NAC321.454. Award of grants of money; entry into contracts or agreements; use of advisory committees; coordination of efforts.

     1. The Division will award grants of money from the sale of general obligation bonds of this State to counties, municipalities, state agencies or nonprofit organizations, or any combination thereof. The money will be distributed as follows:

     (a) Not more than $7,250,000 to a state agency, county, municipality or nonprofit organization, or any combination thereof, for the construction of recreational trails. A recreational trail constructed with money awarded pursuant to this paragraph may include signs, markings, access points, staging areas, trailheads and directly related improvements such as restrooms and shade structures. Such a recreational trail may also include landscaping or revegetation with any associated irrigation equipment but only in an area around an improvement that requires landscaping or revegetation for slope stabilization as a direct result of the construction of the improvement.

     (b) Not more than $5,000,000 to a state agency, county, municipality or nonprofit organization, or any combination thereof, for the acquisition of land and water or interests in land and water for urban parks or greenbelts.

     (c) Not more than $3,000,000 to a state agency, a county whose population is less than 100,000 or a municipality within a county whose population is less than 100,000, or any combination thereof, for the development of habitat conservation plans.

     (d) Not more than $250,000 to a county whose population is less than 100,000 or a municipality within a county whose population is less than 100,000, or any combination thereof, for the development and adoption of open-space plans.

     (e) Not more than $20,000,000 to a county or a municipality within a county, or any combination thereof, for the acquisition of land and water or interests in land and water to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, sensitive or unique vegetation, historic or cultural resources, riparian corridors, wetlands and other environmental resources pursuant to an adopted open-space plan.

     (f) Not more than $10,000,000 to Churchill County, Douglas County, Lyon County, Carson City or a municipality located within those counties, or any combination thereof, to enhance and restore the Carson River corridor. Money awarded pursuant to this paragraph must be used to:

          (1) Acquire and develop land and water rights;

          (2) Provide recreational facilities;

          (3) Provide access to and along the Carson River, including, without limitation, parking areas; or

          (4) Restore the Carson River corridor.

     (g) Not more than $5,000,000 to Douglas County, Washoe County, Carson City or a municipality located within those counties, or any combination thereof, to enhance and develop the path system in the Lake Tahoe area.

     2. The Division may enter into contracts or agreements with nonprofit conservation organizations in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to acquire land and water or interests in land and water for the public benefit to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, sensitive or unique vegetation, historic or cultural resources, riparian corridors, floodplains and wetlands and other environmental resources.

     3. The Administrator may use advisory committees to make recommendations for grants awarded pursuant to subsection 1 or contracts or agreements entered into pursuant to subsection 2.

     4. The Administrator will coordinate with the Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for any grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1.

     5. The Administrator will coordinate with the Department of Wildlife and the Nevada Natural Heritage Program for any grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 1.

     6. The Administrator will determine the boundaries of the Carson River corridor for any grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (f) of subsection 1.

     7. An urban park for which land and water or an interest in land and water was acquired pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 must be open to the public.

     (Added to NAC by Div. of St. Lands by R186-03, eff. 4-22-2004)