Nevada parks officials will spend more than $8.5m addressing a boom in illegal roads at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the public lands around the sprawling man-made reservoir above the Hoover Dam.

Officials have documented at least 824 miles of illegal roads in the recreation area, but suspect the true amount could be double that. The unpermitted development prompted officials to close the popular campsite Government Wash in August.

“From an aerial platform, you see dozens and dozens of illegal roads that have been created… An incredible amount of damage that is occurring. We have an obligation to correct,” Trouper Snow, chief ranger of Lake Mead National Recreation Area at the time of the closure, told Fox 5 Vegas.

Snow said the roads have proliferated as the water level of Lake Mead has dropped in recent years, and people set up semi-permanent dwellings with mobile homes along the water.

“This area is not meant to house 300+ residents that are living here… Over the past five years, our enforcement has responded to well over 1,000 incidents,” Snow added speaking with the TV station.

In addition to taxing park resources policing illegal camping, the unauthorized roads damage local wildlife like the Las Vegas bearpoppy, a flowering plant with a rare ability to grow in the Mojave Desert’s gypsum-rich soil.

“In desert areas, off-road vehicles can be quite destructive,” Jeff Ruch, director of the Pacific Regional Office of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in September. “They rip up whatever vegetation is there and make the land uninhabitable for wildlife.”

The National Park Service announced a five-year, $8.66 million set of conservation funds for the project in November, funded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, which devotes money from the sale of public lands around Las Vegas to conservation projects.

“This will be a heavily partnership and community-oriented project,” park superintendent Mike Gauthier said in a statement. “We look forward to working closely with the public, tribes, and conservation-focused partners to help protect cultural and natural resources in these key park locations. Together we will take the next steps for the park’s future, working to elevate the beauty and recreation that makes Lake Mead special.”

The water level in Lake Mead has been hovering around near-record lows for years, thanks to a combination of a megadrought, the climate crisis, and the overuse of the Colorado River.

In 2022, the water levels were so low human remains and artifacts began emerging on parts of the shoreline that were previously buried underwater.

Boulder City recently lost one of its longtime business owners and influencers in the revitalization of the historic downtown area, Milo Hurst.

Hurst opened Milo’s Cellar & Inn nearly three decades ago, when there were few places in town for people to meet with friends or have a drink after work.

A Nov. 23 post on the Milo’s Cellar Facebook page stated, “It is with sadness today that we share that our founder and namesake Milo Hurst passed away peacefully yesterday at 2 p.m. surrounded by a few friends and family. He was an icon in Boulder City and his vision, humor and dedication will be missed. Please join us today and raise a glass of cheers for our friend Milo! More details about a memorial to follow.”

As of Monday, no information had been shared about a memorial. Once a date is set, it will be announced on the restaurant’s website.

More than 110 people have responded to the Facebook post. Comments included:

— “Was an honor and good experience helping him open Milo’s. Best boss ever.”

— “Rest in peace, Milo. Thank you for your generosity to our community and friendship to many. Condolences to the family.”

— “Our heartfelt condolences to his immediate and Milo’s Cellar families, as well as all of who mourn his passing. May he rest in peace, knowing that his legacy will live long. A true legend of Southern Nevada.”

This year, Boulder City Mayor Joe Hardy proclaimed Sept. 17 Milo Hurst Day. In part, the proclamation stated, “Milo Hurst has played an instrumental role in the revitalization of the downtown historic business corridor of Boulder City, transforming it into a vibrant and flourishing area that has become a hub of activity for both locals and tourists alike.”

The proclamation further stated, “Through his vision and dedication, Milo has brought to life a restaurant and bar district that has not only become a local favorite but has also gained national recognition, attracting attention from television shows and media outlets across the country.”

Hurst made a “bold and visionary decision” 30 years ago to open Milo’s Cellar in the heart of Boulder City, according to the proclamation, and the establishment “quickly became the cornerstone of the downtown area, breathing new life into the community and attracting new businesses.”

