Nevada's newest state park opens near Yerington
Saying, "welcome to a slice of Nevada heaven," Gov Brian Sandoval on Wednesday christened Nevada's newest state park, the Walker River Recreation Area outside of Yerington.
The park is being built on the 12,000 acres of land that was formerly three historic ranches, the Pitchfork, Rafter 7 and Flying M. They were purchased by the Walker River Conservancy that then deeded the land to the state, a gift Sandoval said was worth about $8 million.
The park includes 28 miles of the picturesque Walker River that will now be open to kayakers, canoes and fishermen who have long regarded that stretch of the river one of the best trout streams in Nevada.
Jeff Bryant of the conservancy said they actually paid "upward of $30 million" for the land but wanted it mostly for the water rights held by those ranches. The conservancy's goal, according to Parks Director Eric Johnson, is to use that water to restore the water quality in Walker Lake to a level that can support native cutthroat trout.
Read more: https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/government/nevadas-newest-state-park-opens-near-yerington/#