Two Men Accused of Destroying Ancient Rock Formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area: A Call for Public Assistance from the National Park Service
The National Park Service is seeking public assistance to identify the suspects
Two men destroyed ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area on April 7, 2024
Vandalism in national parks is common and illegal
Visitors are encouraged to report suspicious activity or provide information for investigations at NPS sites
Two men were captured on camera destroying ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada on April 7, 2024. The sandstone chunks crumble upon impact, pulverizing millions of years of geologic history in seconds. The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking information from the public to identify the suspects and could potentially face federal charges for vandalizing protected land.
The Redstone Trail, one of the most popular hiking spots in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, was the site of this destructive act. The rock formations were shaped over time by geological forces from 140 million-year-old dunes. Visitors and members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious activity or provide information for investigations at NPS sites by contacting the NPS-wide Tip Line at 888-653-0009, submitting a tip online, or emailing nps_isb@nps.gov.
The National Park Service reminds visitors that all national parks are special and protected areas of our country. To protect these natural and cultural resources for future generations, all visitors are expected to follow park laws and regulations.
This destructive act is not an isolated incident; vandalism in national parks is common. In 2021, vandals destroyed abstract geometric designs at Big Bend National Park in Texas that had survived for thousands of years by scratching their names and dates into them. Disturbing wildlife or damaging their habitats can directly lead to their demise and is illegal.
The NPS urges visitors to respect the natural beauty of our national parks and leave no trace behind. Let us work together to protect these precious resources for future generations.
Visitors and public can report suspicious activity or provide information for investigations in any National Park Service (NPS) location.
Contact the NPS-wide Tip Line at 888-653-0009 to report suspicious activity or provide information.
Submit a tip online through the Submit a Tip form, attachments up to 7MB are allowed.
Email tips to nps_isb@nps.gov with attachments if preferred.
Call 9-1-1 for emergencies in NPS sites.
Accuracy
Two men in the article at 'https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/15/lake-mead-video-rocks-destroyed/' are described as destroying ancient rock formations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, while the article at 'https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/us/lake-mead-rock-formations-damage.html' states that two men were caught on camera toppling ancient rocks at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The article at 'https://www.washingtonpost.com/' states that the sandstone chunks crumble on their descent, millions of years of geologic history pulverized in seconds, while the article at 'https://www.nytimes.com/' states that the sandstone formations on the Redstone Trail were shaped over time by geological forces from 140 million-year-old dunes.
