for State Wildlife Management Areas 

The Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW) obtained a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1994 and subsequently contracted with H&C , Inc. to prepare a Wetland Conservation Plan applicable to State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The preparation of the Wetland Conservation Plan consisted of:

• Extensive literature review;

• Data collection;

• Gap analysis;

• Conducting interviews with local and state personnel;

• Conducting stakeholder meetings;

• Preparation of an ACCESS database;

• Strategic planning;

• A static GIS database; and

• Written reports.

The State-controlled and managed wetlands are presently incorporated into a wildlife management area system, and for the scope of this project included the Overton, W.E. Kirch, Key Pittman, Mason Valley, Humboldt, Fernley, Scripps, Alkali Lake and Franklin Lake Wildlife Management Areas. The purpose of the overall project was to develop a Wetlands Conservation Plan that delineates the mechanisms to achieve a goal of no net loss of wetlands by area and function and that will act as a policy guide to NDOW in the preparation of comprehensive plans for wetlands in the wildlife management areas system. The long-term objective is to enhance and increase wetlands’ quantity and quality on these wildlife management areas.

To accomplish this objective, a written policy document and GIS inquiry system were developed. The GIS system accommodates storage of natural resource data and provides an analysis and management tool to assist in the formulation of management choices and strategic planning guidelines for the WMAs. The structure of a GIS system for data management was determined in conjunction with an interagency Wetlands Technical Advisory Committee. Color infrared aerial photographs were taken at all study areas and field surveys were conducted to ground truth aerial photographs and topographic maps, and to conduct a wetland functional assessment of all areas. This information was then spatially linked with the GIS database containing various WMA facts to be used in an intranet by employees for management purposes.