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BLM announces temporary closure of public lands at Water Canyon Recreation Area

Organization:

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Humboldt Field Office

Media Contact:

WINNEMUCCA, Nevada. The Humboldt River Field Office announces an emergency closure of public lands in Water Canyon Recreation Area located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Winnemucca in Humboldt County.

Public lands affected by this closure of the Water Canyon Recreation are described as follows:

·         Primary entrance to the Water Canyon Recreation Area, along with staging and camping areas that are accessed from Hansen Street which turns into Water Canyon Road (40°55’53.7811"N, 117°40'58.9198"W).

·         All hiking trails, picnic facilities, camping sites, and bathrooms will be closed within the Water Canyon Recreation Area.

·        The area described contains approximately 131 acres in Humboldt County, Nevada.

Throughout the closure, public lands that are temporarily closed will be patrolled by BLM Law Enforcement.

The BLM continues to serve the public while doing our part to address COVID-19. Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and recommendations from state and local public health authorities, the BLM is temporarily closing the Water Canyon Recreation Area to limit the spread of the virus.

On April 1, Governor Sisolak announced a “Stay at Home” directive for Nevadans that asked people to not leave their homes for non-essential activities. While we recognize that it is difficult for Americans to remain inside for weeks at a time, we urge Nevadans to take part in “flattening the curve” by participating in hyperlocal recreation, such as backyard activities, neighborhood walks and local bicycle rides.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.