(Price, UT) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Price, Utah was contacted this fall by Matt Monson with concern about more than 100 etches and scawls damaging to the walls of Little Wild Horse Canyon, many of which were new in 2011.

Monson, a Salt lake City resident said, "In early June, 2011 - I took two of my friends down to the San Rafael Swell to spend some precious time in the desert and show them some amazing places. His friends were eager to experience a slot canyon, so Monson suggested an easy day hike through Little Wild Horse Canyon, a beautiful slot canyon with curved and twisted narrow walls, just outside of Goblin Valley State Park.

Although amazed at the natural beauty of the canyon, the friends could not help but feel disappointment with what they saw; a popular hike with visitors to the area - Little Wild Horse Canyon was being loved to death. Scratches, scrawls, and graffiti had been marked on the sandstone walls up and down the canyon, littered with names and careless sketches for over a mile.

With the help of Trish Clabaugh, Price BLM Field Manager, Monson organized a volunteer group of friends, loosely coined "The Goodies" to clean-up and restore Little Wild Horse Canyon. In roughly six hours, on October 14, 2011, "The Goodies", alongside BLM staff Jaydon Mead and Angela Wadman, were able to restore almost a mile and a half of sandstone canyon walls to their more original nature - removing the graffiti and markings of recent visitors.

Clabaugh said, "The Goodies" are an eclectic group from all backgrounds, vocational fields and philosophies with a common appreciation of Utah wilderness; and, leaving things more awesome than they found it while having fun. The group continues partner with the Price BLM.

Clabaugh said BLM expresses its appreciatioon to Matt Monsoon, Rachel Smith, Dave Miller, Dave Van Wagoner, Josh McGlamery, Colby Lavedar, Darcy Martinez, Sean Carmack, Carolyn Frost, Chase Worthen, Candice Metzler, Sam Metzler and Chase Torkelson for their dedication to resource protection.

ABOUT BLM

The Bureau of land Managment (BLM) manages over 245 million acres, more land than any other Federal agency. This land is primarily located in 12 Western states including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The Bureau accomplishes this mission by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.