Changes & Elections at the Mason & Smith Valley Conservation District

After 10 years of service to the Mason & Smith Conservation Districts, District Manager Ed Ryan is retiring and opening the door for a new DM to step in. Ryan worked for the Bureau of Land Management for 30 years after graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1975 with a degree in Range Management & Forestry. He came out of retirement in 2014 to lead the Mason & Smith Conservation Districts.

The purpose of the conservation districts is to organize/oversee: river restoration projects, noxious weed control, riverbank stabilizations, hazardous tree removal, fuels mitigation (fire), sage grouse habitat, etc.

After the Walker River Irrigation District (WRID) was established in 1919 under the Nevada Irrigation District Act, legislators created the Mason & Smith Valley Conservation Districts in 1937.

On November 5th, 2024 elections for 3 members of the 7 member board of supervisors in Mason Valley and 3 members of the 7 member board of supervisors in Smith Valley are taking place. Board members are not paid for their service (with the exception of county commissioners).

Details of elections: 

The Mason Valley Conservation District is made up of Chairman Jeff Borsini, Robert Cooper, Robert “Bert” Bryan, Randy Emm, Jerri Tipton, Lyon County Commissioner Dave Hockaday and Mineral County Commissioner Larry Grant. Cooper, Bryan, and Emm are outgoing board members, and the election will be for those positions. Cooper, Bryan, and Emm are running for those public service positions.

The Smith Valley Conservation District is made up of Chairman Richard Huntsberger, Cub Wolfe, Denise Hunewill, Pete Anderson, Gerry Miller, Lyon County Commissioner Dave Hockaday and Mineral County Commissioner Larry Grant. Hunewill, Anderson, and Miller are outgoing board members, and the election will be for those positions. Hunewill, Anderson, and Miller are running for those public service positions.

Each of the Conservation Districts holds 3 meetings per year with one joint meeting for Mason & Smith Valleys. The office is located at 513 W. Bridge Street, Suite G in Yerington.

On October 10, 2024 a job announcement for the Mason Valley & Smith Valley Conservation District: District Manager was circulated: