60°F
weather icon Clear

LETTER: Desert National Wildlife Refuge must be protected

Updated July 15, 2020 - 9:52 pm

I am disheartened by the amendment offered by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, to give away the entire joint use area of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge (850,000 acres) to the U.S. Air Force.

I have ridden my mountain bike through the refuge on a dirt road dotted with Joshua trees. Seeing the vast landscape and hearing nothing but the sound of my bike tires on the rutted dirt road, I felt truly alive. I experienced only a small portion of this expansive refuge. It provides essential habitat for desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and a variety of birds, lizards and much more. It is a sacred place for Native Americans. This landscape made me feel humble in the presence of something much greater than my own short existence on this planet.

This amendment threatens the habitat of fragile wildlife and is an affront to our national heritage. This refuge belongs to all of us, our children, grandchildren and to those who come after. It should be cherished, not bombed.

LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
SPONSORED BY DIMOPOULOS LAW FIRM
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
LETTER: Student protesters leave behind a mess

Those arrested on campus for breaking the law should be given a choice: Thirty days in jail and a criminal record or a garbage bag and gloves.

LETTER: Las Vegas should be happy to welcome the A’s

Many of us look forward to the A’s arriving and appreciate the confidence owner John Fisher has in the Las Vegas area. We will work to make the team successful.

LETTER: Giving Donald Trump a pass

Listen to the evidence that will be presented at Donald Trump’s trials before reaching any conclusions. And remember that those giving the most damning testimony will likely be Republicans.

LETTER: Why does Las Vegas keep building houses?

How can we ask the federal government for additional funds to fight the drought when we keep pulling billions of gallons of water out of the Colorado River, which feeds Lake Mead?