Washoe County outlines $2.2 million Swan Lake acquisition and restoration using LWCF grant

Washoe County staff presented details Sept. 28 about a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant award and planned acquisition and restoration work for the Swan Lake Nature Study Area in the North Valleys.

Joanne Loudon, natural resource planning coordinator, told the commission the project scope centers on acquiring a privately owned 13.325-acre parcel at 0 Lear Boulevard and using LWCF funds to design access and flood mitigation improvements. The project total is $2,212,000; the LWCF grant award is $1,106,000 and the county match shown is $1,106,000. Loudon said the seller agreed to a bargain sale: an appraised value of $3,830,000 and a confirmed purchase price of $500,000, resulting in an in-kind donation of $3,330,000, of which $1,100,000 will be applied toward the LWCF match. The grant ID is KLWCF32-00413.

The nut graf: county staff say the purchase and the planned design work aim to protect habitat, reduce erosion along Horse Creek, restore wetlands, improve year-round access to the outdoor classroom and reduce recurring maintenance from sediment deposition and flood damage.

Loudon described recurring problems at Swan Lake: fluctuating water levels that periodically inundate the outdoor classroom and floating dock, erosion of the Horse Creek channel that threatens the park access road, sediment deposition that requires periodic dredging, and the spread of noxious weeds. Project components identified in the grant scope include purchasing the parcel, designing and permitting Horse Creek restoration and flood mitigation, constructing a raised boardwalk from the parking area to the outdoor classroom and redesigning interpretive signage to improve accessibility.

Loudon said Nevada Land Trust assisted with negotiating the bargain sale. The LWCF program allows donated property value to count toward matching funds only up to the amount of the grant request; county staff therefore counted $1,100,000 of the property donation as match for the $1,106,000 grant. The Board of County Commissioners accepted the grant on Sept. 16, 2025; the next step is to enter a purchase-and-sale agreement with the landowner and return to the Board for the acquisition schedule and additional approvals.

Commissioners asked whether remaining grant funds would cover design and permitting and Loudon said the funds available after the $500,000 purchase are intended for design and permitting of the boardwalk and Horse Creek restoration (the restoration itself will be a separate multi-year effort). She also confirmed partnerships with Lahontan Audubon Society, Nevada Land Trust, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada National Guard and the City of Reno.

Loudon emphasized Swan Lake’s ecological importance: the site is a Nevada Important Bird Area with more than 150 bird species recorded and tundra swans overwintering there between November and March. Any construction or restoration work will follow LWCF requirements for acquired public recreation lands.

Lahontan Audubon and other partners provided public comment in support of the acquisition during the meeting.