Las Vegas Sun

November 25, 2009

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Letter: Canyon use requires more common sense

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 | 8:05 a.m.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Nov. 14 that closing Surprise Canyon had helped protect the canyon. The Sun also states that four years after vehicles were blocked from entering the canyon, a cottonwood forest has appeared and so had rare riparian habitat. The Sun goes on to tell how endangered birds have just started to visit the area. All of this is just not true.

A cottonwood forest will not grow in four years in the desert, and the endangered flycatcher is not bothered by vehicles -- they even nest on the side of hotels in Laughlin. A visit to Boulder City Park -- and see the bighorn sheep just next to the road -- tells you that the vehicles don't keep them away. All the animals and vegetation were always there and never left.

Yes, there does need to be common sense in the use of this canyon, but locking most of the users out is not the answer.

Kenny Freeman

Henderson

The writer is past president of the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts.

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