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New dinosaur-track exposures prompt protections and talk of a family access route at Sand Flats
Summary
Recent exposures of dinosaur tracks prompted a protection effort — boulders and signage placed, BLM photogrammetry completed, and roughly $8,500 in reimbursements noted — and committee members discussed creating a family-friendly hiking/biking access to reduce unsafe driving toward the site.
Staff described a recent project to protect newly exposed dinosaur tracks: contractors moved boulders, erected signs and closed an area to protect prints while BLM specialists completed photogrammetry. Staff said the contractor's work was reimbursed (about $8,500) and that the protection effort was carried out with BLM paleontology oversight.
Members raised safety concerns about visitors using smartphone directions and attempting to drive standard passenger vehicles to the site. One member asked the committee to consider designating a safer, family-oriented walking/biking connection from the Slickrock parking area or to use an existing search-and-rescue route as a managed access path to reduce the likelihood of vehicles attempting inappropriate off-road access. Staff agreed to add the discussion to a future agenda and explore mapping and signage changes to discourage driving to the protected area.
