Bently property to be protected as open space

Douglas County inventor and industrialist Don Bently decided to provide the residents of western Nevada with a present for his 81st birthday.

With the state and the Nature Conservancy, Bently worked out a conservation easement that will protect most of the Carson River from Carson City's southern border to Highway 395 and eventually open it to the public for recreational use.

Laura Crane, Carson River project director for the Conservancy, said Bently sold the easement for $1.5 million - $500,000 less than it was appraised - and donated $250,000 to establish an endowment fund to take care of the property.

The Conservancy matched that donation to provide a $500,000 endowment to manage the property.

"It's nearly all river bottom," Bently told a group gathered at the Kirman Field property to celebrate the deal. "I'm pleased to give this to the Conservancy. It's beautiful land."

The Division of State Lands and the Nevada Division of Wildlife provided the $1.5 million to purchase the easement from Question 1 bond money.

And they celebrated the deal Monday - the eve of Bently's 81st birthday.

Nevada Wildlife Director Terry Crawforth said the easement will keep the land free of development and protect the ability of the river to change course through the area - which it does nearly every spring. He said that is important to the health of the river area as a wildlife habitat.

"Without his vision and without his cooperation, this would never have happened," said Crawforth.

The easement protects 1,027 acres along both sides of more than four miles of the river's course.

Crane said the primary purpose of the easement is to protect wildlife habitat. She said Bently, the state and the conservancy will spend the next year developing a recreational masterplan that will include hiking trails and, she hopes, places to put in kayaks and rafts as well as other features.



n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.