BLM Notices Increase in Vandalism on Public Lands. (The Daily Independent!).

It is not a good sign when there is more damage to Public property, when the property is considered to be public then it belongs to us all, and well I guess that just doesn't matter to many that you are wrecking your own property and the wrecking of your own property will make it in accessible by you and anyone else. So think about what you are doing. I know it is the stupid kid that is out there with his friends acting all gangster with his vandalism act all up and then when he sees what he has done later he thinks how stupid he was. I had those feelings once and I stopped.

So take it from an old idiot, that used to dig holes in the public property, don't wreck what isn't yours? well, don't wreck what you don't have the permission of everyone that owns it. That is the better way to look at it. IF you don't have everyone that owns it's permission to wreck it then just don't. I am telling you now that it is impossible to get everyone's Okay when it is a public piece of property.

BSRanch

BLM notices increase in vandalism on public lands

By City Editor
Published: Thursday, August 17, 2006 6:18 PM CDT
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Vandalism: The Trona Pinnacles, east of Ridgecrest, were recently the site of vandalism, part of an overall uptick of vandalism seen on public lands by Bureau of Land Management personnel. Daily Independent Photo by John D. Bennett

John D. Bennett/citydesk@ridgecrestca.com

An increase in vandalism on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management has led the agency to authorize reward money for information resulting in the identification and prosecution of suspects.

“Overall, we're seeing an increase in vandalism and graffiti,” said Mike Marquart, chief area ranger for law enforcement with the BLM.

While it is not uncommon for BLM signs and property to be vandalized, the vandalism has recently been spreading beyond signs and buildings to the protected lands themselves. At the Trona Pinnacles, one of the rock formations itself was recently defaced with graffiti.

“This particular incident was actually of the national natural landmark itself,” said Marquart. “It's a tragedy to see something like this happen to such a landmark.”

In the Poison Canyon area, which leads toward the Pinnacles, it isn't uncommon to see what Marquart refers to as local graffiti.

“You know, ‘Susie likes Joe' or that kind of stuff,” he said. “But what happened at the Pinnacles was not that type of graffiti.”

The recent incidents of graffiti vandalism seem to be the “tagging” sort, most often associated with gang activity, according to Marquart. He said there was another recent tagging incident at Sheep Springs.

“Out in the middle of nowhere, basically,” he said. “There was a bunch of tagging on an old watering well and we also have this incident out here (Trona Pinnacles).”

Marquart said he does not believe the recent vandalism was done by local residents.

“Usually, the people that live in this area are pretty conscientious in my opinion,” he said. “They're concerned about the environment and the appearance of the environment. It's their public lands, it's their backyards. They kind of take some ownership of it.”

Having worked in the Ridgecrest Field Office for the last five years, Marquart said the frequency, type of graffiti and remote location of the incidents was disconcerting.

“In the last five years, I can count maybe one or two incidents where we had actual tagging of something in a rural location,” he said. “Somehow we have two incidents where, in the last one or two months, we've had two taggings. To me it's awfully suspicious and in general just very odd.”

Marquart said there has been some recent destruction and vandalism of BLM property in the Jawbone Canyon area, but it may not be related.

“Around the Fourth of July, we had some Porta Potty's down there that were vandalized,” he said. “They took something hot, I imagine it was some sort of fireworks, and burned a hole in it.”

An area outside the portable toilets was also defaced by spray paint.

“That's uncommon too, because we haven't had any tagging out there before,” he said.

To help stem the tide of vandalism, the BLM will be offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people involved in vandalism of BLM property and public lands.

“I think it's good for the public to know that,” Marquart said. “It shows we have an interest in trying to protect their public lands.”

The Ridgecrest Field office is responsible for lands stretching from the California/Nevada border, into Inyo and Mono Counties as well as portions of Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties. Because of the vast area they patrol, Marquart said it's important to have the assistance of the public.

“It's good to bring some awareness to those who are concerned about the environment and their backyard that people are coming in and, in essence, destroying their public lands,” said Marquart. “If they see something like that, we want them to report it. Not only report it, but if they can get a description of the person, maybe get a name or a description of the vehicle and a license plate number.”

Anyone with information concerning vandalism of BLM property or public lands can contact Marquart at 384-5467.