DLD works with Wild Horse Presevation League on Fencing Solution

Dayton Land Developers met with members of the Wild Horse Preservation League on January 19th, 2007 in order to discuss fencing to keep the wild horses from entering the Santa Maria Ranch subdivision. Present at the meeting were both Matt Denio and BrandonMain of Dayton Land Developers, Bonnie Matton (President of the WHPL), Ed Rector (Vice President of the WHPL), Karen Rhodes of the Leader Courier, as well as Mike Holmes of the Department of Agriculture. The meeting was held onsite at the Santa Maria Ranch so that all parties could evaluate the situation of

Fence constructnion nears completion on the north side of SMR Photo: M.Denio April 23rd, 2007

Matt Denio led a tour of the areas that would require fencing and illustrated that most of these areas would eventually be fenced by the individual lot owners within the subdivision. The current situation was a temporary one that would eventually be rectified as the home owners install their required permanentfencing.

With this in mind all parties agreed that the best course would be to construct a temporary fence that would serve to keep the horses from entering the subdivision in the interim. Mike Holmes suggested a 3 wire fence, and Bonnie Matton suggested that it be barbless wire. Dayton Land Developers agreed that this type of fencing would be beneficial and would construct this fencing on its property.

Matt Denio pointed out that where the horses are often seen is actually Lyon County property and the county has fencing that may need to be inspected and possibly repaired in order to keep the horses out. Another area of concern was the area of NDOT right of way that exists on either side of Highway 50. Matt Denio stressed that Dayton Land Developers could not place fencing on land that they did not own. He further stated that Dayton Land Developers would be more than happy to pay for and install fencing on this section, but it would require a permit to do so. Matt Denio stated that Dayton Land Developers would begin with the initial plans for the fencing immediately and start construction most likely in spring. In the mean time the Wild Horse Preservation League would work on obtaining a permit from NDOT so that a fence could be constructed on the NDOT property. The Wild Horse Preservation League will also work with Lyon County on issues of fencing on the County's property.

All parties worked together in order to come to an agreement of how best to proceed. The meeting finished after an in-depth tour of the present condition of fencing on the Santa Maria Ranch and a plan in place to work for a solution that would benefit both the Santa Maria Ranch community as well as the wild horses that roam Nevada's public lands.