In January, the Nevada Department of Wildlife presented to the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board an overview of its plans to build a visitor center at the Overton Wildlife Management area.

At that time, Kelly Clark, conservation education chief for NDOW, said the agency's "desire is for the visitor center to become an important part of the Moapa Valley community. We want the people living here to know what our vision for the visitor center is and the opportunities it will provide." Clark also said it was important that valley residents have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts about the project with representatives from NDOW and PBS&J of Henderson, the agency's design and construction consultant.

To that end, NDOW is hosting an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Moapa Valley Community Center, 320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. in Overton. This will be an opportunity to view architectural renderings and landscape plans for the visitor center and its grounds, which will be built on an eight-acre parcel generally located at the corner of Moapa Valley Boulevard and Wildlife Road.

Plans call for about 4,900 square feet of building space that will include a classroom facility, interpretive exhibits and office space. Plans include an interpretive trail system, a pond and open space for outdoor learning activities. Funding for the project is provided through the Conservation and Resource Grant Program, often referred to as "Question 1" after the 2002 ballot initiative that created the program.

Located at the lower end of the Moapa and Virgin river valleys, the Overton Wildlife Management Area was created in 1953 when the Nevada Fish and Game Commission entered into an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service. At nearly 18,000 acres, the management area provides habitat for 265 species of birds, 47 species of mammals, 22 species of fish and 28 species of reptiles and amphibians.

During the appropriate times of year, the Overton WMA provides opportunities for hunting and for bird watching.