IFC approves fire restoration cash

A total of $313,940 in state funds was approved Wednesday to seed state lands, like those north of Carson City, that burned in last summer's fires.

Eight areas have been designated as dangers to public health and safety where repairs to the vegetation are critical.

The list includes the Sutro Fire in Washoe Valley just north of Carson City. The project there will reseed 239 acres burned in Washoe Lake State Park along Highway 428. The total cost of that project will be $13,903.

The money was approved the Legislative Interim Finance Committee.

The two largest projects on the list are damage caused by the Lone Butte and Eugene fires at more than $70,000 apiece. Nevada Division of Forestry officials say the Lone Butte fire caused damage to water quality and loss of fisheries in the Humboldt River.

The Eugene fire is a danger because of potential debris flows and flooding that could occur in the damaged drainages. Lone Butte involves reseeding 3,200 acres of land in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management while Eugene is a total of 3,750 acres.

The rehabilitation will include reseeding by air and ground with wild grasses and other native vegetation.

The finance committee also finalized a deal to lease the Hawthorne Armory to Mineral County for use as a juvenile facility.

State Lands Administrator Pam Wilcox said the facility will hold up to 30 juveniles enrolled in an alternative education program.

The 1999 Legislature already voted $437,000 to renovate the armory into a facility for juvenile offenders.

The least is for five years with an option to extend for another five years.