Utah citizen Op-Eds and LTEs:
“We have a fine line here in Moab — our surroundings include not just the land, water and animals, but also people, and our economy, all working together to form a unique, interconnected ecosystem. If the land suffers, the economy suffers. If the economy suffers, we all suffer. In order to thrive, we have to protect our surroundings, our tourism industry and our rivers. Designating Greater Canyonlands National Monument would help.” – Edgar Fuentes, Moab Sun News Letter-to-the-Editor, October 22, 2014
“My experiences in the Greater Canyonlands have helped solidify my belief in the inherent value of this amazing place. If Congress won’t do its part, then I ask President Obama to step in and permanently protect the Greater Canyonlands as a national monument. It’s an area worth protecting for ourselves as well as for future generations.” – Sarah Karlinsey, Provo Herald Extra Opinion-Editorial, October 14, 2014
“Greater Canyonlands is a part of the America our veterans signed up to defend. Protecting this world-class landscape would not only preserve an area of unparalleled scenic beauty, it would help to foster a healthy America and protect a refuge for those in need of healing. ” – Michael Cumming, Huffington Post Opinion-Editorial, September 11, 2014
“In the long run it’s a good thing. My grand kids can have a good place to go that’s not completely ravaged.” – Silas Rappe, Moab Sun News Poll, August 27, 2014
“Canyonlands must not be treated as some boom-and-bust town, exploited into oblivion until its resources are depleted, with the profiteers then moving on. This land needs sanctuary from the fossil-fuel and chemical extractors — industries that often think only of short-term profits.” – Jim Dabakis, The Salt Lake Tribune Commentary, August 22, 2014
“There is a better approach to protecting Utah tourism. Support the creation of a Greater Canyonlands National Monument. Examples of this successful approach to protect natural treasures include the expansion of the Grand Teton National Park via its sagebrush flats addition and the creation of Arches National Park.” – John Hoener, Deseret News Letter-to-the-Editor, July 5, 2014
“Ten out of Utah’s 13 National Park System units were initially established by presidential proclamation. Sometimes we need presidents to act with vision to protect places even when there is some local opposition. History shows that even local naysayers often change their mind.” – James Thompson, Deseret News Letter-to-the-Editor, May 31, 2014
“When I came back to the bridge table after dislocating my shoulder skiing, a dentist said, ‘Vi, if you don’t use it, you lose it.’ This can be applied to Greater Canyonlands area. These public lands belong to all of us. If we don’t permanently protect them, we lose them.” – Violet Schwartz Corkle, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, July 17, 2013
“But it’s worth noting that the Greater Canyonlands region is owned by all Americans, not just westerners, not just Utahns, and certainly not just Grand County officials. Everyone from Maine to Montana has a say in how these iconic lands should be managed, whether they’re meeting with Rob Bishop or not.” – Marc Thomas, Moab Sun Times Guest Column, July 11, 2013
“Canyonlands is the one National Park in Utah that was not first a National Monument. By the birth of the Park in 1964, congress had given into familiar political pressure (Utah’s Governor Clyde suggesting that the area shouldn’t be ‘locked up’ as we might need all that sandstone one day for ‘building material”) boundaries had been significantly reduced from what Udall envisioned. President Obama can now use his powers to expand this unique, spectacular, wild landscape to its natural boundaries by signing into law The Greater Canyonlands National Monument. This would make sense.” – Brooke Williams, Moab Sun News Columnist, April 24, 2013
“President Barack Obama and Ken Salazar have made good use of the Antiquities Act in the creation of five more national monuments. The San Juan Islands are splendid, and I look forward to visiting the new Rio Grande Del Norte addition as well. While Salazar is on his way out, a couple of more additions would be nice. Utah has benefited from this political climate before.” – Dustin Erickson, Salt Lake City Weekly Letter-to-the-Editor, April 24, 2013
“The Antiquities Act has brought positive benefits to people and communities across the United States. Rather than attacking this valuable tool, our elected leaders should be demanding that the president use it to preserve other deserving landscapes. Greater Canyonlands — the magnificent landscape surrounding Canyonlands National Park and encompassing Natural Bridges National Monument — would be a great next step.” – Bret Webster, The Salt Lake Tribune Op-Ed, April 13, 2013
