BOULDER CITY, Nev. - The National Park Service is looking for partners in the community to help restore and protect the park's wilderness areas south of Boulder City. As part of the initiative, rangers will be increasing day and night patrols in the Black Canyon and Eldorado wilderness areas.
"We want to develop a sense of stewardship and ownership in the community for theses unique places," said Jim Holland park planner for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
What concerns rangers the most is illegal off-highway vehicle use and the impacts from partying. They are looking for help from the community to change this.
Some the areas are popular places for late night bonfires says Chief Ranger Mary Hinson, "Go out there after a weekend and you can find large areas strewn with broken glass from illegal target shooting and fire rings filled with burned car parts and aluminum cans."
"We should take pride in the fact that we have such beautiful places right next to us," said Hinson, a Boulder City resident.
Park officials encourage visitors to wilderness areas to follow "Leave No Trace" principles. That is to minimize human impact to the land and pack out anything they pack in.
Wilderness areas are rare, wild places where visitors can retreat from civilization and reconnect with nature. Lake Mead National Recreation Area has nine designated wilderness areas.
Anyone interested in helping with wilderness restoration projects can contact the Lake Mead National Recreation Area volunteer office at (702) 293-8714.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
