Blog Archives

  • Statement on Senators Lee and Romney’s Introduction of Anti-Antiquities “PURE” Act

    January 10th, 2019

    Moab, UT (January 10, 2019) – In response to the introduction by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) of the Protect Utah’s Rural Economy (PURE) Act, which would limit the ability of the president to protect landscapes in Utah through the use of the Antiquities Act, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) executive director Scott Groene issued the following statement:

    “This bill is just the latest in a long line of extremist anti-conservation bills put forth by some members of the Utah delegation. The short-sightedness of the Act should be expected from Senator Lee, but it is extremely disappointing to see one of Senator Romney’s first acts in Congress be such unconsidered parroting of worn-out anti-environmental talking points.

    “Four out of five of Utah’s national parks started out as national monuments, and two of the crown jewels of our public lands — Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments — were protected using the Antiquities Act. All of these protections were opposed by Utah politicians with no vision for the future.

    “SUWA will fight this bill and any attempt by the Utah delegation to undermine the right of Americans to protect their public lands.”

  • From the Ground Up — 2019 Field Volunteer Opportunities

    January 8th, 2019

    A new season is upon us and there is work to be done! Visit our Upcoming Projects listing to preview the year’s first round of service trips. Then check back regularly for new project listings. Planning a visit to Utah in 2019? Join as a crew member and serve with SUWA in the field!

    Wilderness Steward Initiative
    In February, we will host the second annual Wilderness Steward Training in Washington County. In 2019, we will expand the Wilderness Steward Initiative statewide. Join our team of dedicated volunteers monitoring protected lands in communities across southern Utah. Take recreation to the next level — reconnaissance — and work with us to ensure our wild and public lands are in keen and watchful hands. View the flyer below for an overview of 2019 volunteer positions, then visit our Service Program website to learn more and submit your application.

    To discuss scheduling a Wilderness Steward training in your county or community, contact volunteer@suwa.org or call (435) 259-9151.

  • Happy Solstice!

    December 21st, 2018

    The Winter Solstice has always been a time of celebration and reflection.

    Here at SUWA, some of our most meaningful moments have taken place in the redrock. Whether viewing ancient petroglyphs, floating muddy rivers with family and friends, or wandering solo in the canyons, one can’t help but be touched deeply by the beauty of the precious wilderness that belongs to us all.

    And because of the support of thousands of people like you, the canyons are still wild, peaceful, and stirring to the soul.

    Please, consider making a year-end donation to SUWA today.

    Snow Covered Fins, Proposed Behind-the-Rocks BLM Wilderness, Utah La Sal Mountains beyond. Photo (c) Tom Till.

    We at SUWA live to protect the redrock. You know this. We stand up to the greed and scare tactics of Utah’s politicians, and to President Trump’s “Energy Dominance” agenda. We challenge the federal agencies when they seek to lease lands that should be protected as wilderness to oil and gas companies, or when they clearcut pinyon and juniper forests to create more forage for cattle and big game species.

    Defending Utah wilderness is what we do — but we can’t do it without the support of people like you.

    Join thousands of others in protecting Utah wilderness by making a contribution to SUWA today.

    The end of the longest night heralds a shift to brighter days. With your support, we can ensure that those days include the same redrock country and opportunities for solitude we know today, for us and for generations to come.

    Thank you for your support, and Happy Solstice.

  • Wild Utah Podcast, Episode 3: A Clearcut by Any Other Name….

    December 17th, 2018

    Welcome to the SUWA podcast, Wild Utah!

    Dave Pacheco speaks with SUWA’s Kya Marienfeld and Wild Utah Project’s Allison Jones about the Utah BLM’s ecologically destructive practice of “chaining” — or, in the BLM’s vernacular, “vegetation treatment.” This practice of mechanically removing trees, shrubs and virtually all vegetation from otherwise healthy pinion-juniper forests — often to benefit domestic livestock — is being challenged by conservationists as an extreme overreaction to a non-existent problem.

    Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” is written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin. Wild Utah is recorded at the studio of KRCL 90.9 FM, Community Radio of Utah in Salt Lake City. Our producer is Jerry Schmidt. We thank you all for generously donating your time, equipment and talent to Wild Utah.

  • Job Opening: Travel Management Campaign Director

    December 17th, 2018

    Immediate Opening (12/17/18)

    The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), Utah’s largest conservation organization, has an immediate opening for a full-time Travel Management Campaign Director in its Salt Lake City office. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, transcript, 3-5 page writing sample (original work), and 3 references to Neal Clark at hiring@suwa.org. The deadline to submit your application is January 11, 2019.

    SUWA’s Travel Management Campaign Director will be responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating of all aspects of SUWA’s motorized travel management planning campaign, with a primary emphasis on developing innovative strategies to obtain closure of priority off-road vehicle routes through the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) administrative travel planning processes. The work will focus on forthcoming travel management plans for BLM-managed public lands throughout southern and eastern Utah. These plans are being developed over the course of the next six years (2019-2024). Additional travel planning is likely for additional BLM field offices and National Park Service units in the coming years. 

    The Travel Management Campaign Director will manage all aspects of SUWA’s travel management planning work, including: developing campaign and legal strategies; coordinating travel planning-related fieldwork and managing associated data; drafting and submitting comments on travel plans throughout the NEPA process; hiring and managing seasonal fieldworkers and contractors; engaging grassroots membership and activists around planning processes; interacting with federal agency staff, scientists, and federal, state, and local elected officials; and assisting with litigation if necessary. The Travel Management Campaign Director will work closely with other staff in SUWA’s Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, D.C. offices, and will report to SUWA’s Wildlands Program Director.

    SUWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the outstanding wilderness at the heart of the Colorado Plateau, and the management of these lands in their natural state for the benefit of all Americans. SUWA promotes local and national recognition of the region’s unique character through research and public education; supports both administrative and legislative initiatives to permanently protect the Colorado Plateau wild places within the National Park and National Wilderness Preservation Systems, or by other protective designations where appropriate; builds support for such initiatives on both the local and national level; and provides leadership within the conservation movement through uncompromising advocacy for wilderness preservation.

    Travel Management Campaign Director Responsibilities

    • Develop and oversee implementation of a strategic plan to achieve travel management planning objective of closing priority off-road vehicle routes through administrative processes
    • Develop and manage travel management planning campaigns
    • Review environmental analyses and draft/submit comments on proposed travel management plans
    • Coordinate fieldwork and hire/manage seasonal fieldworkers and other contractors
    • Manage fieldwork data and GIS needs
    • Meet regularly and develop strong relationships with BLM staff in Utah
    • Communicate with the media
    • Conduct legal research and document review
    • Work closely with SUWA’s wildlands and legal teams to further project objectives
    • Coordinate with SUWA’s grassroots team to organize members and activists in support of travel management planning campaigns
    • Represent SUWA in federal court litigation of travel management plans (if necessary)

    Requirements

    • Demonstrated commitment to wilderness preservation and SUWA’s mission
    • Basic understanding of BLM travel management planning and NEPA processes
    • Excellent writing and analytical skills
    • Initiative, discipline, attention to detail, and an ability to meet deadlines 
    • Creative thinking and problem solving
    • Self-motivation
    • Ability to handle a substantial workload, which will, at times, require working nights and weekends
    • High degree of professional integrity
    • Courtesy and respect in dealing with colleagues, partners, politicians, the public, the media, and government agencies
    • Willingness to learn GIS mapping
    • Willingness to make a two-year commitment
    • Familiarity with southern Utah wildlands is preferable

    Education Requirements

    • 2-10 years experience—admitted to practice law by a state bar or willingness to sit for or waive into the Utah state bar. Non-attorney applicants with relevant qualifications are also encouraged to apply.

    Location

    • Salt Lake City, Utah—must also be willing to travel throughout Utah one or more times per month for meetings with BLM staff and grassroots activists

    Salary

    • Competitive—based on experience

    SUWA is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. SUWA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.