Our Mission
Protecting, preserving, supporting and promoting responsible stewardship of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and Ice Age Fossils State Park.
Upcoming Events
TUSK TURNED 10!
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, community partners and corporate sponsors below who helped make the 10-Year Anniversary Celebration of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument a success!
Our Story
Protectors of Tule Springs was informally founded in 2006 in an effort to preserve the last of the undeveloped portions of the Upper Las Vegas Wash basin in the northwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley.
In the early 2000s, those areas were proposed as a disposal area for the further development of the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, and unincorporated Clark County. During a meeting held to finalize the proposed disposal of these lands, a small group of citizens became aware of the unique paleontological and biological resources that would be forever lost to more roads, housing and commercial development should the proposed disposal boundary be approved.
This small group of North Las Vegas residents began an 8-year effort to forever protect what was nearly lost.
Protectors of Tule Springs became a formal non-profit corporation and recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2012.
Monumental Mammoth Sculpted from Recycled Desert Trash
Southern Nevada now has an iconic, life-sized Columbian Mammoth sculpture, inspired by the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument! The Monumental Mammoth is now permanently installed at Ice Age Fossils State Park, standing as a symbol of Nevada's Pleistocene past and enhancing the visitors' experience for years to come!
News About Protectors
Next Membership Meeting May 22, 2018
6-7:30 p.m. Sun City Aliante Clubhouse 7390 Aliante Parkway North Las Vegas 89084 The meeting will include an update from National Park Service TUSK Superintendent Diane Keith and a special guest speaker, Paleontologist Eric Scott! He will be speaking on a newly...
Tufa Trail Hike Opportunity
Protectors Vice President Sandy Croteau and her team have created a brand new hike for 2018: the Tufa Trail hike. This path will follow some of the area where the first official trail in the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument will be constructed later this...
Protectors Welcome New Board Member Brenda Bowman
At their regular Board meeting on Sunday, February 11, the Board of Directors of Protectors of Tule Springs voted to add an additional member to their executive team. Brenda Bowman will join the Board and will serve as Treasurer for the organization. Member Joel Casar...
Members Enjoyed Special Hike with U.S. Geological Survey Geologists
On Sunday, February 18, 25 members of the Protectors of Tule Springs enjoyed a special members-only hike of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) led by geologists Jeff Pigati and Kathleen Springer of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The group was given...
NV Energy $10,000 Donation Kickstarts “Monumental Mammoth” Sculpture Project
Girl Scout’s Design Project Recycles Material from Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument NV Energy has donated $10,000 to the Protectors of Tule Springs, a nonprofit organization that supports the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. The donation will...
Local student art recognized to mark National Fossil Day
PROTECTORS OF TULE SPRINGS NEWS RELEASE Oct. 9, 2017 Local student art recognized to mark National Fossil Day Celebration event held at Las Vegas Natural History Museum on Saturday, October 14, 2017 LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, in partnership...
Partnerships and Support
Protectors’ public awareness campaign evolved into a partnership with a diverse group of organizations and a broad base of public support. Managed by the National Park Service, the effort to make this area a national monument attracted the unanimous support of local elected officials, the United States Air Force, the Las Vegas Paiute tribe, tourism industry leaders, educators, scientists, conservation organizations and community groups. In addition, thousands of citizens registered their support.
Four local government entities – the Clark County Commission, the Las Vegas Mayor and Council, the North Las Vegas Mayor and Council, and the Tribal Council of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe – voted on and unanimously passed a resolution in November 2009 asking Congress to make Tule Springs a part of the National Park System.