Wild horse enthusiasts converged on a meeting of the Nevada Department of Agriculture to voice their concerns.

Wild horse advocates are concerned a proposed fence in the Virginia Range will hinder horses from drinking water from Washoe Lake. 

There was a big turnout for public comment at the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) meeting today on December 6. 

Those who were at the meeting for the advocacy of wild horses told us they have no issue with the repair of the fencing along Washoe Lake. They don't agree with the extension of a fence for 23 miles in the Washoe Valley area.

But the Nevada Department of Agriculture says right now this fencing is just a proposal.

Carrie Tschida, a wild horse advocate and resident of Washoe Valley says, "I was all for the repairing of the fences because you can see it as you're going along. It's broke down, they get caught in it - it's been damaged for a long time. But then I realized that it's not that; they want to build a whole new fence and I'm not even sure where - but to block horses off totally."

According to a letter from the governor's office, the fencing along Washoe Lake had more than five miles repaired, hoping to redirect the horses away from protected natural resource areas like Washoe Lake.

JJ Goicoechea, the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, says there is not a 23-mile long fence right now. 

He explains, "The 23 miles of fence is a complete proposed project over many years that will require the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in order to get that done through the BLM."

He explains how they're working with the BLM to see where existing fences were, which ones need repairs, and where they could build new fences to tie in gaps between those existing fences where horses were gaining access to some of the higher-traveled areas such as 395, Veterans Parkway and East Lake Boulevard where horse collisions occur. 

Some of the wild horse advocates were concerned about limiting the horses' resources with the fencing.

Tschida asks, "First of all, I don't know where the other resources are. I want them to have proof of it because they say there's ponds, streams - where are they?"

Louise Martin, a private citizen and Nevada resident says, "It is higher up on the range and it will block the horses and wildlife from Steamboat Creek, various water sources, springs and Washoe Lake."

But Goicoechea explains, "There are a lot of abundant resources in the Virginia Range. You heard a lot of testimony today about the abundance of wildlife, and the abundance of feed that's in the Virginia Range; and it is our hope those horses will return deeper into the range where they truly will do better for themselves."

He also say's it's a misconception—other than in south Reno—that they're building fences because of development. He says the fencing is meant to give the horses easier access to the range and keep them less accustomed to being habituated.

Many residents were also concerned the horses will no longer be around after the fencing.

Goicoechea wants to assure everyone, "These horses will continue to be there in the Virginia Range; people can still see them, you can drive around a lot of areas in Virginia Range and still see those horses."

As a reminder, today this topic was all public comment and no action was taken during the meeting.

In the letter from the governor's office, it says, "The NDA and its partners are monitoring the horses' transition to ensure a safe and effective process. In some cases, horses may be relocated to safer areas within the range, away from high risk zones, where they can access water and feed. Our priority remains the health and well-being of these horses and the public. Maintaining fence integrity is crucial, tampering with or cutting fences increases risks to the horses by exposing them to roadways and urban hazards."