Possible land swap involves five Northern Nevada, California counties

A Carson Valley-based landowner and agribusiness has detailed a land swap plan involving several counties in Northern Nevada and California.

Under the proposal, the Bently Family Limited Partnership is seeking about 32,000 acres under the control of the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The partnership already has 33,000 acres.

Bently wants to swap real estate in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas and Lyon counties in Nevada and Mono County, Calif., for public land in Douglas and in Alpine County, Calif.

Bently is offering five parcels of private land, including 11,000 acres in the Pine Nut mountains in Douglas County and 900 acres on both sides of the Carson River in northern Douglas County.

Also offered are 2,480 acres in Carson City, including both sides of the Carson River in the old V&T Railroad right of way; 1,100 acres at the Sonora Junction of U.S. 395 in Mono County; and 1,920 acres in Churchill County.

In exchange, Bently wants 25,000 acres on the east side of the Carson Valley in Douglas County, near the Pine Nuts; 5,000 acres near Mud Lake Reservoir in Douglas County; and 2,000 acres in Alpine County.

In the proposal, Donald Bently said any exchange would be based on appraised values, and he looks forward to ''a serious dialogue'' with the federal agencies.

John Singlaub, manager of the BLM's Carson City district, said the proposal offers possibilities and there are Bently-owned parcels that could be used for recreation purposes.

Singlaub also said some of the land Bently wants in Douglas County already has been identified by the government as available for disposal.

He also said the BLM will bring the Washoe Tribe into the discussions because the tribe owns considerable property in the Pine Nuts.