Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Gold Butte Update with Protect Nevada!

We’re delighted to provide you, our supporters, with some exciting updates on what we’ve been doing over the last couple of months to help make protection for Gold Butte a reality.
Congressman Steven Horsford smiles for the camera before his helicoptor
flight over Gold Butte (photo courtesy of Congressman Horsford's Facebook page)
February was a busy and exciting time as Congressmen Steven Horsford (NV-4) viewed Gold Butte from a bird’s eye view. The Congressman took part in a helicopter flyover of the amazing landscape and said he looks forward to working with us to add further protection for Gold Butte, even tweeting during the flight, “Thank you for the tour! Look forward to working with you to preserve and protect Gold Butte.” You can view several wonderful photos from the flyover taken by the Congressman’s staff on the “Protect Nevada” facebook page.
Mesquite Off-Road Days course - bringing together people who enjoy
responsible recreation! (photo by Kurt Kuznicki)
On February 23-24, the first ever Mesquite Off-Road Weekend event drew adrenaline dare devils and leisurely riders alike to the area to enjoy the beauty of Nevada’s outdoors, including our own piece of the Grand Canyon, Gold Butte. The event included rides, races, and performances, all showing off the amazing landscapes that are found here. Staff and volunteers from Friends of Gold Butte and Friends of Nevada Wilderness had a booth at the event to educate attendees about how efforts to protect Gold Butte would keep open current routes designated for vehicle and other access. We would like to thank and congratulate the primary event sponsor, the Eureka Resort and Casino, for producing what we hope will become an annual event.

In addition, last month the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) released some noteworthy statistics highlighting the financial impact that outdoor recreation has on local economies, furthering the case for protecting public lands like Gold Butte. According to OIA’s report, outdoor recreation in Nevada produces $14.9 billion in revenue annually and is responsible for 148,000 jobs that cater to and equip out-of-state visitors and residents alike. This results in $1.0 billion in state and local tax revenue. The report shows that, even in the midst of the worst economic recession in more than 70 years, outdoor recreation as a significant Nevada industry has continued to prosper, and the results have many Nevada business leaders talking about how we can expand those opportunities.
Gold Butte Days Festival includes races and
community vendors (photo courtesy of the Mesquite Local News)
Mark your calendars! Gold Butte Days is around the corner. This year’s event will take place October 18-19. “Gold Butte Days” will involve local businesses and organizations that wish to participate in a street fair, outdoor activities and entertainment events to publicize Mesquite’s proximity to one of the most beautiful corners of the American Southwest.
We hope you’ll join our collaborative efforts with other local organizations and businesses as we continue protecting the beautiful wonders of Nevada. “Like” and follow “Protect Nevada” on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed and join the discussion.

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