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Residents tell Washoe County fencing on Virginia Range blocks wild horses from water, could worsen wildfire risk
Summary
Dozens of residents urged commissioners to intervene after the Nevada Department of Agriculture’s Virginia Range fencing project closed horse access to year‑round water and grazing, raising animal welfare and wildfire‑risk concerns.
Multiple public commenters at the June 10 Washoe County meeting urged the Board of County Commissioners to press Nevada Department of Agriculture officials to revise fencing on the Virginia Range, which residents said has blocked wild horses from historic water sources and grazing areas.
Speakers said fencing installed so far (about 11 miles reported in public comment) has removed access to primary year‑round water for horses across several thousand acres and left only seasonal ponds that have already been dry. Lisa O’Sullivan, a resident of Steamboat Valley, told the board the fencing "has effectively blocked wild horses from accessing the valley without any notice or consultation with local residents" and argued that the animals provided free grazing that reduced fire fuels. "This fence really makes no sense," she said.
Other commenters described the heat and dehydration risks to animals, noted previous turnout at citizen advisory meetings opposing the fencing and said the fencing could force grass to accumulate and increase fire danger for nearby neighborhoods. Several speakers asked commissioners to advocate for restoring water access or modifying the fence so horses could reach long‑established water sources.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said staff and state partners would be asked for more information; no formal action or directive was recorded during the meeting. The issue raised both animal‑welfare and community wildfire‑mitigation concerns, and citizens said they want county officials to press for revisions or a technical solution that preserves horse access while meeting state grazing or management objectives.
