By Mary Manning (contact)

Tue, Sep 30, 2008 (12:58 p.m.)

Beyond the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the Bureau of Land Management manages more than 3 million acres of Mojave Desert in Clark and Nye counties.

The scenes vary from dramatic and colorful geologic formations and largely unspoiled panoramic vistas at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to remote and rugged wild landscapes such as Gold Butte's back country byway.

Earlier this year the Bureau of Land Management announced a statewide reorganization to improve service to public land users and meet increasing demands on natural resources. Instead of a two-tier structure with a state office and field offices, BLM will have a three-tiered structure of state office, district offices and field offices all housed at the district office at 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive.

The Southern Nevada District Office will include a Pahrump Field Office covering public lands in Southern Nye County, west and north of Las Vegas south of Beatty and the Nevada Test Site and Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases; Red Rock/Sloan Field Office, including Red Rock Canyon and Sloan national conservation areas; and the Las Vegas Field Office, including Clark County outside Red Rock and Sloan.

Fire management, law enforcement, public affairs and Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act will be at the district level and serve all field offices.