A popular RV boondocking spot outside Las Vegas has been closed since August 1. The Government Wash site in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area was blocked off to the public after illegal campers and illegal roads threatened the area. Now the recreation area’s top dog says, “Don’t blame the homeless.”
Government Wash closure not caused by homeless
Agency officials and staff held a town hall-style meeting Wednesday, October 16, to talk about the reopening of the Government Wash camp area. Lake Mead Superintendent Mike Gauthier headed up the program, telling community members that the agency was there to listen.
But Gauthier had something to say, as well. Apparently, a perception among Government Wash enthusiasts is that homeless people were the reason behind the shutdown. “Homeless people did not cause this problem,” Gauthier said. “I will argue with you forcefully about that.” The superintendent did acknowledge that rangers had problems enforcing the site’s 14-day stay limitation. But he pointed to a different reason for the closure. He said the real issues leading to the closure came from “recreationists who don’t know better.”
A media release put out back in July notes some of those problems. “In the past five years, there have been 1,365 incidents in that area alone, requiring park law enforcement or firefighting personnel response,” said Trouper Snow, chief ranger. “We have seen unacceptable levels of resource damage and crime, which is a drain on our park staffing as it draws resources from traditional high use areas. The myriad of illegal roads and long-term encampments have created an unwelcoming environment for those who recreate throughout the Government Wash area.”
More enforcement not practical, but simpler solution may work
What’s to be done about the problems so that Government Wash might reopen to RVers and other recreationists? While some pointed to a need for more enforcement by Lake Mead staff, Superintendent Gauthier said that wasn’t a practical solution. Heavier enforcement requires more boots on the ground, something not feasible with current staffing levels. Gauthier thinks something simpler might work. Formal camping reservations with an associated campground fee could change things around.
As to when Government Wash might reopen for RVing and tent camping, the superintendent couldn’t fix a solid date. He’s hopeful that potential grant funding might reopen access sooner.
For more information about the Government Wash site closure, click here.
##RVT1179b
OMG, Distraction, deflection, propaganda or just simple misinformation. Whichever it is, the talking point of “recreationists that just didn’t know better”, is so stupid…. and funny 😁 😂.
That’s the same as saying that the Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment buildings in Aurora CO are “just misguided real estate enthusiasts that just don’t know any better”. OMG, what a crock.
My daughter is currently fleeing her Aurora CO apartment building and moving our grandkids to the Midwest.
You are 100% spot on!
Aurora has more than its share of sketchy areas. It also has some safe, neighborly ones. My daughter has a home just blocks away from the infamous apartment building, she thinks her neighbors are great, and has not had break-ins or other crimes on her street. Sorry your daughter wasn’t having the same experience and I hope things are better for her wherever she moves to.
I’m glad your daughter is doing well in Aurora, CO. My daughter and grandkids are not.
They have had shots fired in their apartment complex several times over the past 3 years.
They pay $3,200/month to avoid sketchy neighbors and the grandkids still cannot play outside.
They are moving out November 1st and fleeing Colorado for a safer place.
My gosh. $3200 monthly for an apartment? And one that is now overrun by Venezuelan criminals? Our nation has been brought to its knees by what is now acknowledged as the single worst presidency in the history of the United States of America. I sincerely hope that on voting day everyone realizes what they’ve done to this nation.
Too bad the only comprehensive immigration bill in decades was torpedoed by phone calls from the worst ex-president in our history.
I have a bridge to sell you. You 5? That’s a lie parroted and any rational adult knows that’s just not possible. Let’s pretend it is since you like to pretend, that’s on Congress and again voting wisely matters.
Too bad 5 democrats in congress voted it down as well. That sounds like a bipartisan failure of that bill to me. I guess facts are still troublesome for you. Blaming a man with no votes and no pen…. blame the 5 Ds that voted it down or simply continue to parrot the leftwing talking points.
Polly wanna cracker?
#troublewithfacts
The only immigration bill we need is to shut the border back down. That she opened. We don’t have an immigration problem, we have an ILLEGAL ALIEN problem that has been made worse by your vice president.
