UNR Extension seeks rural Nevada participation in drought‑adaptation survey

Loretta Singletary, a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension specialist, told the Elko County Board of Commissioners the National Science Foundation‑funded "Where We Live" project is surveying residents across the Humboldt River Basin to learn how rural communities cope with drought, heat and wildfire. "The focus of the project is to better understand the various ways rural communities are coping with drought, heat and wildfire," she said.

Singletary said the non‑producer survey takes about five to 10 minutes and that the team is seeking interviews for deeper qualitative information. "I have 21 completed surveys," she said, adding the project hopes to reach about 100 total responses and a similar goal for ag producers. She said interviews would be scheduled with a team member and that all data would be anonymized and handled under university research rules.

Commissioners asked whether similar surveys were under way and whether urban areas were included; Singletary said this project specifically excludes urban areas and focuses on the Humboldt River Basin — which includes Elko County and neighboring subbasins — to capture rural conditions. She invited commissioners and residents to complete the online survey or volunteer for interviews and said the researchers would return with findings if participation reaches useful levels.