The proclamation added that Hurst had been a staunch advocate for “small growth,” ensuring that Boulder City retained its distinct identity amid changing times, and “played a key role in the commissioning and installation of the boulders upon which the renowned art statues now stand throughout the historic district, adding to the cultural richness of the area.”

Boulder City Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Rowland Lagan said Hurst “was a man with a plan to breathe life into the Historic District. He must be given credit for doing just that. Energy, esthetics and enthusiasm for business and tourism became the norm, and he was leading the way until his last breath.”

Bistro now closed

It was announced nearly a month ago that Milo’s would be closing its doors for good. It did so Saturday.

In a Facebook post Nov. 1, co-owners Christian and Kamille Clinton wrote, “This bittersweet decision was made as the Hurst and Clinton families shift focus to family well-being and new beginnings. For the Hurst family, this means prioritizing Milo’s health and dedicating time and resources to his care and quality of life. Meanwhile, the Clinton family is joyously anticipating the arrival of a new family member, embracing the opportunity to focus on bringing new life into this world.”

They went on to write, “We are incredibly grateful to Boulder City and all the friends we’ve made along the way. This journey has been filled with unforgettable memories, and it has been our privilege to be part of this remarkable community.”

For a landlocked state in the desert, Nevada’s flag sure does have a lot of blue. But it’s not about the ocean, it’s about loyalty.

Nevada’s flag has gone through several iterations over the years, and the most recent one, finalized in 1991, represents the many symbols of the Silver State.

Emblazoned on the blue flag in the upper left corner is a silver star — a reference to the state’s nickname based on its mining history — with a golden banner above it with the the words “Battle Born,” a nod to the state’s founding during the Civil War. The blue color symbolizes the state’s loyalty to the union, according to the Nevada Legislature.

Underneath the star is the word “Nevada” in gold, with the state’s flower, the sagebrush, closing off the emblem.

But it didn’t always look like that.

From 1905 to 1915, an early state flag was adorned with a large “NEVADA” in the middle. At the top, the word “SILVER” was emblazoned, and at the bottom was the word “GOLD.” In between the words were 18 gold stars and 18 silver stars to represent the 36th state to join the union.

That early design was recommended by Gov. John Sparks, the 10th governor of Nevada, and a colonel named Sylvester “Henry” Day, an assistant adjutant general of the Nevada National Guard, according to the “Political History of Nevada.”

In 1915, a Nevada historian and Carson City native named Clara M. Crisler, who worked as an enrolling clerk for the Assembly in two legislative sessions, designed a flag that featured a shield from the state seal.

Inside the shield was a railroad, horses pulling a wagon, a mine, a sheaf of white, agricultural tools, and a sun rising over mountains. The slogan “All for our country,” was emblazoned on the flag, as well as “Nevada.” Like the first flag, 18 gold stars and 18 silver stars bordered the shield to represent Nevada’s status as the 36th state.

According to the Legislature, that design was too expensive to produce, and in 1926, a movement to change the flag began when Lt. Gov. Maurice J. Sullivan published notices in Nevada newspapers announcing a contest for a new design, according to the “Political History of Nevada.”

The winner of the contest would get $25, according to the book. In early 1927, the Nevada Legislature appointed members to serve on a committee to select a design, and on Jan. 27, 1927, an assemblyman announced the design by “Don” Louis Schellbach III, an artist for the state highway department.

In 1929 Senate Bill 51 created the state flag, using Schellbach’s design.

His original design, however, did not contain the word “Nevada,” and in the 1929 Legislature, Cada Boak added the word through an amendment approved by the Assembly. It placed “Nevada” in a circle around the star in the flag.

The new flag was not well known, according to the “Political History of Nevada,” so in 1935 the Nevada State Flag Association was formed, and it enlisted the American Legion of the State to provide monetary support and needlewomen to make flags by hand. By 1939, new flags were produced for the governor’s office and the University of Nevada.

There was a clerical error made in 1929 in the flag’s legislation, and the mistake was found in 1989. During the 1991 legislative session, the Nevada Legislature changed the placement of the word “Nevada” on the flag, placing it above the sprays in gold.

Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X.