Sierra Pacific Power Company
Contact: Robert Sagan/Karl Walquist
Phone: (775) 83454345

For Immediate Release

The North Pond Pipeline, a wetlands project in the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area near Yerington, will be formally dedicated Sunday, June 14, by the Nevada Division of Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and Sierra Pacific Power Co., the project's sponsors.

The project greatly expands the local waterfowl habitat and enhances local fisheries through improved water quality. The 1 89-acre property is managed as a public hunting, fishing and recreational area, providing the public with the opportunity to enjoy a diversified wildlife experience. The area will also be used to provide scientific and educational uses of wildlife and landand water resources.

Begun in 1995, the project was delayed twice due to Walker River flooding in 1996 and 1997. It was finally completed in the fall of 1997. Located at the north end of the Mason Valley Wildlife Area, it is the largest in a series of four ponds in the area.

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. donated $50,000 to the project as project administrator, and helped with the design and construction of the pipeline.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife was able to secure $200,000 in federal funds for wildlife restoration.

For its part, Sierra Pacific Power secured all permits for pipeline construction, and has committed to provide 2,000 to 2,500 acre feet of water annually from its Fort Churchill cooling pond. The company also donated $50,000 to help with the completion of the project.

"It's a win-win situation," said Frank Luchetti, the utility's director of Environmental Affairs."By providing the cooling pond water to the project, we can significantly enlarge the habitat without using additional surface water diversion. In turn, that improves the cooling pond water quality without the need for technologies that are costly and may pose an environmental risk through the use of chemicals for water treatment."

Mason Valley Wetlands Project - Add One

Begun in 1995, the project was delayed twice due to Walker River flooding in 1996 and 1997. It was finally completed in the fall of 1997. Located at the north end of the Mason Valley Wildlife Area, it is the largest in a series of four ponds in the area.

Ducks Unlimited, Inc. donated $50,000 to the project as project administrator, and helped with the design and construction of the pipeline.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife was able to secure $200,000 in federal funds for wildlife restoration.

For its part, Sierra Pacific Power secured all permits for pipeline construction, and has committed to provide 2,000 to 2,500 acre feet of water annually from its Fort Churchill cooling pond. The company also donated $50,000 to help with the completion of the project.

"It's a win-win situation," said Frank Luchetti, the utility's director of Environmental Affairs."By providing the cooling pond water to the project, we can significantly enlarge the habitat without using additional surface water diversion. In turn, that improves the cooling pond water quality without the need for technologies that are costly and may pose an environmental risk through the use of chemicals for water treatment."