Page 27 - 2009 DT 7 issues

and beautiful. Near this area, there are Nevada, an organization made up “As a member of the Friends of Red
some small waterfalls with some very of several public land agencies and Rock Cultural Resources Committee,
hot water dripping. The chemicals in their volunteers. The following article Chuck also works with preserving and
the water create interesting colors on from their newsletter was posted on recording cultural resources in the Red
the canyon’s walls. There are several the organization’s website at www. Rock National Conservation Area. He
soaking pools in this area that people getoutdoorsnevada.org: also assists with event management,
have built which can be reached from trail maintenance, fence building, area
the river with kayaks. From here it’s a Watching Out for Our Heritage* rehabilitation, clean up and removal of
short jaunt to the Colorado, where it’s illegal dumps, as well as the informa-
pleasant to enjoy a snack and conver-
sation on the gravel beach. From the “Keeping a protective eye on cul- tion technology needs of Friends of
beach, you can see construction of the tural resource sites in Clark County Red Rock Canyon.
bypass support arch. Most days, you “Chuck says that after do-
can observe kayakers at Sauna Cave, ing so much local hiking and
an interesting stop along the Colorado, enjoying the trails, once he
1/4 mile north. retired, he decided he wanted
We were disappointed the second to give something back to the
time we did this hike. We had told community. Through the site
some new people what a nice spot it stewardship and resource moni-
was along the river and how much toring, he’s watching out for
they would enjoy seeing the river. the rich cultural and historic
We got about 50 yards from the river heritage that stretches over the
when we realized we couldn’t get out last 12,000 years and belongs to
to the beach—there was no beach. Chuck Williams present and future generations of
The Bureau of Reclamation was let- Southern Nevadans.”
ting water out of Lake Mead either to is a volunteer undertaking that Chuck *To view the online arti-
generate more power or raise levels cle, go to www.getoutdoorsnevada.
down stream. The increased river level Williams takes seriously. He is one of org/ click on: “Read our newsletter;”
filled the end of Goldstrike Canyon. about 380 trained volunteer site stew- “March 2009 IVP”
One of our hikers tried to wade to an ards who monitor between 450 and
island near the river, but turned around 500 sites in and around the Las Vegas
because the water was deeper than valley. Site stewards visit their sites at Earth Day at the Palms
expected. Even with the disappoint- least once a quarter. th
ment, it was a spectacular hike and one “Chuck is steward to a pre-his- lease join us for our 4 annual
Team Palms Community Day
I recommend for hikers with a sense toric site with rock art and physical
of adventure and the skills to navigate evidence of settlement by more than Pon Wednesday, April 22, 2009,
boulders with ropes. from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the
one ancient culture. His commitment
To s e e m o r e p h o t o s , g o t o involves regular visits to monitor and Palms Hotel Key West ballroom.
http://homepage.mac.com/nkres- Our theme for this year is Com-
g e / L a ke Me a d / Ph o t o Al b um 28 9 . photograph the current condition of munity Day the Green Way. The
html. o the artifacts, to take measurements, to event is being held on Earth Day and
make drawings of the rock art panels, we are asking all attendees to bring
Chuck Williams, First and to record any negative changes information on any services and/or
or damage that’s occurred since his products that would assist our Team
Site Steward
last visit. Drawing on his expertise Members in “going green.”
in information systems, he created a As in the past, the event will be
Chuck Williams has been an ac-
tive member of the Friends Cultural database for organizing, storing, and filled with music, fun and vendors edu-
cating our 2000-plus Team Members
Resources Committee which travels updating information about cultural on community services, education op-
throughout Southern Nevada record- sites. For this accomplishment, he portunities and our benefit programs.
ing and protecting cultural history was named First Site Steward of
sites on public lands. His work was the Year in 2008 by the Cultural Site
recently highlighted by Get Outdoors Stewardship Program. News and Notes, continued on page 6

FORRC/April/2009 Page 3