national park service
Sculptural rock formations along the Redstone Dune Trail overlook Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
CNN
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Two visitors to Lake Mead National Recreation Area were caught on video destroying an ancient rock formation, and park rangers are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects.
The video shows two visitors climbing the towering maroon rock formations and pushing wide sandstone slabs into the ground along the park's Redstone Dunes Trail. A girl screamed as the stone fell and shattered.
The damage to the federally protected geological formations that formed the 140-million-year-old dunes over time is irreparable. Recreation area spokesman John Haynes called the destruction “horrifying”.
“Why on earth would they do something like this to such a beautiful area? It's one of my favorite parts of the park and they're trying to destroy it. I don't understand that.” Haines told CNN affiliate KVVU.
According to KVVU, the video was shot on the night of April 7th. Park rangers are appealing to anyone who was on the trail at the time or who may have information to come forward with information.
The recreation area said in a social media post that the men are suspected of damaging property. Haynes told KVVU that if arrested, the suspects could face federal charges, prison time or large fines.
This expansive recreation area covers 1.5 million acres of breathtaking mountain views, canyon trails, and two important reservoirs that straddle the Nevada-Arizona border. Water sports at Lake Mead Reservoir are a big draw for the park's 6 million annual visitors, but extreme drought in the West has caused the lake's water levels to plummet in recent years, exposing sunken boats and several sets of human bones. ing.
Because the park is so large, visitors play a large role in helping rangers monitor the area. Haynes urged park visitors to record any unusual behavior on video and report it to park authorities.
“It's really important that you let us know,” Haynes said.
