Page 8 - Summer2011 magazine

by Pat Williams Friends of Red Rock Canyon

“Everybody needs beauty as well as
The Silver Lining bread, places to play in and pray in,

The silver linings to this heartbreaking assault on where nature may heal and give strength
the cultural site are many:
to body and soul.” John Muir
• The alleged perpetrator was apprehended
in early December 2010 and has been held, without Red Rock Canyon, a mystical and magical place for thousands of
bail, on Federal charges with maximum penalties people, provides the chance to explore both the present day resources
of five-years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.
as well as experience the links to our past. The Las Vegas community
• The Las Vegas community and the nation and the nation were outraged and sickened when graffiti was discov-
rallied to provide support for restoring our
treasures. Without these critically needed contribu- ered at a Native American Cultural Site in early November 2010.
tions, the restoration project would have been
considerably delayed, if not impossible.
Members of Friends of Red Rock Canyon, hearing of the vandalism
• Friends of Red Rock Canyon in December suggested that the board of directors establish a reward for informa-
2010 established a web-based graffiti reporting
system resulting in rapid removal of these attacks. tion leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator: $2,500 was
• Red Rock Canyon has established a immediately raised with an additional $16,000 in donations received
“zero-tolerance” level for additional vandalism. for the restoration of this heartbreaking vandalism.
The Bureau of Land Management has, since
January, trained over 30 volunteers on graffiti
removal and can act swiftly to remove these attacks Mandated government processes, including an evaluation from the
on Red Rock.
Nevada State Historical Preservation Agency, environmental assess-
• Saving the best for last: The Nevada ments, consultations with the Native American elders, coordinating
Legislature enacted, inspired in part by the graffiti legal investigations with multiple law enforcement agencies as well as
damage to Red Rock Canyon, the most stringent
laws in the nation to punish those convicted of finding a qualified and accredited restoration expert, were required
graffiti related crimes. Senate Bill 257 will become before any work could begin.
the law on October 1, 2011.

The overall human effort to restore the site was enormous. Red Rock

Canyon National Conservation Area is owned by the public and its
safekeeping is entrusted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Restoration costs will approach $25,000 without considering the

substantial and cumulative value of the BLM and volunteer effort
involved in this project.

Watch the video,

“Red Rock Canyon Lost Creek Gra ti”

on YouTube

Page 8