Frustrations over littering, vandalism at Utah’s lakes and reservoirs

Ivins, Utah – Summertime heat waves draw crowds of visitors to Utah’s reservoirs and lakes.

However, some people do not care for the environment; they leave trash or even etch their names on rocks.

The Lake Powell Visitor Center’s director, Judy Franz, expressed frustration over some tourists’ belief that leaving their name carved into a rock wall is a legitimate method to identify their visit to Utah’s public resources.

“Take a picture,” she suggested instead. “Take it home. Put it on Facebook, splash it on TikTok or whatever, but please, please do not carve stuff into walls.”

Along with regular rubbish, Lake Powell has recently seen acts of vandalism of this kind. It occurs at the same time when traffic to the Glen Canyon Recreation Area is increasing. The park had 5.2 million visitors in the previous year.

Gary Lanphear, of Ivins, relocated to southern Utah from California partly to take advantage of unspoiled public areas. He attempts to visit Ivins Reservoir, which is only a short drive away, at least twice or three times a month.

He becomes agitated when he witnesses others failing to maintain the reservoir.

“It makes me angry,” he said. “I’m old enough to contain that now, but, yeah, it makes me really angry. There’s no reason for it.”

On Utah’s public lands, littering can result in community service requirements and fines of up to $100.
The Archeological Resources Protection Act imposes fines of up to $20,000 or two years in prison for acts of vandalism, such as carvings on rocks or trees.

Take a picture and email it to police enforcement if you witness someone trashing or vandalizing public property, according to officials. things’s best to let them handle things rather than getting involved yourself.

Remember to be mindful of how your actions affect Utah’s environment.

“We have a motto here,” Franz said. “Leave no trace.”