Contacts:Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org UT– The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is excited to welcome Scott Braden as its new Executive Director Braden fell in love with Utah’s rivers and canyons as an outdoor educator; he has gone on to devote his career to protecting public lands across the American West and comes to SUWA with two decades of experience in conservation advocacy “At this pivotal moment for the redrock wilderness The threats to Utah’s wilderness are relentless coming from every direction—but SUWA’s ability to win protections and hold the line has never been more critical,” said Scott Braden “Having started my career at SUWA and dedicated my life to defending wild places returning as Executive Director is deeply meaningful to me Working with SUWA’s stellar staff and the nationwide community of redrock activists and position it for success in protecting Wild Utah for generations to come.” Braden most recently served as co-founder and director of the Colorado Wildlands Project he led efforts to protect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Colorado including a national monument campaign for the Dolores River canyon country securing a variety of administrative protections and establishing a collaborative stewardship program He previously worked as a public lands advocate at Conservation Colorado and the Colorado Mountain Club SUWA Board Chair Tom Kenworthy said “We’re ecstatic to introduce Scott as our next Executive Director and to welcome him back to SUWA He will be a fearless and enthusiastic champion of SUWA’s mission to protect the redrock wilderness at a critical time in our organization’s history.”  “Scott will be an exceptional leader both for SUWA and the larger conservation movement The Board is confident he will be a steady hand who builds on a remarkable legacy and positions us for our next chapter of growth and expanded impact,” said SUWA Board Vice-Chair Rebecca Chavez-Houck SUWA will soon announce opportunities for members and supporters to meet Braden at events in Utah. A months-long search for a new Executive Director was conducted by Kittelman and Associates, in partnership with SUWA’s all-volunteer Board of Directors. SUWA celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2023; additional information can be found online Braden succeeds Scott Groene who served as SUWA’s Executive Director from 2004 to 2024 and previously worked on and off at the organization since 1987 and sophistication; he was instrumental in achieving the protection of iconic landscapes in Utah including Bears Ears National Monument (2016) and nearly a million acres of congressionally designated Wilderness in the Cedar Mountains (2006) the Zion-Mojave region of Washington County (2009) Our popular “Protect Wild Utah” yard signs (in both English and Spanish) are available for pickup at SUWA’s Salt Lake City office and at many of our local events. To arrange an office pickup time (between 9-5, M-F), please call (801) 486-3161 or email us at info@suwa.org ©2025 Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Contacts:Laura Peterson, Staff Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) (801) 236-3762; (laura@suwa.org) Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Below is a statement from SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson and additional information “Motorized recreation groups are relentless in their desire to turn the remote and stunning areas in the heart of Utah’s redrock country into an off-road vehicle free-for-all We’re not going to stand by and let that happen,” said Laura Peterson “While BLM’s Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil travel plan got many things wrong one thing it did right was not opening many so-called “routes” to motorized vehicles – routes that do not exist on the ground damage cultural sites or cause serious environmental harm BlueRibbon’s repeated lawsuits over these recently-completed travel plans have nothing to do with public lands access or seeking balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation; they have everything to do with wanting every inch of Utah to be a motorized playground.” Conservation groups challenged BLM’s 2008 Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Management Plan and a federal court ruled that the 2008 plan failed to minimize damage from motorized vehicles and failed to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) The Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil litigation ultimately led to the 2017 court-supervised settlement agreement In September 2024 the BLM released a draft motorized vehicle travel management plan and accompanying environmental assessment which analyzed the varying impacts of each alternative travel network under consideration only Alternative B would have provided some balance between motorized recreation and non-motorized recreation while also minimizing damage to natural and cultural resources Alternative B would have allowed motorized vehicles on more than 1,300 miles of routes ensuring access to motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities while also preserving this stunning backcountry area The BLM selected a travel plan that designates 1,670 miles of motorized vehicle routes opening 114 miles of routes that were previously closed to vehicles This includes new routes in areas that BLM is supposed to manage to protect wilderness values.  On March 28, 2025, Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) introduced H.R.2376 legislation that would nullify the Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Management Plan The legislation has no cosponsors and has not yet received a hearing ###The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Contacts:Travis Hammill, DC Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (703) 725-8348; travis@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Washington, DC – Saturday, an agreement was signed between the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Utah Trust Lands Administration (TLA) to finalize the Dingell Act Land Exchange, as outlined in the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 Below is a quote from SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill and additional information.  “The Dingell Act Land Exchange will result in stronger protections for the outstanding San Rafael Swell in southern Utah It ensures the long-term protection of designated wilderness areas in Emery County – federal public lands that will no longer be at risk from the threat of development and inconsistent management that comes with a checkerboard pattern of state and federal land ownership,” said Travis Hammill or form does this land exchange “return” federal land to the State of Utah as Governor Cox and Senator Curtis misleadingly claim The State of Utah has no legitimate claim to federal public lands and land exchanges like this one are standard action to streamline land management following the designation of wilderness areas The proposed Bears Ears National Monument Land Exchange has languished for years in Congress and we hope that Utah political leaders who have so jubilantly celebrated the Dingell Act Land Exchange will have similar enthusiasm for getting the Bears Ears Land Exchange across the finish line.” established a process for exchanging TLA lands out of designated wilderness and the 217,000-acre San Rafael Swell Recreation Area The legislation designated 663,000 acres of BLM-managed wilderness the legislation established the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area added 63 miles of the Green River to the National Wild and Scenic River System and designated the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area and the Jurassic National Monument Information on the proposed Bears Ears Land exchange, including a statement from the July 12, 2023 Senate Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee Hearing can be found here.  Earlier this year, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a final rule to protect Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s most delicate areas from off-road vehicles Glen Canyon covers 1.25 million acres of stunning redrock canyons and significant cultural and paleontological resources at the heart of the Colorado Plateau It’s also an area with an incredible density of wilderness-quality lands we’re asking you to support protections for this remarkable landscape as it comes under attack from Utah politicians Please tell your Senators to vote NO on the joint resolution aimed at eliminating the Park Service rule! The agency’s rule updates Glen Canyon’s motorized vehicle regulations to provide stronger protections for some of the area’s most scenic and special places while still balancing opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized recreation disruptive off-highway vehicles in the Orange Cliffs area which serves as a backdrop to the Maze District of Canyonlands National Park while still permitting visitors to explore via cars wilder place and helps ensure that both the recreation area and national park are preserved for future generations these much-needed protections are in jeopardy and Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2) have introduced joint resolutions aimed at eliminating the National Park Service’s (NPS) 2025 rule updating and strengthening Glen Canyon’s motorized vehicle regulations The House version was approved on April 29th the rule cannot go into effect and NPS will be prohibited from issuing a new rule that is “substantially similar,” making it much harder for the agency to regulate motorized vehicle use in the future Please speak up for Glen Canyon. Tell your senators you support the NPS rule and ask them to vote against the joint resolution. You can learn more in our blog post, The Past, Present, and Future of Motorized Vehicle Use in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Thank you for helping us stand up for Glen Canyon Contacts:Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Below is a statement from SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch and additional information.  “SUWA’s lawsuit seeks to stop Gov Cox and Attorney General Reyes from violating the State Constitution and dismantling a core part of Utah’s identity: public lands.” said SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch it asks the US Supreme Court to order the United States to begin the sell-off or ‘disposal’ of millions of acres of public lands These are places Utahns and Americans hike Utah’s lawsuit would take all of that away.” SUWA is represented by Christine Durham, Deno Himonas, and Jess Krannich at the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Fred Voros and Troy Booher at the law firm Zimmerman & Booher.  this effort would implicate more than 200 million acres of public lands across the West In support of its dangerous lawsuit and in an effort to confuse the public, the State is spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a propaganda campaign – dubbed “Let Utah Manage Utah Lands” – that fundamentally misstates both the facts and goals of its unprecedented lawsuit: ###The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 859-1552 (steve@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Below is a statement from SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch and additional information “Doug Burgum often invokes President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy as a model for his own tenure as Secretary of the Interior Teddy Roosevelt is rolling over in his grave at both the comparison and Burgum’s ever-darkening legacy over the nation’s public lands,” said Steve Bloch Legal Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance “Secretary Burgum routinely trashes the very concept of conservation of public lands — likening them to a corporate balance sheet to be monetized applauding as President Trump fired thousands of employees at BLM and the National Park Service and now this: undoing the wildly popular Public Lands Rule The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance opposes these efforts and will work to keep the Public Lands Rule in place.” currently in effect,  established a “… framework to ensure healthy landscapes and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands.”It does not preclude any uses on BLM-managed public lands; it puts conservation on equal footing with grazing and conserves intact healthy landscapes.  Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) and Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01) re-introduced the Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act; this federal legislation would require the Director of the BLM to withdraw the Rule Scott Braden Is SUWA’s New Executive Director SUWA is excited to welcome Scott Braden as our new Executive Director He replaces longtime director Scott Groene Scott Braden fell in love with Utah’s rivers and canyons as an outdoor educator and went on to devote his career to protecting public lands across the American West He comes to SUWA with two decades of experience in conservation advocacy Some of you may recognize Scott’s name—he began his advocacy career at SUWA from 2007 to 2011 and later worked as a public lands advocate with Conservation Colorado and the Colorado Mountain Club. Most recently, Scott served as co-founder and director of the Colorado Wildlands Project he led efforts to conserve Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Colorado and we’ll provide multiple opportunities for members to meet him (for starters see our Summer Shindig announcement below) >> Learn more about Scott in our recent press release Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Needs Your Help Earlier this year, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a final rule to protect Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s most delicate areas from off-road vehicles The agency’s rule updates motorized vehicle regulations to provide stronger protections for some of the area’s most scenic Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2) have invoked the Congressional Review Act and introduced joint resolutions of disapproval (S.J the rule cannot go into effect and the NPS will be prohibited from issuing a new rule that is “substantially similar,” making it much harder for the agency to regulate motorized vehicle use in the future >> Please speak up for Glen Canyon by telling your representatives you support the NPS rule and asking them to vote against the joint resolution. America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Reintroduced in the 119th Congress Good news! On March 27th, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) reintroduced America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (S 2467)—legislation to designate over 8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Utah as federally protected wilderness “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act is a vision of what real conservation and wilderness protection should look like for public lands in Utah,” said SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill as the Trump administration looks to decimate public lands prioritize extractive industry above all else and eliminate the workforce of career staff who manage these lands Senator Durbin and Representative Stansbury have been steadfast and powerful voices in the wilderness movement and we are continually grateful for their consistent commitment to ensuring that the redrock is protected for future generations.” Click here to see the current list of cosponsors. If your representative or senators are not listed, please ask them to cosponsor America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act today! DC Update: Public Lands Face Threats on Multiple Fronts April has truly been “the cruelest month” (to borrow a line from T.S A steady stream of unsettling news out of Washington DC is ratcheting up the threat level and keeping conservationists vigilant On April 4th, the U.S. Senate failed to pass an amendment related to the FY 2026 budget that would have prohibited the sell-off of federal public lands Introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) the amendment was defeated in a 48-51 vote leaving cherished landscapes vulnerable to ongoing threats of disposal and privatization One week later, a Senate version of the misleadingly titled “Fix our Forests Act” was introduced by Senator John Curtis (R-UT) As SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld explained “Far from achieving its worthwhile goals of improving forest health this bill undermines core environmental protections leaving taxpayers with destroyed landscapes and making communities more prone to unnatural wildfire SUWA is keeping a close eye on these policy developments and actively working with conservation partners to defend our nation’s public lands Motorized Groups Sue Over Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Plan over the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan The Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil plan covers roughly 1,450,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands, including the Dirty Devil Canyon complex, the Henry Mountains, and the stunning badlands surrounding Factory Butte SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson noted that while the final plan got many things wrong “[O]ne thing it did right was not opening many so-called ‘routes’ to motorized vehicles—routes that do not exist on the ground or cause serious environmental harm.” She added “BlueRibbon’s repeated lawsuits over these recently-completed travel plans have nothing to do with public lands access or seeking balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation; they have everything to do with wanting every inch of Utah to be a motorized playground.” allowing us to defend conservation gains as the litigation moves through the legal process >> Read our full press statement Meet SUWA’s New Executive Director at Our Annual Summer Shindig It’s almost that time again! Mark your calendar for our annual Summer Shindig on Tuesday, June 17th, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City We’ll introduce our new Executive Director We couldn’t do this work without your support and spend the evening with like-minded folks who make the Protect Wild Utah movement possible These gatherings remind us about the importance of being in community by showing up and finding connection through a shared love for the redrock This is a members-only event, so please make sure your membership is current. Questions about your status? Reach out to us at membership@suwa.org Contacts:Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Below is a statement from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance on this event: “There are tens of thousands of federal workers in Utah including thousands who work for federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and United States Fish and Wildlife Service These career staff – who live and work in both rural and urban parts of our state – have dedicated their lives to a mission of service on behalf of the common good: America’s federal public lands It is heartbreaking to see these federal workers treated so disrespectfully It’s also completely unacceptable that Utah’s congressional delegation and state elected leaders are either standing idly by or – worse – cheering on Musk’s threats and intimidation tactics These federal workers are our friends and neighbors; they have our support and respect at this critical time.” Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 859-1552 (steve@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Washington, DC – Yesterday, the federal Council on Environmental Quality (“CEQ” – a division within the Executive Office of the President) announced that it had rescinded the federal regulations implementing one of our nation’s bedrock environmental laws the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) A version of these regulations had been in place for more than 50 years Below is a quote from SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch and additional information the Trump administration has made crystal clear that it hopes to make federal environmental decisions behind closed doors and without considering their impacts – these are decisions that will favor polluting industries and big business rather than Utahns or the health of the federal public lands in our state Utahns and Utah’s environment will be worse off because of these efforts,” said Steve Bloch “The Trump Administration has complained that “local voices” are not being heard when federal agencies make public land management decisions – but with today’s action they’re eliminating the very way in which locals and all Americans are able to provide input.” NEPA embodies our nation’s environmental conscience and is considered one of the United States’ bedrock environmental laws Congress issued a sweeping declaration of values and a call to action that highlights the protection of human health and the environment in all federal agency decision-making NEPA instituted a national policy of “look before you leap” by requiring that agencies carefully analyze and disclose the potential environmental impacts of a proposed action; it also guarantees that the public has an opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.  CEQ released a second set of final rules to restore certainty and meaningful public engagement in federal decision-making.  the Rule reiterates that conservation is part of the BLM’s multiple-use mission and ensures that the agency will manage for this use on a day-in and day-out basis Below is a statement from SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill and additional information “We’re disappointed but not surprised to see Rep which seeks to undo the landmark Public Lands Rule Maloy has quickly fallen in line with other members of Utah’s congressional delegation – a collection of elected officials that are deeply out of step with the majority of Utahns who want to see federal public lands managed sustainably Alleged concerns about the Rule resulting in the ‘locking up’ of public lands are all smoke the Rule stands for common sense land management and reinforces the decades-old principle that conservation is one of the multiple uses that Congress directed the Bureau of Land Management to account for as it goes about its day-in Contacts:Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (435) 259-5440; (kya@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Washington, DC –  Today, the incorrectly named Fix Our Forests Act or FOFA (S. 1462) was introduced in the US Senate Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld and additional information.  “Native pinyon pine and juniper woodlands–the primary forest type in and around the redrock wilderness–could be decimated if this legislation passes,” said Kya Marienfeld the bill would decrease agency transparency and cut out community input–the very opposite of what is needed for successful fire prevention and land restoration.”  “Efforts to improve the bill from the House version are welcome yet the end result is not enough to overcome the damage that this bill will cause to public lands Section 106–regarding categorical exclusions for large vegetation removal projects which would apply to BLM forests in Utah–was improved by limiting the planned acreage expansion to 7,500 acres but this is still much too large of an area for fast tracking deforestation projects without proper environmental review There are additional concerns that must be taken into account as Senators consider this bill in the Senate Committee on Agriculture.” During the 119th Congress, FOFA (H.R.471) was first introduced in the House by Rep. Bruce Westermann (R-AR-04); on January 23, 2025, it passed the House of Representatives. As noted in a January 16, 2025 coalition letter that SUWA signed “This legislation purports to be about sound forest management and fire and is really about stifling citizen voices removing science from land management decisions and legislating a large-scale rollback of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on millions of acres of federal lands Its sweeping provisions remove scientific review and accountability to benefit the short-term interests of extractive industries.” What: Public lands and environmental advocates are excited to announce a Public Lands Rally – “Standing Together: Land Love & Hope.” Community members and environmental organizations will demonstrate unwavering local support for protected public lands and wild places across Utah especially Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments A short program with speakers will begin at 12:15 Where: South Steps of the Utah State Capitol (350 State Street Salt Lake City The video will begin a few minutes before noon day-of Spokespeople will be available to speak with the media Please reach out to Grant for additional information Other details:  Speakers at the rally include Louise Fernandez Youth Activist; Luz Escamilla, Utah Senate Minority Leader; Autumn Gillard Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah; Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk former co-chair of the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition; and Terry Tempest Williams The rally will be emceed by Georgie Pongyesva Parking is limited and can be found primarily on surrounding streets and the north and east sides of the Capitol The rally will be accessible to all abilities and up-close parking is also available Current threats to public lands in Utah include: The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Washington, DC – Today, Rep Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced legislation (the Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act) in the House of Representatives that would effectively repeal the 1906 Antiquities Act by requiring Congress to approve the establishment or extension of a National Monument For more than 115 years the Act has been used by Presidents of both parties to establish national monuments and protect objects of particular cultural “National Monuments enjoy broad bipartisan support and are overwhelmingly popular with Utahns and Americans Utah politicians have renewed their long-running attacks on one of the most important and successful conservation tools: the Antiquities Act,” said Travis Hammill DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance “The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance will rally our supporters from across the nation and will work to defeat this short-sighted bill.”  Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 859-1552 (steve@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) rejected a lawsuit from the State of Utah which sought to order the federal government to begin selling off or otherwise “disposing” of more than 18.5 million acres of public lands in Utah “We’re grateful the Supreme Court swiftly rejected the State of Utah’s misguided land grab lawsuit the Supreme Court has affirmed the power of the federal government to hold and manage public lands on behalf of all Americans,” said Steve Bloch Utah’s lawsuit would result in the sale of millions of acres of public lands in redrock country to the highest bidder an end to America’s system of federal public lands and the dismantling of the American West as we know it The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance will continue our unwavering efforts to ensure every attempted land grab by Utah politicians fails.” In support of its dangerous lawsuit and in an effort to confuse the public, the State is spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a propaganda campaign – dubbed “Let Utah Manage Utah Lands” – that fundamentally misstates both the facts and goals of its unprecedented lawsuit: [NOTE: The following letters from SUWA Executive Director Scott Groene and Board Chair Tom Kenworthy appear in the Autumn/Winter 2024 edition of our Redrock Wilderness print newsletter.] DC bar watching the inaugural gathering of the newly minted National Wilderness Coalition It was powerful to see new groups and individuals come together under the wilderness banner—not only to mark the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act but to commit collectively to the bedrock belief that we must protect America’s remaining wild places I’m proud to say SUWA played a leadership role in launching the Coalition and laying a foundation for its success I saw a revitalized and reinvigorated wilderness movement There was a time when I knew every face and every name in almost any wilderness gathering I attended And the attendees have become more diverse over the past decade This is all exceptionally good news for the wild places we care about This reassurance about the future of wilderness makes it a little easier to leave SUWA on behalf of the most spectacular landscape on earth with its blend of new and experienced staff The upcoming transition will allow SUWA to grow and evolve into an even better defender of the redrock SUWA has faced many obstacles over the years: entrenched bureaucracies the greed of short-term development schemes and the never-ending foolishness and mean-spiritedness of Utah’s politicians we have successfully defended the redrock over the past four decades and roads—more than half of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Utah that would have qualified for wilderness protection That loss totals approximately 13 million acres we’ve lost less than one percent of the remaining 9.5 million acres of redrock wilderness That 40-year span corresponds to SUWA’s existence We have achieved significant protection for these remaining lands including three congressional wilderness enactments that And with executive branch actions (national monument proclamations there are now more than 5.5 million acres of proposed wilderness in Utah with some form of protection This surpasses what was once considered a naïve and unattainable goal when early advocates had the audacious dream of protecting 5.1 million acres and because of you and everyone else who has been part of this movement I first moved to Utah (Mexican Hat) nearly 40 years ago and have since been blessed to spend much of my life exploring southern Utah with friends But my greatest joy has been teaching my daughters Maggie and Sadie to row the muddy rivers I trust in SUWA to make certain that there will always be plenty of wild canyon country for my daughters I imagine SUWA as a mythical desert river flowing through time but it’s time to step off the raft and find a new adventure I remain full of faith and trust in the next generation as it navigates its own stretch of river I am grateful for the chance to be part of this organization and its inextinguishable spirit And I am equally grateful to all of you for your friendship When I joined the SUWA Board of Directors back in 2011 I figured out something pretty fast: this was not a job that involved a lot of heavy lifting By that time SUWA was a well-established and smoothly functioning nonprofit with almost 30 years of experience It had a fiercely loyal membership of roughly 13,000 people from across the country all totally dedicated to the task of protecting wilderness-quality federal lands the best in the land conservation business with many of them hardened veterans who stuck to their guns even when other groups were compromising away their principles And the organization was on a secure financial footing thanks to its generous members and its wise decision not to depend too much on any one funding source who had been executive director since 2004; aside from a few brief career detours he had been a SUWA staffer dating back to the early 1990’s I first met Scott in 1992 when I was covering public lands for the Washington Post and he took me out on a field tour he nearly tore the bottom off my rental SUV and I was immediately hooked Scott’s been an immensely talented leader at SUWA—wise and it’s the board’s unfortunate task to find his replacement He’s been the executive director long enough that none of us currently serving on the board have been through this at SUWA before we’ve hired a search firm that specializes in nonprofits and comes highly recommended to us: Kittleman & Associates The team at Kittleman is guiding us through a well-crafted and thorough process that will take several months they’re surveying the entire SUWA staff and board to understand what makes SUWA unique and the qualities necessary in a new leader After that comes a broad search for suitable candidates and then the board picks a new executive director a big change for a remarkable organization I want to assure you of how seriously we’re taking this search for the next leader of SUWA and the Protect Wild Utah movement Please be on the lookout for additional updates in the coming months For 10 years, SUWA’s Stewardship Program has transformed legal and policy victories into real protecting Utah’s redrock wilderness in tangible and impactful ways Now it’s time to celebrate this milestone with Winter Stew—a warming evening of camaraderie for those who’ve helped make it all possible and those ready to join the effort Join us for a “Winter Stew” gathering on Thursday, January 30th at Publik Space in Salt Lake City as we kick off our 10th season of stewardship work and reflect on the vital role this program plays in protecting wild Utah Space is limited. Be sure to RSVP by January 23rd to secure your spot If you’re not yet a member, you can join today and be part of this special evening and our ongoing work to protect Utah’s wilderness. Not sure of your membership status or have questions about the event? Reach out to our Development Associate, Heather Rose Martinez let’s celebrate 10 years of stewardship and the meaningful difference we’ve made for Utah’s wilderness Contacts:Jeremy Lynch, Stewardship Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (435) 259-9151: jeremy@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org “SUWA’s Stewardship program has grown from humble beginnings into a successful and sought-after way for volunteers to develop hands-on connections to wild places in Utah – whether that’s in the peaks of the West Desert or the canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante,” said Jeremy Lynch deepening your relationship with the remarkable public lands in Utah.” Registration will fill up quickly so we encourage interested individuals to apply ASAP. SUWA has select scholarships available for individuals who would would like to join a stewardship project. If you have any questions about a scholarship or a project, please reach out to Stewardship Director Jeremy Lynch at jeremy@suwa.org 2024 Election Update: The Future of the Redrock a major setback in our work to protect the redrock wilderness Much of the progress we’ve achieved—everything from the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments to stopping new fossil fuel development—is now at risk As we confront the oncoming litany of attacks SUWA will remain focused on defending the redrock or stopping the sure-to-come bad legislation We have never backed down from a hard fight Please share with anyone you know who may be interested Members and supporters will be the first to hear about SUWA’s next leader and we look forward to sharing more in the future The proposed route would have violated five bedrock environmental laws and threatened critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise the Northern Corridor Highway is a poor option for the St George community as it would increase fire probability and frequency result in permanent loss to designated critical tortoise habitat and adversely impact the highest number of cultural and historical resources of all considered alternatives >> Read more about the decision in our press release with partner organizations Land Exchange Finalized for Areas Protected in Emery County Bill the Dingell Act designated 663,000 acres of BLM-managed wilderness in Emery County established the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area and designated the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area and the Jurassic National Monument It also established a process for exchanging the state-owned TLA lands (which are open to development) for lands elsewhere in the state “One of the primary goals of the land exchange between BLM and TLA is to ensure the long-term protection of designated wilderness areas in Emery County,” said SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch “The checkerboard pattern of TLA lands within designated wilderness poses a serious threat of development and inconsistent management within those areas and we are encouraged to see this land exchange process get closer to the finish line.” >> Read our full press statement New Hats and Merch Bundles—Just in Time for the Holiday Season Giving Thanks and Preparing for the Work Ahead As the year approaches its end and we prepare to face the unprecedented challenges ahead we want to take this opportunity to thank you for standing with us You are the heart of the Protect Wild Utah movement and your support has been instrumental in preserving the beauty and unique ecosystems of Utah’s redrock wilderness SUWA has been able to defend public lands in Utah despite the odds being stacked against us We are deeply grateful for all you do to help ensure that wild places remain intact for future generations Salt Lake City, UT – On December 31st, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the final San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan Below is a statement from SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson and additional information.  which once again prioritizes motorized vehicles at the expense of natural and cultural resources in the San Rafael Swell The Bureau of Land Management had the opportunity to finally strike a balance between motorized recreation and preservation of this incredible landscape but chose not to,” said Laura Peterson “The Swell is a beloved southern Utah landscape – one with endless opportunities for hiking It should be known for its spectacular views Alternative B would have allowed motorized vehicles on nearly 1,200 miles of routes in the Swell while also preserving this stunning backcountry area.  the BLM selected Alternative E which designates nearly 1,500 miles of routes opening a substantial number of new routes to motorized vehicles.  ###The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. Contacts:Travis Hammill, DC Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (703) 725-8348; travis@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org “Despite her district containing some of the most remarkable public lands in the country Maloy is dead-set on dismantling even the most basic protections for these places While the 2025 Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil travel plan got many things wrong and still favors motorized recreation in far too many areas Maloy’s bill would be worse – taking land management back to a 2008 plan that a Federal court ruled violated federal law,” said Travis Hammill “We’re not going to stand by and let this remote and stunning area at the heart of Utah’s redrock country be turned into a off-road vehicle free-for-all SUWA’s members and our redrock champions in Congress will defeat this bill.” Conservation groups challenged BLM’s 2008 Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Management Plan and a federal court ruled that the plan failed to minimize damage from motorized vehicles and failed to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) The Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil litigation ultimately led to a 2017 court-supervised settlement agreement In September 2024 The BLM ultimately settled on a travel plan that designates 1,670 miles of motorized vehicle routes Washington, DC – Today, the Department of the Interior announced mass firings of more than 2,300 public servants at the Department of the Interior which manages nearly 23 million acres of federal public lands in Utah Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Director Neal Clark and additional information.  “Today’s firing of hundreds of staff at the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a significant blow to how remarkable public lands and resources in Utah will be managed Already woefully understaffed and under-resourced today’s decisions is a self-fulfilling prophecy to downgrade the protection and management of Utah’s redrock country all while furthering the bogus argument that state or private companies could do a better job of ‘managing’ federal public lands,” said Neal Clark “Federal employees, such as those who work for the BLM, make up a large percentage of the workforce in rural Utah. For example, government employees (including but not limited to federal employees) make up 23% of the workforce in Garfield County and 25% in Wayne County It’s plain to see that the Trump administration could care less about the federal workforce that makes our nation run and the Americans who all benefit from their service.” would designate more than 8 million acres of BLM land in Utah as wilderness.  UT – Public lands and environmental advocates are excited to announce a Public Lands Rally – “Standing Together: Land Love and Hope” – will be held on Saturday on the South Steps of the Utah State Capitol and environmental organizations for an event that will leave you feeling inspired and demonstrate unwavering local support for protected public lands and wild places across Utah What: “Standing Together: Land Love & Hope” A Public Lands Rally A short program with speakers will begin at 12:15 Where: South Steps of the Utah State Capitol Registration: If you plan to come, please RSVP on Facebook or here. Registration is not required Parking is limited and can be found primarily on surrounding streets and the east side of the Capitol ways to participate if you can’t join in person Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday, the Idaho-based BlueRibbon Coalition and others sued the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over the recently finalized San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan “The motorized recreation groups filing this lawsuit are bound and determined to make Utah’s remarkable San Rafael Swell nothing more than a playground for off-road vehicles and side-by-sides; a place where it’s impossible to find peace and quiet We’re not going to stand by and let that happen,” said Laura Peterson “While BLM’s recently-completed San Rafael Swell travel plan got many things wrong one thing it did right was not opening roughly 650 miles of so-called “routes” in the Swell to motorized vehicles These 650 miles include trails that were created in the past fifteen or so years through illegal motorized use and are located in stream corridors and wash bottoms run through cultural sites and lead to users causing real and serious environmental damage Others are simply lines on a map that do not exist on the ground.” In June 2024 In the final plan (released Dec The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. The day after the election, we said, “SUWA has never backed down from a hard fight and we’re not about to start now.” The reason we’ve been able to never back down The incredible community of people who support our work in Utah and across the country We invite you to come together at a critical moment—to stand together in community—at a public lands rally at noon on January 11 2025 at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City A short program with speakers will begin at 12:15.Registration is not required, but if you plan to come please RSVP here or on Facebook It’s a scary time for public lands in Utah—they’re under attack from the Utah State Legislature and Governor Cox as well as elected officials at the federal level (our four representatives and Senators Lee and Curtis) This rally will demonstrate unwavering local support for protected public lands and wild places across Utah These public lands—places that we love and cherish and that are the source of so much hope and inspiration—are worth fighting for Registration is not required, but if you plan to come please RSVP here or on Facebook A list of rally speakers can be found in the image to the left. If you can’t join us in person, you can watch via a live video on our Facebook page (a Facebook account is not required The video will begin a few minutes before noon day-of We look forward to seeing you on January 11 Contacts:Judi Brawer, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (208) 871-0596 (judi@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the release of the final Resource Management Plan (RMP) for Bear Ears National Monument Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Attorney Judi Brawer and additional information.  “Today’s release of the final Bears Ears National Monument Management Plan marks the culmination of years of hard work by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service in collaboration with the Five Tribal Nations that comprise the Bears Ears Commission as well as significant stakeholder input,” said Judi Brawer “We expect the final Plan to prioritize the long-term protection of this unique cultural landscape and will closely monitor its implementation to ensure future actions protect and preserve the monument’s irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.” Bears Ears National Monument is a region of extraordinary natural diversity and cultural significance President Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish Bears Ears National Monument granting a new layer of protection to some of the most spectacular places in southern Utah the proclamation elevated the voices of Tribal Nations that have ancestral ties to the region Nearly 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites were covered by the proclamation which “synthesizes Tribal perspectives for the management of the Bears Ears living landscape.” original boundaries—plus an additional 12,000 acres added to the Trump-era Indian Creek unit In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a management plan to govern the Bears Ears National Monument; this is a crucial opportunity to ensure that the monument is managed for its unique and extraordinary values. During both the scoping phase and after a draft plan was released SUWA asked its members and supporters to submit comments to BLM calling for a management plan worthy of this remarkable place 2024 and will issue a decision in the coming months SUWA and nine other conservation organizations have intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments the US Senate failed to pass an amendment related to the FY 2026 Budget (S.Amdt.2107) prohibiting the sell-off of federal public lands through the budget reconciliation process.The amendment was introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Below is a statement from SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill.  “Utahns love the federal public lands in our state and resoundingly reject efforts to have them sold to the highest bidder SUWA is grateful to Senators Heinrich and Hickenlooper for their leadership to protect America’s federal public lands including millions of acres of redrock wilderness in Utah from Republican efforts to see these lands sold off and privatized,” said Travis Hammill “Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis’s support for selling off America’s federal public lands to pay for billionaire tax cuts is way out of touch with everyday Utahns Public lands are a core part of Utah’s identity Contacts:Landon Newell, Staff Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 428-3991 (landon@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org “The Trump administration wrote the playbook on how to make an uninformed illegal leasing decision,” said Landon Newell Staff Attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) by reaffirming these leases—including in the heart of the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness—the Biden administration is blessing one of the Trump administration’s most controversial oil and gas leases.” The San Rafael Desert is a sublime area of Utah’s backcountry encompassing the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness which is bounded on the east by the Green River and on the south by Canyonlands National Park and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area The Labyrinth Canyon stretch of the Green River abuts the Wilderness and passes through Bowknot Bend on its way to the confluence with the Colorado River This stretch of river is one of the most iconic in the United States and over 40 miles are designated as Scenic under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  This previous litigation was resolved by BLM agreeing to take a closer look at the prior administration’s leasing decision. This supplemental leasing analysis is the subject of SUWA’s new litigation Rather than closely scrutinizing the prior leasing decision,  the BLM has rubberstamped it They reaffirmed the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness lease (along with 50 others) and in doing so endorsed future fossil fuel drilling in the heart of some of America’s most cherished public lands.  SUWA’s latest litigation seeks an order from the court setting aside the BLM’s decision as unlawful and vacating the oil and gas leases SUWA is represented by in-house attorneys and local counsel from the public interest law firm Eubanks & Associates Contacts:Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.orgKris Deutschman, Chief Communications Officer, Conservation Lands Foundation; (916) 425-7174; kris@conservationlands.org Utah politicians are leading the charge and renewing their long-running attacks on one of the most important and successful conservation tools: the Antiquities Act,” said Travis Hammill “We’re thrilled to see such a wide range of organizations and supporters from across the country joining together to ensure this legislation has no chance of becoming law.” Government Relations Director for The Wilderness Society “This legislation is a direct attack on the rights of Americans to their public lands and the bedrock law that ensures the country’s most treasured natural and recreational landscapes can be protected from irreversible development and destruction,” said Chris Hill Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation “Allowing people in temporary positions to make permanent decisions of this significance for the future of the American people is dangerous and I urge Congress to reject this legislation and to ensure that the bedrock laws that protect America’s public lands remain intact for the benefit of all Americans today the Antiquities Act has been one of our nation’s most critical conservation tools for preserving our nation’s most important public lands and waters and natural treasures that have been protected by the Antiquities Act is the reason why hundreds of groups representing sportsmen and many others all oppose efforts to undermine this vital law “The Antiquities Act is one of America’s most important tools for preserving our history presidents from both parties have used this law to protect iconic places like the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty ensuring that these treasures remain accessible to all Americans,” said Janessa Goldbeck US Marine Corps Veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation “National monuments strengthen our communities and bolster local economies and provide low-cost recreational opportunities for families these lands offer places to reconnect and find peace Efforts to undermine the Antiquities Act threaten our ability to preserve these critical sites and ignore the widespread bipartisan support for protecting America’s public lands I understand how much these places mean to those who have served We must remain steadfast in ensuring these lands are protected for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.”  