Trees ripped up and restroom windows shot out – not what generally comes to mind when one thinks of Garnet Hill, but that is the disturbing truth nonetheless.

“Someone last month ripped out the sign that directs people to the site. We found it a couple of miles down the road,” Jack Tribble, BLM Ely Field Office lead recreation specialist, said Thursday.

These latest acts of vandalism involving the BLM-managed Garnet Fields Rockhound Area are not the first such incidents, nor are they the worst. In January 2001, vandals did all of the above and more – spray-painting the site’s facilities with graffiti containing a satanic-style message.

“The incident in 2001 cost the BLM and taxpayers more than $400 to repair – these latest incidents could easily cost twice as much,” said Tribble.

Districtwide, vandalism costs the BLM and taxpayers thousands of dollars a year. In the past three years alone, the Ely District has paid out approximately $10,000 to repair or replace signs that have been damaged or destroyed by gunfire or other means – using dollars that were originally intended to help improve recreation sites or benefit the public through other BLM-managed programs.

“It’s really a shame when you think what the actions of a few are costing everyone who enjoys using the public lands,” said Tribble.