Letter: Blue Diamond Hill should be made part of Red Rock

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000 | 9:08 a.m.

Recently, however, I heard a newscast indicating the sale of these lands for $45 million was imminent and the proposed purpose was to build high-priced homes on Blue Diamond Hill.

The BLM's Red Rock Conservation Area is our favorite place to take out-of-town guests, and for ourselves to take a break from the city. This year I have been volunteering there and have probably talked with several thousand visitors (of the some 1 million who visit the area annually). Many are local residents who come to picnic, hike, climb or just to enjoy the scenery.

Recently I encountered a couple who come up several times a week and roam with their grandson in hand just to enjoy nature. Also, I have encountered many from other states and countries who enjoyed taking a several-hour break from the Strip.

Regardless of where they come from, all have praise for Red Rock and many, even the out-of-staters, are repeat visitors. The only negative comment I have heard from any of them is the shock and disappointment of how close development is encroaching upon this special place.

The newscast reporting the pending sale of Blue Diamond Hill cited environmental concerns for the development. Just the destruction of the view and encroachment alone is enough to make this a bad deal for the area. Blue Diamond Hill should be added to Red Rock Conservation Area.

Sure, it has mining scars, but they can be mitigated, whereas covering it with homes will be forever. Can this be purchased with land and conservation funds? Can't the BLM exchange the area for some of its block parcels that exist within metropolitan Las Vegas that have been passed over in the leap-frog expansion outward?

Let's think long-range and not make irreversible decisions that erode the quality of our life here in Southern Nevada!

ED ROTHFUSS