WILDLIFE AREA CLOSED, HUNT SEASONS CANCELLED DUE TO FLOODING

Overton Wildlife Management Area in Clark County is closed and waterfowl hunting seasons suspended due to flood waters that have inundated the area and swept away dams and roads, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Keith Brose, installation manager, said flood waters hit the area on Tuesday (1/11/05) and are continuing to flow through the state-managed hunting and wildlife viewing facility.

The flood waters originated in Lincoln County and have cut their way through Caliente and down Meadow Valley Wash and the Muddy River into the community of Overton. The management area sits along the Muddy River below Overton.

“We had to close the area for public safety and because there is no access because of flooding and damage to roads,” said Brose. “We will be fortunate if we can put the area back into shape by next fall’s hunting season.”

NDOW has called an early end to the duck and goose hunting seasons on the area. Those seasons were scheduled to run through Jan. 23. The Jan. 29 youth waterfowl hunt, upland game bird and rabbit hunts have as well been cancelled at the area.

Brose said installation workers have been unable to access much of the 17,657-acre facility to assess damage because of flooding. The north and east sides of the management area are not currently accessible.

Workers have not been able to get to the diversion dam that diverts water from the Muddy River onto the area. Brose said the dike at Wilson Pond on the area has been breached and suspects similar damage to the dike at Honeybee Pond.

A number of low-lying hunting blinds have been washed away while blinds located in fields are flooded.

“We are currently receiving large flows of water from the Muddy River and the town of Overton,” Brose said.

He said it is too dangerous on the area to allow hunting or other public access. The floods have carved a number of deep holes that are underwater. There also is the concern that a dike could fail and cause even more flooding.

This follows the flood which hit on Dec. 29 forcing NDOW to temporarily close the area at that time. Heavy flows along washes to the west of the area caused that flood.

“Once we know the extent of the damage and make decisions for reconstruction, we will be asking for assistance from volunteers,” Brose said.

Located northeast of Las Vegas and south of the town of Overton, the management area lies in the lower extremes of the Moapa and Virgin River valleys where they flow into the north end of the Overton Arm of Lake Mead.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Ely, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko and Reno. For more information, contact the agency’s web site at www.ndow.org.

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