The Venezuelan criminals come here because their country is in a complete economic mess. No jobs, no food, no money, no services, nothing. Why? Because both Democrat and Republican administrations are influenced by the oil industry who pressure Congress and the White House to impose crippling trade sanctions against Venezuela. This drastically reduces the amount of oil available on the open market. Supply and demand. Result is much higher oil prices and bigger profits for the oil industry. Democrats and Republicans are both to blame. The official reason for these sanctions is because of human rights abuses and lack of freedom but no one really cares about this.
Cute response, Venezuela is an economic wreck because it was taken over by liberal socialists who nationalized its oil industry and turned most of its industry over to political cronies and friends who had no idea how to run them. It took the path of socialism and ended up like all of the other socialist countries.
Yes, but he will “argue with you forcefully about that” ! ohmygosh…
Henceforth this shall be declared “misinformation” and stricken from the scrolls for all time. Let no man nor woman ever again speak this blasphemy and we shall henceforth refer to this blasphemy as “misinformation”.
Let me see… he states that “long-term encampments” were a problem, but he says the homeless are not.
So, the homeless honored the 14 day rule but regular RVers did not?
What BS!
I don’t think being homeless is a requirement for causing “unacceptable levels of resource damage and crime”. Not sure how you define “regular RVers”, but I’ve met boondocking RVers that said they stayed until a ranger asked them to leave. And seen damage from ATVs and 4x4s blazing their own trails.
So, the homeless never ride ATVs & 4x4s? @@
Let me explain my definition of a “regular RVer” so even you can understand. One who pays taxes to support these government agencies to provide recreational services.
How do you tell the difference between a “regular RVer” who overstays the limit and a “homeless RVer” who doesn’t? Or who does?
Trying to make a point when you yourself don’t know is literally BS. It was two different statements but you’re trying to reason that it’s one. Read the actual content with an open mind, not your I know attitude.
The superintendent contradicted himself as to not offend the homeless… pure politics.
You sir should open your mind and read his actual statement, and not let your political views influence what you comprehend.
I suggest you take a course in Logic 101. I can arrange that for you if you would like.
As usual, it only takes a few to mess stuff up for the many.
We always loved 8 Mile Road. We boondocked there on weekends to decompress from society. We never spent more than 3 nights. One of the biggest problems we encountered was trash. Trash is all over the place. We normally would go for a hike and bring 2-3 trash bags and picked up trash. We ALWAYS filled them. We always bring our dogs so they can enjoy some peace and quiet out in the desert too. Until one day I had them by the water and one of them cut his foot badly on glass. Now my dogs aren’t allowed in the water at Lake Meade anymore. Really sad how people just trash such a beautiful place.
RVers making encampments and trashing lands is going up everywhere, along with crazy ATV use tearing up the lands, unsafe gun shooting, crime, and general craziness. I see it in the National Forest I camp host in. This year we’ve had people shooting at passing cars on the forest road, and we had campers shooting guns and wielding machetes around other campers at night in the campground. Called 911 multiple times and they didn’t want to come. And honestly we’re in a much better area than Gov’t Wash. But it’s turning crazy here. And it’s not the homeless, it’s just everyone. So the Superintendent’s wording is not necessarily false.
I believe the only way to handle problems like this is to come in with a large contingent of BLM, law enforcement and Prosecutors. you come in and arrest any and everyone causing problems. You don’t need to do this every day. Once they are jailed and forced to pay heavy fines for their actions, they won’t be back. Impound their vehicles. ATV’s RV’s etc. anything that contributed to their crime.
We used to camp here all the time. It was generally family friendly. There could be some noisy partiers. But in the last 4-5 years the area became sketchier and sketchier. I couldn’t tell who were the homeless or who were the regular RVers, but I could tell there were a lot of bad actors spending time there. We stopped camping there. The place needed to be closed down IMO.
As usual, the “rules don’t apply to me” folks ruin it for everyone.
With you 💯%