LETTER: “Seeing Red” Over Warm Springs Article
July 20th, 2011 | 
Author: I was “seeing red” after reading the recent PROGRESS report on the concept plan for Warm Springs Natural Area (SNWA Releases Concept Plan For Warm Springs Natural Area: Progress July 6, 2011).
As it often is, when I read about something that a government agency has a hand in, my first reaction was “WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE!” Halfway through the article, I found it. “…and the last priority was to allow for controlled public access onto the property.” Gee Thanks! Long before many of those now running things were born, the people of Southern Nevada had good and sometimes free access to all of the warm springs nearby. Before the piling, which made the water deep enough for swimming was removed from Roger’s Springs, we often took our family there for a day of fun in the wonderful clear water. We were joined in our swim by water turtles and hundreds of little fish, all content to be together.
Other times, we went to Pederson’s pool, which was privately owned and located West of where the Fish and Wildlife now have their buildings. Pederson’s had a huge cement pool filled by water from the springs, which flowed out into the stream below. For a small fee, we swam and picnicked at palm-shaded tables until dark. For warmer water, we enjoyed a smaller natural pond on the property. Here the Moapa Dace thrived and swam unharmed along with the people just as they did in the streams. Since the intervention of Fish and Wildlife, there are 574 dace left, down from 3,800 present in 1994, according to their own report. Now the large pool is filled with dirt and the natural pond ? Your guess is as good as mine!
At the same time, during the 50’s and 60’s there were two natural pools where the Fish and Wildlife buildings are now. These were also available to the public, for a fee. Later this area was converted to a private membership resort and a cement pool was installed. That pool is now, also, filled with dirt and covered by a parking lot. How Quaint! “WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE!”
With private ownership in the Warm Springs area, both the wildlife and the people of Southern Nevada were well served. Now, through it’s co-operation with Fish and Wildlife, SNWA had use of our tax dollars to buy up property for which “We The People” are the very last priority and we have totally lost the right to enjoy recreation in that wonderful natural resource lying in our own backyard.
Billie Hunt
Posted in Opinion
One Response to “LETTER: “Seeing Red” Over Warm Springs Article”
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Amen Billie. AS a girl who grew up at the Pedersen’s pool (my grandma’s place), I have many fond memories of what it was like as a little girl. My earliest memories were of floating in that little natural pond on the upper part of the property, and looking up to the cottonwoods and palm trees that were filed with birds singing, climbing in the huge fig tree, and looking up at the ringtailed cats in the date palms, who would throw date seeds at my sisters and me. And yes, the fish were abundant, as were snails, owls, and many other native creatures.
As different induhviduals (not a misspelling) have joined the fish and wildlife to “manage” the property, they have changed the course of the riverbeds several times, torn out the palm trees (non-native species was their excuse), ripped up the fig tree (it was the first to go), and generally made a mess of things.
The big pool on the Pedersen place was filled in by the division of fish and wildlife somewhere in the eighties, after one of their “caretakers” turned it into a kennel for three rather large and untrained dogs. It was easier than cleaning it up.
You know, I can think of several unnecessary federal agencies and departments we could eliminate to reduce the deficit. The department of fish and wildlife is at the top of the list. Everything is better in the hands of private owners. There is a great reason why cows are not on the endangered species list. Think about it.