ST. GEORGE – U.S. Interior Sec. Ken Salazar will be visiting Southern Utah at the Tuacahn Amphitheater Monday to dedicate the Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs National Conservation Areas.
Christi Nuffer, administrator of Citizens for Dixie’s Future, said she encourages the public to attend the historic event. It would also provide attendees with an opportunity to learn more about the benefits attached to national conservation areas.
“Some economic drivers are the visits to the (national conservation) areas,” Nuffer said, and added that the Red Cliffs NCA – as well as the scenery and environment of Southern Utah in general – draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Nuffer also said Salazar’s visit would be a positive note for public lands in a state that was seemingly at war with public lands, referring to the Transfer of Public Lands Act signed by Gov. Gary Herbert on March 23.
“This will have a really positive effect,” she said, and added that support to be shown at the dedication will help show Salazar and others that not everyone in Utah is a part of the “cowboy caucus” who decry federal land management.
The dedication will be held on Monday, May 7, at 2:45 p.m. and run until 4 p.m. at the Tuacahn Amphitheater, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins.
The Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs NCAs were created under the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s website, “The purpose of the national conversation areas is conserve, protect, and manage public lands for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.”
More information on national conversation area and similarly designated lands can be found on the BLM website.
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Copyright 2012 St. George News.