“On the other hand, choice destinations continually strengthen surrounding communities. This important lesson underscores the need for a Greater Canyonlands National Monument.” – Aaron Jones, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, April 7, 2013
“Barack Obama should sign legislation to protect Greater Canyonlands. Future generations hundreds of years from now will thank him for it.” – Henry Wolking, Salt Lake City Weekly Letter-to-the-Editor, April 3, 2013
“Earlier this year, Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake, introduced a resolution calling on Congress and President Obama to protect the Greater Canyonlands here in Utah. As someone who has grown up and continues to live on the doorstep of a national park, and whose family and neighbors have prospered from the park’s existence, I think Dabakis and his colleagues have a great idea.” – Louise Excell, Deseret News Op-Ed, April 2, 2013
“Experience has demonstrated the wisdom of protecting special places by creating national monuments on lands and waters already owned by the American people. These unique and irreplaceable natural treasures, like Greater Canyonlands, tell the story of our past and can help shape the experiences of future generations. We need to protect them so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy and learn from them too.” – Marion Klaus, Park Record Letter-to-the-Editor, March 30, 2013
“The conclusion seems obvious: the passage of time allows the benefits of federally protected lands – including the economic ones – to become apparent. If you adopt the perspective of 2064, the same will probably be true of Greater Canyonlands National Monument.” – Lew Hinchman, The Moab Times-Independent, March 7, 2013
“But the desert does not only mark my life. This alluring and eerie place we call the canyonlands is an inseparable part of our small community of Moab. I know the desert wild feeds the souls of so many of my fellow Moabites. It is such an inseparable part of our community’s way of life, and also of our economy. It needs protection.” – Bettymaya Foote, The Moab Times-Independent Letter-to-the-Editor, February 28, 2013
“A recent poll demonstrated that large majorities of Westerners including Utahns support protection of public lands for recreation, even above mineral extraction. Instead of firing off a letter to the President, let’s initiate an open and transparent process, a dialogue, if you will. Let the State Legislature, the County Councils and Commissions, and the citizens—locally and nationally, have their say.” – Jean Binyon, Moab Sun News Letter-to-the-Editor, February 28, 2013
“Now, what many of us would like to see is for the current president to do what only three presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama (Nixon, Reagan, and H.W.) haven’t done to use the Antiquities Act to protect places of national historic and scientific value. In this case, that would be to designate Greater Canyonlands as a national monument.” – Jay Meehan, Park Record Columnist, February 26, 2013
“I applaud Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, for working to protect our public lands for future generations by introducing SJR10 (“Utah Democrats call for Greater Canyonlands protections” (Tribune, Feb. 6). By protecting the area, we guarantee access for recreation users and preserve the sanctity of these areas. Failure to do so makes them vulnerable to polluting extractive industries and short-term profiteers, locking out public access.” – Cara H. Dolan, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, February 17, 2013
“I strongly support Senator Dabakis’ joint resolution urging the protection of Greater Canyonlands. I want to know it is preserved for the enjoyment of generations to come. For the sake of those to follow us, and in honor of those who preceded us, I hope all Utahns will join me.” – Mike Abdo, Deseret News Letter-to-the-Editor, February 11, 2013
“I live and have owned businesses in Escalante. The protection of the lands in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has been so important to southern Utah over the past 10 years. My business grew every year in a down economy because of the monument. Americans yearn for the beauty of the wilderness. Protecting Greater Canyonlands will be equally good for thatarea and for the economy of the entire state.” – Steve Roberts, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, February 9, 2013
