Dr. Loubser had been contracted by RAF to provide an assessment of Lewis Canyon s present state of condition. Bearing their antiquity in mind, it is all the more remarkable that they survived a millennium of pounding by wind, rain, surface run-water, and animal traffic. Obviously, natural forces were not sufficiently damaging to obliterate or even fade the petroglyphs. In more recent times, unfortunately, more deleterious forces have come to play that seriously jeopardize the future survival of the petroglyphs. People visiting the site in increasing numbers intentionally or inadvertently damage the petroglyphs.
Inadvertent damage occurs when visitors accidentally step on the petroglyphs.
Based on current visitation patterns, it is reasonable to assume that this trend is almost certainly increasing at an accelerated pace. Only proactive management measures, such as the installation of a wooden walkway with interpretive materials, would help direct traffic and educate visitors. Unless action is taken soon, one year of intensive visitation by uninformed visitors can destroy that which survived more than one thousand years of natural weathering. As a rock alt resource, Lewis Canyon is a rich site with over 900 petroglyph examples. Maybe someday we could learn their meaning.