Now is the time to protect Gold Butte

By Jocelyn Torres, Las Vegas

Friday, June 10, 2016 | 2 a.m.

For many years Southern Nevadans, like Fawn Douglas and myself, have worked with Rep. Dina Titus in an effort to protect Gold Butte. Through the years, those efforts have been stalled in Congress, but the destruction of what Rep. Titus called a “gateway to one of the most beautiful, serene spots in the Mojave Desert” has persisted.

While on a hike in late April, I saw the chopped-down Joshua tree Sen. Harry Reid mentioned on the Senate floor. It was a sad sight surrounded by so much beauty in a popular campsite. Joshua trees take decades to grow to maturity and are resilient despite the harsh conditions they grow in. It will take at least 50 years before a Joshua tree of similar height replaces it.

Unfortunately, the chopped-down tree wasn’t the only damage we saw. In the popular Falling Man site, we saw stick figures carved into a rock that was covered by petroglyphs left by those who once called the site home. The damage to the petroglyphs was especially troublesome because unlike the tree, which can be replanted, damage to petroglyphs is difficult and in some instances impossible to repair.

Seeing damage like this really highlights the need to protect our piece of the Grand Canyon sooner rather than later. That is why I applaud Rep. Titus for her efforts to protect Gold Butte via legislation and her call on President Barack Obama to protect Gold Butte. We cannot continue to wait; the time truly is now.

The author is Nevada program director for the Conservation Lands Foundation.