102°F
weather icon Clear

Titus unveils bill to establish monument

A proposed national monument backed by Boulder City officials is one step closer to happening thanks to action by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus.

Recently, Titus filed a bill to establish the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument that would safeguard 450,000 acres of land near Laughlin and Searchlight. The parcel also borders Boulder City.

“Boulder City sees many benefits to designating this land as a national monument, and we truly appreciate the support this effort has received from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Dina Titus,” said Taylour Tedder, city manager. “This effort will protect species of plants and wildlife, while preserving an area of cultural significance to our Native American communities. Now is the time to act — to ensure future generations can appreciate Avi Kwa Ami as it has been cherished for hundreds of years.”

The monument would provide greater protection of biologically diverse and culturally significant lands by protecting an ecosystem in part of the eastern Mojave Desert and connecting Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada to the Mojave National Preserve, Castle Mountains National Monument, Mojave Trails National Monument and Dead Mountain Wilderness Area in California.

Additionally, it would create a habitat to promote the survival, growth, reproduction and maintenance of different types of desert plants.

Titus rolled out her legislation Feb. 17 after filing it in the House of Representatives. She also has enlisted the support of the Biden administration and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

The Avi Kwa Ame, Titus said, “features scenic peaks and canyons, natural springs, Joshua tree forests, bighorn migration routes, unique grasslands and a rich history of petroglyphs and other ancient cultural sites.”

In March 2021 City Council approved a resolution supporting the monument.

Councilman James Howard Adams said he believed the project supports “Boulder City’s long-standing ideals of preserving the surrounding desert landscape and protecting it from wanton development.”

“The boundaries provided by the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument would protect far more than just its pristine landscape,” he said. “It would serve as a refuge for the incredible flora and fauna found in the region and help preserve the numerous important cultural artifacts and elements, many of which are considered to be profoundly sacred.”

Avi Kwa Ame means Spirit Mountain in Mojave, and the area is considered sacred by the Yuman speaking tribes that include the Mojave, Hualapai, Yavapai, Havasupai, Quechan, Maricopa, Pai Pai, Halchidhoma, Cocopah and Kumeyaay.

Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Gary Martin contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Council confusion: The leash law saga continues

Three statements — notably, none of them from members of the city council — best illustrated the difficulties residents (both dog-loving and not) have had for at least four years when it comes to the issue of off-leash dogs in public parks.

Breeding in BC? Probably not

Unlike the discussion later in the meeting Tuesday night in which the city council appeared determined to make sure no one was angry at them about the issue of off-leash dogs, they directed staff to take very strong action on the issue of pet breeding.

Lifejacket donations aim to save lives

Greg Bell’s memory lives on by way of a generous donation that may saves lives.

Huge crowd turns out to honor Patton

It was brought up during Saturday’s unveiling of the Shane Patton Memorial Monument as to why Shane’s statue stands 11 feet tall.

Disaster in China affects Damboree fireworks show

As the city prepares for Damboree, one of our biggest celebrations of the year, a tragedy in China is having an impact on the annual fireworks show.

City Celebrates First Responders

Photos courtesy City of Boulder City

Toll Brothers gets split decision

The development of the area near Boulder Creek Golf Course known as Tract 350 (the sale of which is slated to pay for the majority of the planned replacement for the aging municipal pool) may have hit a snag last week as the planning commission voted 5-1 to deny the developers’ request to build houses closer to the street than is allowed under current law.