We happen to agree with much of Utah Senate President John Valentine's politics. But even if we didn't, we would like to nominate him for a medal.

Valentine's willingness, along with his law partner, Phil Lowry, to step up to protect the beautiful mouth of Rock Canyon from a strip miner is an act of public service that the Utah Valley community should not forget.

But they appear to have a fight on their hands in the form of a new bid to turn the mouth of the canyon into a quarry.

It's a long story, but here's the short version:

The would-be strip miner, Richard Davis of Springdell, made a shrewd purchase of a century-old, played-out mining claim at the mouth of Rock Canyon in 1998, as the U.S. Forest Service was buying up similar old mines in the canyon and absorbing them back into the federal land bloc. The last old claim to go -- some 84 acres at the mouth -- was priced a little too high for the feds, and Davis and his partner, Greg Sperry, acquired the land, reportedly for less than $100,000.

Nobody thought much about it because mining suggests something underground and out of sight. Everybody knew that the valuable metals had long since been dug out.

But Davis's idea of mining was something different from acquiring heavy metals. He wants to take out the surface rock, with its beautiful red patina and sell it off to the highest bidder for landscaping material. His vision is to turn the mouth of Rock Canyon into a giant quarry. And a devastating start was made. Fortunately, legal action was taken against the excavator for mining without permits, and the digging came to a halt -- at least temporarily.

In the ensuing controversy, Valentine acquired Sperry's quarter share of the property for $95,000 and got an agreement to purchase Kapelow's. The money was provided by Provo City in exchange for a grant of a permanent conservation easement. The city recognized the immense value of the place in its natural condition and the harm that would be done by further excavation.

Valentine, an early rock climber in the canyon and now an able attorney, said he would defend the land in court if necessary.

Unfortunately, it has become necessary. Davis has sued Valentine for blocking his plans to rape Rock Canyon. Michael Zundel, Davis's attorney, said he hopes that excavation can resume by the end of this year.

We can think of few things worse for the Utah Valley community. Rock Canyon is a virtual trademark. Anyone who has hiked in the canyon knows the incomparable beauty of the place. The cliffs have been used for decades by climbers, and the road and trails have provided recreation and respite for hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. You can even enjoy the canyon from the west stands of LaVell Edwards Stadium during a football game.

Provo City has developed the Rock Canyon Trailhead Park, which should never, never find itself at the edge of a quarry operation.

Mayor Lewis Billings clearly understands the importance of the area and has been a potent force in facilitating things so far. He and the City Council may need to step in again, perhaps with help from their neighboring communities. Provo residents have a huge stake in this matter, but so do people in Orem and elsewhere. Rock Canyon is visible for miles.

We hope we never see an ugly scar in place of those beautiful cliffs. They've been damaged enough already. It is truly saddening that instead of beauty, some people see only money.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A4.