Historic Disaster Peak Ranch Preserved For Conservation Efforts

The 3,345-acre property on the Nevada-Oregon border provides critical habitat for the imperiled Lahontan cutthroat trout

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, NV – The Lahontan cutthroat trout, designated as the state fish of Nevada, at one time thrived in streams throughout the Great Basin. However, today their existence is threatened by the loss of critical cold-water habitat, as well as the encroachment of non-native fish.

As part of an effort to conserve and restore habitat for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, Disaster Peak Ranch, a sprawling 3,345-acre property straddling the Nevada-Oregon border, has been secured through a collaborative effort led by Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Situated approximately 20 miles west of McDermitt, Nevada, with 655 acres in Humboldt County, Nevada, and the remaining 2,690 acres in Malheur County, Oregon, Disaster Peak Ranch is a critical habitat for not only Lahontan cutthroat trout, but various native wildlife species, including mule deer, Columbia spotted frog, greater sage-grouse, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. The ranch encompasses the heart of the McDermitt Creek basin, boasting more than 55 miles of creek and interconnected tributaries. These stream systems are a lifeline for Lahontan cutthroat trout, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.