A photo of the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Track in Moab, Utah. A construction project at the site recently damaged several tracks and fossil tracks.
Wayne Hsieh / Flickr
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Wayne Hsieh / Flickr
A site in Utah containing dinosaur and other animal tracks dating back more than 100 million years was damaged during a recent construction project, the federal Bureau of Land Management recently admitted.
A paleontological review posted on the office’s website last week concluded that there had been some minor damage to fossil tracks and tracks at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracking Site in Moab.
“Unfortunately, little can be done to restore damaged or eroded trails exposed in situ,” said BLM paleontologist Brent H. Breithaupt. conclude in an evaluation.
“Also, microcracks may have formed due to the weight of the machinery on the bearing surface,” adds Breithaupt.
During the week of January 23, the office began work to replace the boardwalk at the approximately 2.3-acre track site, which is home to thousands of visitors.
The Mill Canyon dinosaur tracking site dates back to the Early Cretaceous – about 112 million years ago – and contains more than 200 tracks and tracks of at least 10 different animals, including several types of dinosaurs like sauropods, ankylosaurs and ornithopods.
During the course of the project, workers drove tricycles and other construction vehicles through parts of the site with tracks, which in some cases could cause damage, the review found.
After locals reported damage at the site and national media began writing stories, the office stopped work on the project on January 31, according to the assessment.
Patrick Donnelly, of the Center for Biological Diversity, “I am absolutely outraged that the BLM has clearly destroyed one of the world’s most important paleontological resources,” said at that time.
Breithaupt said in its assessment that the events surrounding damage to the site were “regrettable and avoidable.”
Bureau of Land Administration, in a statement posted on its website after announcing its review Wednesday, said it was committed to protecting the fossils on public lands and that replacement of the boardwalk was necessary to protect and manage the track area.
“To make sure this doesn’t happen again, we will follow the recommendations of the review, seek input from the public, and work with the paleontological community as we work together.” proceed to construct boardwalks at the interpretation site,” the statement read.
Before continuing with construction at the site, the office said, it will draft an additional environmental assessment and solicit public comments on it for 30 days. It is expected to reach a decision this summer.