“As a recreationalist and biologist, I urge the president to use his authority to safeguard special places like Greater Canyonlands, which includes over 950 species of desert plants, nearly 300 perennial springs, and a wide variety of wildlife, including mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, and more! Lands like these conserve the essential fabric of the West by playing a role in protecting lands, water, and wildlife for future generations.” – Marion Klaus, The Park Record Letter-to-the-Editor, February 9, 2013
“But the Greater Canyonlands region adjacent to Canyonlands National Park deserves to be the subject of a discussion about how to preserve this scenic part of southeast Utah for future generations to enjoy.” – The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial, February 9, 2013
“Yahoo! Tuesday, Feb. 5, Senator Jim Dabakis, a Democrat from Senate District 2, and Representative Patrice Arent, a Democrat from House District 36, announced an incredibly important joint resolution calling for protection of our Greater Canyonlands. It’s ‘our Greater Canyonlands’ as in mine, yours, Utah’s, and all in our United States.” – Diana Allison, Ogden Standard-Examiner Letter-to-the-Editor, February 6, 2013
“The proposed Greater Canyonlands National Monument will not limit access, but will ensure that the lands remain public. The monument process will require the development of a management plan that includes input from the public and all stakeholders. It will not lock out the public or senior citizens.” – Violet Schwartz Corkle, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, January 2, 2013
“Decreasing dust creation in large ecosystems by protecting them via national monument status — such as the proposed Greater Canyonlands National Monument — would be a significant water conservation step in the right direction.” – Jeff Clay, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, December 29, 2012
“Considering we can’t fully fund Utah’s remarkable state parks, how do you plan to manage 30 million more acres of state lands without selling or leasing it to the highest bidder? Evidently, the Legislature cannot be depended upon to consider the broader constituency of Utahns. Therefore, obtaining a monument designation for Greater Canyonlands through the Antiquities Act seems to be the most reasonable and visionary approach to land management in Utah.” – Steven M. Thiese, Op-Ed Deseret News, December 26, 2012
“Permanent protection for Greater Canyonlands through national monument designation would not only preserve the beautiful canyons and unique wildlife, it would be a step toward mitigating the deposition of dust-on-snow that has reduced flows in the Colorado River.” – Marion Klaus, The Salt Lake Tribune Op-Ed, December 22, 2012
“Protecting greater Canyonlands with a national monument would preserve a place of unparalleled beauty. It would sustain the recreation and tourism economy that is so important to the region.” – DeeAnn Downing, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, November 28, 2012
“Recently, I stood at the Needles Overlook, viewing the entirety of Canyonlands and surroundings. Roads and accompanying responsible use are fine. What must be avoided are drill rigs and pipelines in Lockhart Basin or tar sands strip mines in the Orange Cliffs. Is development happening now? No. But technologies and our need for carbon fuels are advancing. A well-managed monument allows for motor vehicles and provides a buffer to the parks.” – Andy Nettell, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, November 24, 2012
“I encourage everyone who has an interest in protecting our natural heritage and enhancing our economy, which should be all Utah citizens, to support the outdoor recreation business community by protecting the Greater Canyonlands as a national monument.” – Brooks Pace, Deseret News Op-Ed, November 20, 2012
“I have a dream that President Barack Obama whips out a pen, signs the order creating the Greater Canyonlands National Monument and thus preserves some of the most beautiful lands in the world.” – Peg McIntee, The Salt Lake Tribune Columnist, November 16, 2012
“What can Utahns learn from Chimney Rock? The issues and scope are different, but the principles of wise stewardship, seeking the greatest benefit for the greatest number, taking the long view, and striving for partnership are the same. This is the bedrock upon which to build a Greater Canyonlands National Monument for us all.” – Jeff Clay, The Salt Lake Tribune Op-Ed, October 6, 2012
“I want future generations to have that experience of magic and imagination: exploring a place as old and untouched as the wild West. I don’t want the experience of wild to be only through daydreams. This is why I plead for more protection of greater Canyonlands.” – McKenzie Carlisle, The Salt Lake Tribune Letter-to-the-Editor, June 24, 2012
