Gold Butte must not be abused

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

There were several things in Kenny Freeman's April 24 letter responding to Nancy Hall that make little or no sense.

One that stands out is Mr. Freeman's implication that the spread of noxious and invasive weeds in the Gold Butte region is not a problem caused by people driving off-highway vehicles. He bases this statement on his belief that off-highway travel is not permitted within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This is untrue. There are many miles of vehicle routes that can legally be driven on within the recreation area. If Mr. Freeman doesn't know about them he could contact a ranger, or perhaps consult a map.

The assertion that the recreation area is closed to travel misses the point, anyway. Does Mr. Freeman mean to imply that since off-highway vehicle use is actually controlled on lands managed by the National Park Service that it's acceptable for OHV operators to trash the adjacent BLM land?

Gold Butte is public land, and for someone to claim in 2005 that you can still drive practically anywhere you want on our BLM public lands is the shadow of the larger problem. We are losing the quiet places on our public land to those who think that their machines have more rights than people.

I have been to Gold Butte; it's spectacular. Let's protect it for the wiser generations of the future who'll appreciate it and not abuse it.

BILL HUGGINS