|
1979 |
Homeowners
on 37,400 acres north of Virginia City formed what is now the
Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association (VRWPA) to preserve and
protect the range and wildlife |
|
1982 |
VRWPA was instrumental in revising County Statutes. Aircraft
roundups were prohibited, ‘Mustanging’ (taking of estray horses for personal profit)
stopped in Storey County |
|
1987 |
Round
table meetings started with State Department of Agriculture, Bureau of
Land Management, VRWPA and other interest groups to discuss the
possibility of a Tri-County Virginia Range Estray Horse Management group.
First range study completed and horse count performed by fixed
wing aircraft. No one could agree and group dissolved. |
|
1993 |
VRWPA requested Storey County to form Storey
County Wild Horse Control
Commission to act on behalf of free roaming horses in Storey
County. New County statutes were put into place. |
|
1994 |
A Cooperative
Agreement between the State of Nevada, Department of
Agriculture and Storey County was signed, January 10th, with support and
assistance from Joe Dini allowing for Storey County to act on behalf of
it’s own estray horses. |
|
1995 |
The IRS granted VRWPA’s request for
501c3 nonprofit status.
Storey County Wild Horse Commission disbanded and Storey County asked
the VRWPA to help with the estray horses. Three nuisance horses were
successfully trapped, processed and placed into good homes to ensure
complete and adequate processes were in place.
|
|
1996 |
Responsibility for care and post capture authority was
given to VRWPA for Storey
County nuisance horses placed up for adoption |
|
1997 |
Round table meetings started between State Department of
Agriculture, Storey County and
VRWPA to formulate a Virginia Range Estray Horse
Management Plan. Memorandum of Understanding to remove
horses created by the State Department of Agriculture for Counties effected
by estrays was reviewed by VRWPA and recommended it not
be signed by Storey County Commissioners. Storey County did not sign
and the State agreed to allow Storey County to continue functioning under
their original Cooperative Agreement. |
|
1998 |
At the request of Storey County, the VRWPA agreed to act in ‘wild’ horse
management activities County wide. Virginia Range Horse Range Area identified.
VRWPA paid for a joint aerial count to establish and agree on the number
of horses currently present. Virginia Range Horse Management Area
identified.
34 horses
were slaughtered in Storey County. VRWPA was asked by the County
to coordinate calls and administer the $35,000 reward fund. |
|
1999 |
IRS approves permanent 501c3 nonprofit status for VRWPA
The
State Department of Agriculture opened the holding facility for
nuisance horses
removed from the range at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. VRWPA
helped to adopt horses out as agent for Storey County under the original
Cooperative Agreement with the State. USDA National Resource
Conservation Services was selected to perform range study on management area
only (85,000) acres to obtain a scientific opinion on the condition of the
range and make a recommendation for capacity. VRWPA paid their share of
$5,000 and Storey County's quarter $2,500. The State Department of
Agriculture paid their quarter of the cost $2,500.
|
|
2000 |
Range study was completed and capacity number agreed upon. Press
release held to
inform the public of findings and future plan to reduce number of horses on the range
550. Comstock Wild Horse Gentling program created by the State
Department of Agriculture at Warm Springs Medium Security Prison.
VRWPA was
asked to administer the "Inmate Scholarship Fund" and donations for
equipment and supplies for the program. VRWPA was appointed feeding
agent for the State Department of Agriculture to set up a winter
test-feeding program in the VC Highlands. |
|
2002 |
VRWPA active in
rescues and winter feeding program. |
|
2003 |
Signed a new
agreement with the State Department of Agriculture and Storey
County to act as an agent for the adoption of estray horses.
Became a PMU for the Governors'
Commission for the Sage Grouse. |
|
2004 |
Started working
with the State Department of Agriculture on birth control study of
wild horses on the Virginia Range.
Working with University of Nevada on
horse behavioral study.
1st private sale of wild horses at
Tyson's Canyon Ranch. |