all but three presidents have used their authority under the Antiquities Act to designate special places in the ocean and on land,” said Beth Lowell Oceana’s Vice President for the United States presidents have protected the Grand Canyon the magnificent diversity of underwater canyons and seamounts in New England and countless other natural and historical treasures Congress should reject this shortsighted bill that undermines our history of protecting places that are important to our nation.”  The American people overwhelmingly oppose efforts to block establishment of new parks and repeal protections for the places they love. Per Colorado College’s 2024 Conservation in the West Poll 85% of Westerners support creating new national parks and monuments to protect historic sites and areas for recreation And a 2022 poll revealed that New Englanders are increasingly concerned about ocean health with more than 80% of respondents favoring the establishment of permanently protected areas in the ocean to help address key issues Congress should listen to the American public and work towards making our protected public lands even more inclusive of our nation’s diverse history and cultures Undermining the Antiquities Act goes against the will of the American public and their support for the establishment of future protected public lands Groups intervene to block Utah and Wyoming lawsuit against Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule and are now engaging to defend it from attacks Utah is predicted to be hit particularly hard by the impacts of a hotter The Public Lands Rule gives BLM and the public a framework and important tools to begin work to stem the tide.”   “The lawsuit and preliminary injunction request by Utah and Wyoming constitute a vote to let big fossil fuel and development interests keep pulling the strings and set the agenda for how we use our natural resources seeks the balanced approach prescribed for the agency by Congress almost a half-century ago,” said Alison Flint senior legal director at The Wilderness Society “The Wilderness Society has worked for nearly 90 years to defend public lands Continuing that work entails vigorously defending the public lands rule so we can meet the challenges of a hotter drier and more crowded future in the American West.”     have repeatedly confirmed that the Rule upholds BLM’s core mission and it was shaped by a robust public process with more than 90% of public comments in support It also has the support of many western lawmakers who understand that this new guidance is needed to keep important recreation areas – that are also local economic engines – accessible to the public and provide the tools managers need to restore these public lands from wildfires On June 18, 2024, the States of Utah and Wyoming filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Utah over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recently finalized Public Lands Rule Federal lawsuits have also been filed by the states of North Dakota and industry groups have filed a third action in Wyoming the Rule reiterates that conservation is part of the BLM’s multiple-use mission and ensures that the agency will manage for this use on a day-in and day-out basis.  establishes a “… framework to ensure healthy landscapes and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands.”  The Wilderness Society has been working since 1935 on uniting people to protect America’s wild places With more than one million members and supporters The Wilderness Society has led the effort to protect permanently nearly 112 million acres of wilderness in 44 states and ensure public lands’ sound management We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory.  Conservation Lands Foundation leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org. Contacts:Laura Peterson, Staff Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) (801) 236-3762; (laura@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft environmental assessment for the Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil motorized vehicle Travel Management Plan “Spanning from Capitol Reef National Park to Canyonlands National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area the remote and stunning landscapes encompassed within this planning area are at the heart of Utah’s redrock country,” said Laura Peterson “The BLM’s previous travel plan for this spectacular area was heavily skewed in favor of motorized use at the expense of natural and cultural resources as well as other users seeking a quieter experience This new plan is an opportunity for BLM to bring a more balanced approach to where motorized vehicle use should and should not occur.  We look forward to reviewing the draft and encouraging our members to speak up and make their voices heard.” In May which provided an initial look at the different route networks the BLM analyzed for the draft environmental assessment the BLM must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) A draft environmental assessment analyzes the varying impacts of each alternative travel network the BLM is considering designating.The BLM is accepting public comments on the plan through October 26 Right now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is actively working on travel management plans for much of eastern and southern Utah’s incredible public lands, including the Henry Mountains and Dirty Devil area Stretching from Capitol Reef National Park to Canyonlands National Park and down to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area these rugged public lands are the heart of redrock country This travel plan will determine where motorized vehicles are allowed to drive in this remote area for decades to come Take action to Defend the Dirty Devil: Submit comments on the BLM’s draft management plan today! The varied topography of the Henry Mountains and Dirty Devil area—complete with winding canyons and lush alpine peaks—provides countless opportunities for hiking It’s critical that the BLM strike the right balance between motorized and non-motorized users The future of the Dirty Devil region hangs in the balance The BLM is currently accepting comments on a draft travel management plan and environmental assessment which analyzes the varying impacts of four different off-road vehicle travel networks Only Alternative B complies with the BLM’s legal duties to minimize damage to natural and cultural resources and minimize conflicts between motorized and non-motorized visitors Alternative B removes redundant routes and routes that do not exist on the ground reduces routes that damage cultural sites and desert waterways and minimizes the number and mileage of routes in wilderness-quality lands But the BLM is under tremendous pressure to expand damaging off-road vehicle routes Some of the proposals the BLM is considering would substantially expand the number and mileage of motorized routes Comments are due on October 26; as a redrock advocate it’s critical that you get involved and make your voice heard Personalized comments are often the most effective. If you’ve spent time in the Henry Mountains and Dirty Devil area, please highlight your experience and how you were impacted by off-road vehicle use or off-road vehicle damage. If you would like assistance in writing more specific comments, email SUWA’s Utah Organizer, Nicole Milavetz, at nicole@suwa.org Thank you for helping to Defend the Dirty Devil Contacts:Hanna Larsen, Staff Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 428-3992 (hanna@suwa.org)Caitlyn Burford, Communications Manager, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA); (541) 371-6452 (cburford@npca.org) “As someone who has experienced the stillness of Glen Canyon’s sandstone cliffs and the rare backcountry solitude there I know firsthand the sanctuary it offers for both visitors and wildlife with a revised rule from the National Park Service those natural soundscapes will be better protected for generations to come,” said Erika Pollard Southwest campaign director for the National Parks Conservation Association “This rule doesn’t just help protect the experience of breathtaking landscapes and dark skies that define Glen Canyon; it also equips the Park Service to tackle the challenges of climate change on fragile shorelines as Lake Powell fluctuates By preserving the park’s pristine wilderness qualities and limiting off-road vehicles this rule is an important step toward maintaining an unparalleled visitor experience not only in Glen Canyon but beyond to Canyonlands National Park and surrounding landscapes.”  “We’re pleased the revised rule governing off-road vehicle use in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) restores much-needed balance to land-based recreation in the Orange Cliffs Special Management Unit designated Lake Powell shoreline access areas and remote areas throughout the NRA,” said Hanna Larsen Staff Attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance these changes will help minimize user conflict and illegal cross-country motorized use and safeguard some of Glen Canyon’s wildest places.” Spanning southern Utah and northern Arizona Glen Canyon NRA is cherished for its dramatic redrock landscapes and the quiet solitude it offers as one of the nation’s most remote recreation areas an NPS rule expanded motorized vehicle use ignoring the significant impacts widespread use would have on the NRA’s vegetation Of particular concern was the Park Service’s new authorization of OHV and street-legal ATV use in the remote and ecologically sensitive Orange Cliffs area that borders Canyonlands National Park and NPS successfully reached a settlement agreement The settlement agreement required NPS to propose a draft rule The final rule includes additional provisions to balance motorized vehicle use with other values such as restricting use on certain park roads and expanding the quiet hours in an area where OHV use is permitted It also reflects a commitment to responsible stewardship of natural landscapes and the park visitor experience at Glen Canyon NRA and underscores the important role of the Park Service in protecting America’s national parks Water-based recreation on Lake Powell is not affected by this rule Glen Canyon NRA is also known for its nearly 1,000 miles of meandering shoreline with steep sandstone cliffs and narrow inlets Recognizing the growing challenges posed by climate change the rule empowers the Park Service to take proactive measures to protect Glen Canyon’s shoreline areas With fluctuating water levels posing increasing management challenges the Park Service will have the authority to restrict OHV and street-legal ATV access to shoreline areas as needed protecting vulnerable natural resources.  The greater Glen Canyon landscape is sacred to a number of Tribal Nations and encompasses several world-renowned protected areas including Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments and Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks.  About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.  About the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance: The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 428-3981 steve@suwa.org Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org  “One of the primary goals of the land exchange between BLM and TLA is to ensure the long-term protection of designated wilderness areas in Emery County,” said Steve Bloch “The checkerboard pattern of TLA lands within designated wilderness poses a serious threat of development and inconsistent management within those areas and we are encouraged to see this land exchange process get closer to the finish line SUWA will review the final environmental documents prepared by BLM to ensure the letter and spirit of the Dingell Act have been followed.”   “We are deeply grateful to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) for his tireless work to improve the initial bill and ensure that it adequately protected these landscapes for the benefit and enjoyment of all Americans People from around the nation visit the wild public lands in Emery County and have a real stake in how these lands are managed.” About the Dingell Act & The Land Exchange established a process for exchanging TLA lands out of designated wilderness and the 217,000-acre San Rafael Swell Recreation Area The legislation designated 663,000 acres of BLM-managed wilderness added 63 miles of the Green River to the National Wild and Scenic River System,  and designated the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area and the Jurassic National Monument.  View SUWA’s webpage and story map on the Act  The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 859-1552; steve@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the States of Utah and Wyoming announced they have filed litigation in federal district court in Utah over the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recently finalized Public Lands Rule Below is a statement from SUWA Legal Director Stephen Bloch and additional information.  “SUWA appreciates the Biden administration’s commitment to conservation and looks forward to seeing the Rule’s positive impact on Utah’s redrock country The Rule will keep conservation top of mind as BLM goes about its daily work to manage some of the most intact and ecologically significant public lands in the country.”   