Officials limit off-roading in Clark Co.

By Mary Manning

Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 4:03 p.m.

The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it will limit the use of off-road motor vehicles on about 553,000 acres in 11 areas of critical environmental concern in the northeastern part of Clark County.

The Gold Butte area is part of the restricted area, said Kirsten Cannon, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management.

Of 906 miles of identified routes, about 812 miles will be designated as open and 94 miles will be closed to any motor vehicle use. About 10 percent of routes will be affected, Cannon said.

Routes will be monitored over time to determine if further changes to the designated routes need to be made.

Population growth in the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding communities and the growing popularity of off-highway and all-terrain vehicles has increased traffic in areas of environmental concern, Cannon said. In addition to endangered animals and plants, prehistoric cultural sites are being destroyed and noxious invasive weeds are spreading, she said.

The public has until Aug. 31, 2008, to appeal the decision to the Interior Board of Land Appeals Office of the Secretary of the Interior Department.

For more information and maps, go to www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html.