CLARK COUNTY PUBLIC LANDS LEGISLATION
CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES
OCTOBER 2019

Conservation organizations at the local, state and national levels, and the public interests we
represent, are deeply interested in the management of public lands in Clark County and have
worked for decades to preserve those lands. From the Spring Mountains to the Desert National
Wildlife Refuge, Gold Butte National Monument to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and
many unprotected areas in between, the public lands in Clark County provide outstanding
habitat, offer opportunities for solitude and outdoor recreation, protect important cultural
resources, and support Nevada’s strong outdoor economy.
We have diverse views and differing priorities for public lands legislation in Clark County.
However, we all agree that public lands legislation in the county must appropriately balance
conservation, recreation, and economic development and must provide a substantial net
conservation gain. Successful public lands legislation must, at a minimum, adhere to the
following principles:
 Legislation must ensure permanent protection, through wilderness or other appropriate
designations, for high value conservation lands in the county, with a focus on lands with

 important ecological, scenic, recreational, wildlife, educational, cultural, historical, or
natural values.
 Legislation must not undermine bedrock environmental laws including the Endangered
Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act and the scientific and public
processes they proscribe, including through language that mandates changes to species
mitigation requirements or permit terms and conditions.
 Legislation must not undermine public participation in the management of public lands
through limits on public engagement in public land planning or management, or limits on
administrative and judicial review of land management decisions.
 The ecological, scenic, recreational, cultural, historical, and natural values of public land
must be fully evaluated and disclosed prior to authorizing the disposal of public lands in
Clark County.
 Legislation must be developed and implemented after consultation with sovereign Tribal
Nations, specifically those with ties to affected lands, and must respect tribal sovereignty
and honor Native American uses of, and historic and contemporary connections to, public
land.