The Public Lands Rule establishes a “… framework to ensure healthy landscapes and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands.” Utah-specific polling data from the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll which shows a clear and resounding preference for conservation when voters are given a choice over how public lands are used The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards this world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the final Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Management Plan.  Below is a statement from SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson and additional information “We are disappointed that the BLM’s new travel plan heavily favors motorized vehicles at the expense of natural and cultural resources including opening more than 100 miles of previously closed routes to off-road vehicles,” said Laura Peterson the remote and stunning landscapes encompassed within this planning area are at the heart of Utah’s redrock country BLM’s new plan fails to do justice to this incredible place.”  The BLM selected a travel plan that designates 1,670 miles of motorized vehicle routes  Conservation groups challenged BLM’s 2008 Henry Mountains/Dirty Devil Travel Management Plan and a federal court ruled that the plan failed to minimize damage from motorized vehicles and failed to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Washington, DC – Today, the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to consider the nomination of former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior Below is a quote from SUWA Legislative Advocate Lauren Hainsworth and additional information “Management of federal public lands in Utah requires a thoughtful but during today’s hearing Governor Burgum made it clear that if confirmed the scales will be wildly tipped in favor of extractive industry and fossil fuels,” said Lauren Hainsworth Legislative Advocate for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance “Utah’s red rock country and wildest places are national treasures and should be conserved We encourage the Senate to reject Governor Burgum’s nomination.” would designate more than 8 million acres of BLM land in Utah as wilderness but SUWA was built for this moment and we’re in this fight for the long haul You can help by continuing to follow us on email and social media (see item below) and taking action whenever we put out the call Help Recruit Original Cosponsors for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Celeste Maloy Polishes Her Anti-Public-Lands Credentials 2025 Conservation in the West Poll Reveals Strong Support for Public Land Protection Spaces Still Available on Several Spring Stewardship Projects Carved into the heart of the Colorado Plateau by the Colorado River over millions of years Glen Canyon National Recreation Area features stunning redrock canyons expansive stretches of undisturbed landscapes and significant cultural and paleontological resources Known mostly for water-based recreation on Lake Powell Glen Canyon’s 1.25 million acres also boast superb opportunities for remote Since Glen Canyon’s inception as a national recreation area in 1972 the National Park Service (NPS)—the federal agency charged with overseeing it—has largely turned a blind eye toward protecting the area from illegal off-road vehicle (ORV) use until 2021 when the NPS codified the decades of illegal use in a Trump-era plan that—for the first time—authorized all sorts of vehicles (think conventional vehicles and side-by-sides) to drive on Lake Powell’s ever-increasing shorelines The plan also gave motorized recreationists a green light to roar through parts of the spectacular Orange Cliffs area (which serves as a backdrop to Canyonlands National Park) and on a series of extremely remote routes feeding into Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments SUWA filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the ORV plan We argued that the NPS failed to take the required hard look at the plan’s environmental impacts and failed to designate ORV areas and trails to minimize such impacts those two failures rendered arbitrary and capricious the agency’s determination that the plan would not lead to impairment of Glen Canyon’s resources along with the National Parks Conservation Association (who separately sued over the ORV Plan) entered into a settlement agreement with the NPS that requires the agency to promulgate a new rule proposing to (1) close the Orange Cliffs to ATVs and side-by-sides (2) close designated shoreline access areas to motorized use unless lake elevations rise to sustainable levels and (3) close various remote routes to ATVs and side-by-sides We expect the NPS to release this proposed rule for public comment soon Stay tuned for more information about submitting comments on the draft rule.Unfortunately filed their own lawsuit challenging the ORV plan That suit does not challenge any aspect of SUWA’s litigation but instead seeks to undo the few road and trails closures in the Trump-era ORV plan and open the recreation area to even more ORV use the state’s lawsuit will threaten thousands of acres of wilderness-quality lands within the recreation area.While the state’s case is still in its early stages we’ll continue doing everything we can to defend Glen Canyon.—Hanna Larsen The above first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of our Redrock Wilderness newsletter. Become a member to receive our print newsletter in your mailbox 3 times a year Contacts:Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (435)259-5440 (kya@suwa.org) Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the release of the final Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld and additional information  “We hope that in this final Plan the BLM has taken seriously its duty to protect one of the most treasured public landscapes in America,“ said Kya Marienfeld we expect that the Monument will once again be managed to protect what makes it like nowhere else – remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural sites and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems SUWA will closely monitor the implementation of the final Plan and continue to encourage management actions that will preserve the monument for current and future generations.” Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated as a national monument in 1996 to protect the incredible scientific and paleontological resources within its 1.9 million acres This crown jewel of our nation’s public lands was the first monument managed by the BLM and was the first unit in the agency’s “National Conservation Lands” program heightened protections for the Monument geology and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come and local communities on the monument’s doorstep have benefited as well the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape-level and sets the stage for future discovery about human and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau SUWA asked its members and supporters to submit comments to the BLM the called for a management plan worthy of this remarkable place Contacts:Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 859-1552; steve@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, in an election-year stunt, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and other state elected officials announced the state of Utah has brought a lawsuit before the United States Supreme Court to challenge the federal government’s control over federal public lands in the state SUWA Legal Director Steve Bloch had the following statement:  “With today’s announcement Utah has firmly established itself as the most anti-public lands state in the country Utahns and visitors travel to our state to experience stunning redrock canyons and mesas; public lands that are owned by all Americans and managed on their behalf by the federal government and its expert agencies All of that is at risk with Utah’s saber rattling and insistence that many of these remarkable landscapes are instead “state lands” that should be developed and ultimately destroyed by short-sighted state politicians The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance strongly opposes Utah’s efforts and will work to keep public lands protected.” would protect over 8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Southern Utah as wilderness – including beloved sites such as Fisher Towers Below are quotes and additional information.  “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act is a vision of what real conservation and wilderness protection should look like for public lands in Utah,” said Travis Hammill as the Trump Administration looks to decimate public lands “Between the growing danger of climate change and the Trump administration’s reckless campaign to sell off as much land as possible to corporate polluters our public lands have never been under greater threat,” said Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program Director Athan Manuel “We applaud Senator Durbin and Representative Stansbury for their leadership in working to permanently safeguard the landscapes of Utah’s canyon country protecting historical and cultural legacies and outdoor opportunities for generations to come.” “At a time when the administration continues to attack the very value of public lands America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act is more important than ever,” said Bobby McEnaney Director of Land Conservation at the Natural Resources Defense Council “By protecting one of the nation’s largest wildlands Congress can secure a legacy that will help to economically and ecologically sustain one of the most incomparable landscapes found anywhere on the planet.  We commend Senator Durbin and Representative Stansbury for their leadership in defending our public lands from short-sighted exploitation and working to secure a more prosperous future.” “We must protect our nation’s remaining wild places and reaffirm our commitment to the preservation of our national heritage,” said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Senate Sponsor of the bill.  “With America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act we can protect public lands from the danger of development encroachment and preserve the natural condition of these lands for current and future generations of Americans to enjoy.” “I am proud to reintroduce legislation protecting some of America’s most iconic landscapes “Protecting these incredible landscapes will help fulfill our trust and treaty obligations to Tribes and protect our precious Colorado River and its tributaries This wilderness designation will protect one of the most beautiful places in America while supporting local communities and economies The Red Rock Bill was reintroduced by Senator Durbin, who is joined by 15 original cosponsors in the Senate: Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Stansbury; who is joined by 41 original cosponsors in the House: Rep activists from throughout the country were in Washington holding meetings and asking their members of Congress to become original co-sponsors of the Bill All lands proposed for wilderness designation in America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act are owned by the American public and administered by the BLM. The bill is supported by SUWA, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Wasatch Mountain Club, and more than 200 other national and regional conservation organizations belonging to the Utah Wilderness Coalition Please take action by thanking your members of Congress for being cosponsors or asking them to cosponsor this visionary legislation! As I said in SUWA’s press release the Red Rock bill is a vision of what real conservation and wilderness protection should look like for public lands in Utah The stakes have never been higher as the Trump Administration looks to decimate public lands and we are continually grateful for their consistent commitment to ensuring that the redrock is protected for future generations this bill has served many purposes—as our vision for public lands in southern Utah as a negotiating tool for successful legislation and new wilderness designation as the basis for administrative protections and as a rallying cry for redrock activists all throughout the country redrock country would look very different: less protected Utah politicians remain deeply out of touch with their constituents on this issue and the Red Rock bill remains a critical way for us to show strong nationwide support for protecting public lands Join activists across the country in asking your members of Congress to cosponsor America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act or thanking them if they already have (our alert page will sort them for you) Coalition also announces the inaugural Wilderness Champion Awards – 9.10.24 Contacts:Amanda Newman, National Wilderness Coalition Coordinator; (801) 558-0404, info@nationalwildernesscoalition.org Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Washington, DC – Today, a diverse coalition of local, statewide, and national conservation and environmental justice organizations formally announced the creation of the National Wilderness Coalition (NWC) in Washington The NWC will reinvigorate a diverse and powerful wilderness movement; it is made up of organizations who have come together to build political power and advance wilderness legislation the Coalition will be awarding the inaugural Wilderness Champion Awards to Representatives Diana DeGette Additional information can be found below.   “The National Wilderness Coalition and its members know that wilderness conservation is a critical tool for addressing interrelated crises of our time Our work builds on decades of advocacy and organizing from communities DC Director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) “The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is proud to join with like-minded organizations from across the country to protect public lands and waters at this critical moment Many of this year’s Wilderness Champions have been supporters of new wilderness in Utah and we’re excited to see so much support for wilderness across the country.”  Since its inception in 1964, the Wilderness Act has been used by Congress to protect 112 million acres of public lands across 44 states Although the Act has established 800 individual wilderness areas these areas encompass only about 5% of lands in the U.S The National Wilderness Preservation System represents the most protective and comprehensive means to ensure public lands are protected in their natural state for future generations Members of Congress who will be receiving the inaugural awards include: Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) is celebrated by NWC for her long-held belief in the importance of wilderness–a belief reflected both in the legislation she has championed for decades and in the time she takes to experience wilderness areas Her advocacy for protecting BLM wildlands in land use planning and her use of oversight as a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources during the Trump administration have been exemplary.  Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) is recognized as an emerging leader in public lands issues Her long history as a Senate Energy and Natural Resources staffer and state legislator has set her course for being a staunch advocate for wilderness in the House of Representatives Her sponsorship of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act demonstrates a willingness to take on a leadership role in advocating for wilderness at the Congressional level Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) is honored by NWC for championing many bills that would designate wilderness his championship for the Great Bend of the Gila Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Donald McEachin Environmental Justice For All Act and actions in defense of Oak Flat demonstrate his effective work for wilderness conservation.  Joe Neguse (D-CO-06) is acknowledged for his work as the lead sponsor of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act and the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act The Coalition appreciates his support in his role as Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee and his leadership in getting underserved communities outside through the Land and Water Conservation Fund Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is celebrated for his decades-long sponsorship of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act as well as his work to protect wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest He was instrumental in designating over 660,000 acres of wilderness in the Emery County Public Land Management Act along with defeating legislation that would have been detrimental to wilderness preservation over the years Martin Heinrich (D-NM) is recognized by NWC as an exceptional and longstanding public lands champion both as a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and as a longstanding advocate for wilderness protections in the Arctic Refuge and Tongass We also appreciate his recent introduction of a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Gila Wilderness and the many ways he is pushing for greater protections for the Gila River and surrounding areas Michael Bennet (D-CO) is honored for his work designating the Hermosa Creek Wilderness and more recently for championing the CORE Act and for cosponsoring the expansion of the Sarvis Creek Wilderness His leadership to protect hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Gunnison County is exemplary and we’re deeply appreciative of his efforts to rename the Mt Evans Wilderness Area and being a Senate leader for the Land and Water Conservation Fund About the National Wilderness Coalition:  Celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2024, the Wilderness Act made possible visionary and remarkable conservation efforts across the country Yet wilderness designation has become increasingly deprioritized in Congress due in part to political polarization and the influence of corporate interests We also recognize that the wilderness movement has historically lacked diversity and has failed to meaningfully engage Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Nations which has made building and sustaining a powerful base of support difficult The Utah Department of Transportation’s proposed Northern Corridor Highway route would have violated five bedrock environmental laws and threatened critical habitat for the imperiled Mojave desert tortoise recreational opportunities and scenic vistas as it would increase fire probability and frequency spread noxious weeds and invasive plants and adversely impact the highest number of cultural and historical resources of all considered alternatives The alternative modifies the existing Red Hills Parkway to function as an expressway between I-15 and Bluff Street and final design details would need to consider local needs and be coordinated in close partnership with the community Below are statements on behalf of Utah-based and national conservation organizations Conserve Southwest Utah “Today’s announcement marks a critical step toward ensuring lasting protections for Red Cliffs National Conservation Area We anticipate the BLM’s final Record of Decision will once and for all put to rest this ill-conceived highway proposal,” said Holly Snow Canada executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah “The initial push to route a highway through this national conservation area was rushed relying on an Environmental Impact Statement that overlooked critical it is even more clear that this cherished landscape should be left intact for our community’s quality of life We urge elected officials to seize this opportunity to adopt smarter traffic solutions that better support the long-term health of our local economy and safeguard our irreplaceable public lands creating a legacy of responsible growth for future generations.” “BLM’s proposed denial of a four-lane high-speed highway through BLM-managed public lands eliminates the primary threat to the desert tortoise and recreation within Zone 3 of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area,” said Todd Tucci senior attorney with Advocates for the West the threats from residential development remain to rock climbing and other recreation on state-owned lands in and around Moe’s Valley The ball is firmly in the State of Utah’s court to protect these treasured recreational lands and the State can expect a fight if it seeks to develop Moe’s Valley Final Plan Reflects Decade-Long Community Fight to Keep National Conservation Lands Intact This SEIS is a result of a settlement agreement reached in November 2023 between the federal government and plaintiffs of a lawsuit filed in 2021. The lawsuit challenged a 2021 decision by the BLM and FWS to approve a highway right-of-way through the Red Cliffs NCA The lawsuit cited violations of five federal environmental protection laws (the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act and the National Historic Preservation Act) Shortly after the settlement agreement was signed District Court remanded the 2021 approval of the right-of-way confirming that the highway would fragment sensitive wildlife habitat for threatened species reduce outdoor recreation access to the area and set a dangerous precedent for protected public lands across the US The BLM and FWS issued their draft SEIS on May 9 which initiated a 45-day comment period for public feedback as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process The BLM also held a public meeting and extended the comment period providing an opportunity for questions and feedback.  Since 2006, local residents and concerned citizens across the country have voiced opposition to the highway pointing out transportation alternatives outside of Red Cliffs NCA that would do a better job of relieving traffic congestion supporting economic growth and protecting wildlife Background on Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA):  The 44,724-acre Red Cliffs NCA is part of the larger Red Cliffs Desert Reserve that is collaboratively managed by the BLM The Reserve was established under the 1995 Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as part of a “grand compromise” to protect ~61,000 acres of public lands for the Mojave desert tortoise (listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act) while opening 300,000 acres of state and private lands for development The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was established in 2009 by Congress to “conserve and scientific resources” of the public lands within the unit.  photograph and marvel at the expansive red rock landscape.  Additional Information and Resources:  Contacts:Judi Brawer, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (208) 871-0596 (judi@suwa.org)Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed the Record of Decision for the final Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the restored Bear Ears National Monument Below is a statement from SUWA Wildlands Attorney Judi Brawer and additional information “The final plan takes important steps towards protecting Bears Ears’ unique natural and cultural landscape while at the same time providing opportunities for respectful appreciation and enjoyment of this remarkable place incorporating significant and meaningful input from Tribal Nations through the Bears Ears Commission,” said Judi Brawer Utah Governor Spencer Cox and other anti-public land adversaries continue their attacks on Bears Ears preferring extraction and destruction over management for the benefit of all Americans SUWA remains deeply committed to continuing our work to protect and defend the Monument for current and future generations.” In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a management plan to govern the Bears Ears National Monument; this is a crucial opportunity to ensure that the monument is managed for its unique and extraordinary values. During both the scoping phase and after a draft plan was released and will issue a decision in the coming months Contacts:Scott Groene, Executive Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (201) 712-5034; scott@suwa.orgGrant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (319) 427-0260; grant@suwa.org which would protect more than 8.4 million acres of federal public lands in Utah Zuni Tribal Governor Arden Kucate said “We recognize that the lands in America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act are aboriginal lands and contain the testimony of our ancestor’s space and time since time immemorial and are traditionally significant to Zuni heritage.” “These lands include the prehistoric habitation sites artifacts and human remains of our Thlewekwe ancestors,” stated Councilman Edward Wemytewa “These lands are of cultural importance to many people including the Zuni Tribe and other Pueblo Tribes.”Governor Kucate added along with the cultural and historic record of the legacy of the Zuni peoples could be harmed. Our approach to life is an all-encompassing effort to protect the environment for the benefit of all mankind. We find that America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act is an important part of that effort.” “We greatly appreciate the Zuni Tribe’s endorsement of the Red Rock bill,” said SUWA Executive Director Scott Groene the Zuni Tribe is leading in protecting lands in southern Utah including their work for the establishment of the Bears Ears National Monument.” “Defending America’s Wilderness is crucial to ensuring the vital ecosystems and sacred lands across the Southwest and the country remain stable and protected in collaboration with Tribes,” said Representative Melanie Stansbury “I am proud to sponsor America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act in the U.S House and to have the endorsement of Zuni Pueblo We must continue to work together to ensure these special places are permanently protected.” the Trump administration announced the nomination of Kathleen Sgamma to lead the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM); this role will require confirmation by the U.S Below is a statement from SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill and additional information.  “Anyone who loves Utah’s redrock wilderness and our nation’s wildest public lands should be appalled by fossil fuel enthusiast Kathleen Sgamma’s nomination for BLM Director The agency is mandated by Congress to bring a balanced and holistic approach to its management of federal public lands – not the extractive and short-sighted approach that Sgamma has so enthusiastically advocated time and time again,” said Travis Hammill Utah’s redrock will be under unprecedented threat but SUWA and our supporters across the country and in Congress will work tirelessly to ensure that these remarkable landscapes remain wild and protected.” SUWA won several long-pending administrative challenges this spring to three separate Trump-era oil and gas leasing decisions the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made in 2019 and 2020 SUWA’s protests challenged the BLM’s decisions to sell 73 oil and gas leases for development on public lands throughout Utah The proposed lease parcels contain important resource values including lands with wilderness characteristics and wildlife habitat Energy development on the parcels would have destroyed those values the Utah Deputy State Director agreed that the BLM’s prior leasing analyses did not properly consider the climate change and greenhouse gas effects of selling the parcels for development She directed the agency to reject the still-pending lease offers the BLM will not issue any of the protested parcels and the public lands they overlay are no longer in immediate danger of development Wiping the slate clean of these parcels is a huge victory for Utah’s wild places and wildlife The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) shocked conservationists earlier this summer when it reaffirmed Trump-era decisions to issue oil and gas leases in Utah’s San Rafael Desert One lease in particular is especially problematic since it is located within what is now the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness the Trump administration’s BLM rushed to issue a lease to drill in the heart of Labyrinth Canyon just 12 days before Congress designated the area as wilderness in the John D and Recreation Act—a designation that prohibits new leasing The Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness is bounded on the east by the Green River and on the south by Canyonlands National Park and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area The Labyrinth Canyon stretch of the Green River abuts the lease and passes through Bowknot Bend on its way to the confluence with the Colorado River This stretch of river is one of the most iconic and world-renowned segments of river in the United States.The BLM’s decision to reaffirm this lease effectively puts the Biden administration’s stamp of approval on the disaster that was the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda despite congressional wilderness designation and with time quickly running out on the Trump administration the agency scurried to slip its allies a last-minute handout by rushing through a decision to authorize drilling on the Labyrinth Canyon lease SUWA and our partners challenged that approval in federal court in Washington DC and initially stopped the drilling project but the court eventually allowed the development to proceed The Biden administration’s decision to reaffirm the lease keeps the threat of future development in the wilderness area alive The Biden BLM’s decision also reaffirmed 50 additional leases the Trump administration sold in the surrounding San Rafael Desert It is distressing to see the Biden administration bless Trump-era leasing decisions that were so rushed and so wrong SUWA is reviewing this decision and will do whatever we can to protect this matchless landscape.—Landon Newell The above articles first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of our Redrock Wilderness newsletter. Become a member to receive our print newsletter in your mailbox 3 times a year Trump Administration Begins Attacks on National Monuments protects over 200,000 acres of national forest land “ and provides protection to tribal ancestral homelands and the headwaters of vital sources of water.” Photo: Chuckwalla National Monument (BLM photo) Motorized Groups Sue Over San Rafael Swell Travel Plan Mass Firings Throw Federal Workforce into Disarray Last month the Elon Musk-led Office of Personnel Management began its mass firing campaign affecting more than 24,000 federal workers including roughly 2,000 at the Interior Department and hundreds at the Environmental Protection Agency and last week two federal judges ordered the reinstatement of thousands of employees across 18 government agencies—rulings that have already been appealed by the Trump administration The federal firings have left a wake of confusion and uncertainty for public servants who SUWA issued the following statement on February 23rd: There are tens of thousands of federal workers in Utah These career staff—who live and work in both rural and urban parts of our state—have dedicated their lives to a mission of service on behalf of the common good: America’s federal public lands It’s also completely unacceptable that Utah’s congressional delegation and state elected leaders are either standing idly by or cheering on Musk’s threats and intimidation tactics These federal workers are our friends and neighbors; they have our support and respect at this critical time >> Read our full press statement Photo © Geoff Livingston (Wikimedia Commons) Land Exchange Finalized for Protected Areas in San Rafael Swell The Dingell Act designated 663,000 acres of BLM-managed wilderness in Utah’s Emery County and designated the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area and Jurassic National Monument It also established a process for exchanging TLA lands out of designated wilderness and the 217,000-acre recreation area “The Dingell Act Land Exchange will result in stronger protections for the outstanding San Rafael Swell in southern Utah,” said SUWA DC Director Travis Hammill “It ensures the long-term protection of designated wilderness areas in Emery County—federal public lands that will no longer be at risk from the threat of development and inconsistent management that comes with a checkerboard pattern of state and federal land ownership.” >> Read our full press statement Make Your Commitment to Wilderness a Lasting One and know that you can modify or cancel anytime Agency greenlights controversial drilling permits near the entrance to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park; also allows Potash and Lithium mining near Labyrinth Canyon threatening Green and Colorado Rivers the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) placed famed southern Utah redrock landscapes in the crosshairs of industrial development  “Today’s decisions by the BLM completely fail to give this remarkable landscape the respect it deserves,” said Landon Newell “Rather than holding this bad actor (A1 Lithium) to account for their past unauthorized actions BLM has instead given them the green light to proceed large-scale mining will permanently destroy this landscape and the over-stressed Colorado River cannot support new SUWA intends to closely review these decisions and take all appropriate steps to protect this remarkable redrock landscape.” we’ve defended the landscape surrounding Canyonlands National Park from oil and gas development that same landscape and the water flowing into the park face new threats from industrial mining operations,” said Erika Pollard campaign director for the Southwest region at the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) “The precarious proximity of this drilling near both Canyonlands and Labyrinth Canyon of the Green River is just the start With over 20,000 mine claims near Utah’s national parks and monuments we urge the Bureau of Land Management to engage the National Park Service early and often in siting decisions Greater discretion should ensure development does not turn national park landscapes into industrial zones.”  the main attraction to Utah’s Labyrinth Canyon is being taken into the spellbinding wild scenery on a healthy The BLM’s decision to approve drilling permits adjacent to Dead Horse Point State Park and the Labyrinth Canyon proposed wilderness areas unquestionably threatens this experience and the integrity of one of Utah’s most popular and beloved landscapes,” said Cody Perry associate director of Living Rivers Colorado Riverkeeper “These projects require millions of gallons of water from an already over-allocated Colorado River Basin As with any major water project in the arid West fundamental questions about water availability more unpredictable hydrologic reality we are experiencing must be seriously scrutinized.”   Additional details about each project and resources can be found below.   About the permits to drill for lithium near the entrance to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park  With today’s decision, BLM approved A1 Lithium’s drilling permits even though the company has previously conducted unauthorized activity on these same public lands in Utah. As detailed by SUWA in a recent letter to the BLM About the proposal to develop Utah’s iconic Labyrinth Canyon region for potash and lithium In 2023, the BLM took much-needed steps to protect the rugged and stunningly scenic Labyrinth Canyon from off-road vehicle damage short-sighted decision—in the very same landscape—undoes that progress and will lead to new development permanently scarring this remarkable landscape Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org Industry joins multiple anti-public land efforts by Utah state officials and others to keep management scales tipped in favor of development and are now engaging to defend it from attacks.   Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), and The Wilderness Society (TWS) are represented by Advocates for the West, SUWA, and Kaplan Kirsch LLP “This lawsuit – like the state of Utah’s challenge to the Rule –  is out of touch with the majority of Utahns who support conservation and know climate change is a serious problem,” said Stephen Bloch Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Legal Director “Utah is predicted to be hit particularly hard by the impacts of a hotter The Public Lands Rule gives BLM and the public a framework and important tools to begin work to stem the tide.”   “This lawsuit is a clear attempt by extractive industries to maintain their stranglehold on our public lands for private benefit,” said Todd Tucci Senior Attorney with Advocates for the West “It’s long past time for BLM to address the pervasive degradation caused by extraction and fully implement the common-sense Public Lands Rule to ensure the ecological health and resilience of our public lands This industry attempt to block BLM from fulfilling that statutory obligation – critical to meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing climate – should be rejected.” and other extractive industries have joined the torrent of litigation launched by anti-public lands states to keep the rules governing management of public lands permanently tipped in their favor,” said Alison Flint Senior Legal Director at The Wilderness Society “The BLM Public Lands Rule seeks to balance management of public lands as Congress intended almost a half-century ago.  Unfortunately it’s no surprise that industry groups are piling on with more meritless claims opposing balanced management These cases should be dismissed to ensure that the agency adheres to the law that was put in place by Congress fifty years ago.” “This lawsuit against the Rule appears to be motivated by a puzzling fear of implementing existing law – the Federal Land Policy and Management Act – and an unwillingness to recognize today’s realities,” said Charlotte Overby Vice President of Conservation Field Programs at the Conservation Lands Foundation “This new guidance will improve ecological and climate resilience and provide the tools managers need to restore habitat from wildfires It also keeps important recreation areas – that are local economic engines – open and accessible to the public Supporters of the Public Lands Rule include legal experts and governors who participated in a robust public process and more than 90% of public comments were in support of this sensible Rule.” in three other lawsuits filed by the states of Alaska and Montana challenging the Public Lands Rule The Public Lands Rule went into effect in June after a year-long process to engage the public in its development establishes a “framework to ensure healthy landscapes The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect nearly 112 million acres of wilderness in 44 states and ensure public lands’ sound management