Study: Some Washoe lands have potential for development

The wildcard in the effort to control Douglas County's growth has always been the potential development of 68,877 acres of Washoe allotments in the Pine Nut Mountains.

A study of the lands conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs shows that some land has development potential, but there are still obstacles to building on the property.

Individual Washoe families own the allotments and in some cases own shares in several different parcels that were passed down through the generations. The allotments are held in trust by the federal government, but the Washoe owners may lease their land to someone else or even take it out of trust and sell it. The property checkerboards across the Pine Nuts along with property controlled by the Bureau of Land Management and private owners.

During the height of the building boom, Washoes were approached about developing their parcels, which prompted the Bureau of Indian Affairs to hire a contractor to inventory the land and determine its best use.

The contractor, Cascade Design Professionals, presented its preliminary findings to about 150 members of the Washoe Tribe in Minden last week.

According to company spokeswoman Mary Bedard, nothing in the plan precludes the Washoe families from developing their land for their own use.

The company looked at 184 parcels in the Carson River basin equaling about 27,000 acres of land.

Bedard said of those 83 parcels were suitable for development. Two collections of parcels located east of Johnson Lane and north of Fish Springs had the highest development potential, due to their flatter terrain and location near developed roads.

The parcels in the Pine Nuts proper were less suitable for development, according to the study.

Only 39 of the 157 parcels were found to be suitable for development and another 17 had marginal development potential.

The best parcels for development lie directly along the highway near Bodie and Double Spring Flat.

But even the best suited parcels for development have their problems.

Bedard said the parcels in the north and northeast have little in the way of sustainable groundwater. The further east the Highway 395 allotments are the less water is available. The water in parts of the allotments may have to be treated for sulfates, iron, arsenic and manganese. Soils in the allotments are not the best for development. The cons tend to increase the cost of development and make the parcels less attractive, she said.

Projects built on Washoe land would be subject to regulation from the federal government rather than the county.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Realty Officer Stan Webb said the fate of the land is up to individual families. Pineview Estates is built on leased Washoe land. At the end of 99 years the property will revert back to the original owners. In order to lease a parcel, Webb said a majority of its owners would have to agree. However, in order to take the land out of trust, all the owners would have to agree.