The Future of the Ruby Mountains

The Ruby Mountains in Elko County, Nevada, has many names: “Nevada’s Hidden Sierras,” “the Swiss Alps of the West,” and “Nevada’s Outdoor Recreation Crown Jewel.” However, “rich deposits of oil” is not one of them. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean it’s not threatened by oil and gas development. In the history of oil and gas drilling in the United States, the Ruby Mountains have never produced a drop of liquid gold. 

In late 2017, a request was made to allow leasing for oil and gas exploration in the U.S. Forest Service land in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains.  A groundswell of public opposition formed and thousands of individuals, state and local officials, and organizations, spoke out against the proposal. In 2019, the Forest Service issued a no-leasing decision. However, within days of that decision, expressions of interest were filed on an additional 88,000 acres, many of which were the same parcels previously denied.

Nevadans are proud that we have public lands that support world class hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation, while also providing grazing and ranching opportunities. Whether it is skiing one of the 50 greatest descents Terminal Cancer, angling for native Lahontan cutthroat, birding for the elusive Himalayan Snowcock or pursuing mountain goats or mule deer, the Ruby Mountains provides.

Since 2019, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen and House Representative Mark Amodei have supported legislation that would safeguard the Ruby Mountains for oil and gas exploration. Yet, every attempt has failed in Congress. Last year, with the support from the sporting conservation community, Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Rosen advocated for an administrative 20-year withdrawal from oil and gas development. 

Last December, the Department of the Interior announced it was initiating the process to withdraw the Ruby Mountains from oil and gas drilling.  Since then, the virtual meeting in February has been cancelled but the 90-day comment period that ends in late March is still available for the public to engage. Over 60% of Westerners prefer oil and gas companies to drill in areas with known deposits. The large majority of Nevadans also want leaders to place more emphasis on protecting water, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities over maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. Now is the time to voice your opinion of how we plan to safeguard the Ruby Mountains for everyone’s enjoyment, for current and future generations. You can voice your opinion on how the Ruby Mountains should be managed by commenting through the Bureau of Land Management’s Federal Register.