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Blog Archives
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March 14th, 2019
In this episode of Wild Utah, we discuss SUWA’s field volunteer program, which gets folks working outside across Utah to preserve and enhance the lands we’re fighting to protect. We work directly with the BLM and Forest Service to identify and implement projects that focus on wilderness and habitat preservation, cultural resource protection, and restoration of damage caused by off-road vehicles. Join us for the discussion, then come join us in the field by visiting SUWA.org/join-service-project.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, Listeners 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.
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March 12th, 2019The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has an immediate opening for a full-time Development Associate in its Salt Lake City office. Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, a writing sample (original work), and 3 references to Scott Groene, Executive Director, at scott@suwa.org. The deadline for submission is March 27th, 2019.
Reports to: Executive Director and Administrative Director
Job Description Summary:
The Development Assistant (DA) is responsible for ensuring SUWA meets its annual and long term income and membership goals by working with and at the direction of the Executive Director to oversee and implement the organization’s fundraising and membership building programs.
The DA collaborates with the Membership Coordinator and is supervised on a day-to-day basis by the Administrative Director.
There is the potential for the person holding this position to be promoted to the Development Director position.
Responsibilities Include:
Implements established development program: Ensures the efficient and effective use of established tools for raising money and adding members including preparing an annual development calendar and plan; online fundraising asks, renewal letters, appeal letters, and annual report.
Major donor relationships: Builds loyalty with major supporters by acknowledging gifts through letters and phone calls. Arranges the Executive Director’s travel to visit major donors.
Foundation Fundraising: Tracks deadlines and writes and submits proposals and reports, in coordination with the Executive Director.
Membership: Builds SUWA’s membership numbers and loyalty by working with the Membership Coordinator on direct mail, possible canvas, online and other tools. Responsible for organizing regular member events.
Development programs: Capable of gaining expertise in databases and ensures SUWA’s database is up-to-date and accurate.
Other responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate:
-Has good listening and communication skills, and effectively conveys information verbally;
-Has strong writing skills;
-Has analytical skills with the ability to interpret, record, and learn from the results of on-line and mail requests and determine corrections;
-Is a flexible team player who thrives in an environment which requires prioritizing and juggling multiple concurrent projects and meets all deadlines;
-Has a strong work ethic with a positive attitude;
-Is passionate about protecting wilderness;
-Outgoing, enjoys talking with people and meeting new people.
This position will start at $36,000 per year; with paid health insurance; a 3.5% contribution to a 403b plan; 13 paid holidays; 3 weeks of vacation to start; and other benefits. (Benefits begin after a 60 day probation period.)
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March 11th, 2019FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLM Withdraws Permit for Helicopter Shuttles Near Bighorn Habitat Outside of Moab Following SUWA Appeal
Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, 435-259-5440, kya@suwa.org
Moab, UT (March 11, 2019) – The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Moab field office has withdrawn a multi-year special recreation permit authorizing a private helicopter company to shuttle customers in and out of Mineral Bottom, south of Labyrinth Canyon and north of Canyonlands National Park in the Green River corridor.
The permit withdrawal comes as the result of an appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals filed by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), challenging BLM’s previous decision to authorize these landings.
In response to the permit withdrawal, SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld issued the following statement:
“The BLM’s withdrawal of this helicopter landing permit is a big victory for wildlife and solitude in the Green River corridor. The best available science shows that bighorn sheep are particularly sensitive to helicopter traffic compared to other aircraft, and even the occasional close overflight could have driven the native population of bighorn from its habitat in the side canyons of the Green River.
“The BLM’s original decision to grant this commercial permit would have increased helicopter traffic that could have severely disrupted the sheep’s breeding and lambing cycle, perhaps causing them to abandon the area altogether.
“While the BLM should never have granted the permit in the first place, we are glad to see the BLM correct their error and withdraw the permit.”
The permit, originally issued in August, 2018, would have allowed Pinnacle Helicopters, LLC to shuttle passengers during the boating season to a backcountry airstrip in Mineral Bottom that currently has no commercial helicopter traffic. The repeated helicopter shuttles would have brought increased noise and disruption to the adjacent Hell Roaring, Spring, and Tenmile Canyons — all of which are critical lambing and rutting habitat for a rare native population of desert bighorn sheep.
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March 1st, 2019**IMMEDIATE OPENING**
SUWA Service Project Coordinator [Independent Contractor]
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the outstanding wilderness throughout Utah 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 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.
Job Description Summary:
The Service Project Coordinator is an independent contractor position focused on volunteer project facilitation on public lands in Utah. Projects address impacts to wilderness values on federal lands. The Coordinator is responsible for the execution of all assigned service projects and for ensuring that projects achieve established goals. On site, the Coordinator will also serve as liaison between volunteers and federal land managers. The candidate should have extensive guiding or leadership experience in outdoor settings, and an understanding of the challenges of teaching, learning and building community in remote and backcountry settings. The Coordinator will play a key role in collecting data that will be used for ongoing service project proposal development. Relevant tech and software will be provided. The position involves consecutive long and difficult days, extensive periods of time in remote regions, rigorous physical activity, and substantial amounts of backcountry driving, often on rugged and technical four-wheel-drive roads. The Coordinator reports directly to SUWA’s Service Program Director.
Responsibilities:- On-site coordination and facilitation of service projects between April and October.
- Logistics and preparations relevant to project work, including:
- Upkeep of tool/supply inventory, including regular vehicle maintenance;
- Procurement and preparation of all meals provided to volunteers;
- Direct communication with Program Director, agency staff and volunteer group;
- On-site Leave No Trace & safety trainings for all volunteers.
- Efficient data entry before and after service projects.
- Perform site monitoring and assessments of impacts to wilderness values.
- Provide timely reports and updates and meet regularly with Program Director.
Requisite Skills:
- Leave No Trace Backcountry Ethics training (Master Educator certification preferred).
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) orBasic Wilderness Life Support (BWLS) certification (Must be active).
- Education and/or field experiences related to public lands or wilderness management.
- Experience guiding, leading or working in wilderness or backcountry settings, including knowledge and proficiency in backcountry travel and route-finding.
- Experience managing diverse groups in challenging circumstances and outdoor settings.
- Experience driving on rugged, four-wheel-drive roads in remote locations, as well as experience dealing with unexpected vehicle issues.
- Ability to implement field data collection protocols accurately and completely, with initiative, attention to detail, and an ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to hike, sometimes for long distances, for multiple and often consecutive days.
- Ability to spend more than 3-5 consecutive days at a time in remote locations without cell phone service.
- Ability to work in all types of weather conditions, including harsh and often high- temperature desert environments.
- Demonstrated commitment to wilderness preservation and advocacy.
- Commitment to working a flexible, needs-driven schedule, March through October 2019.
- Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.
- Prior experience with wilderness inventory and monitoring protocols desirable but not required.
Location:
Preferably based out of Moab, Utah, with extensive travel throughout the state.Compensation:
SUWA offers competitive pay, based on relevant experience.Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter addressed to Jeremy Lynch at hiring@suwa.org. Any questions should be directed to hiring@suwa.org. We will begin reviewing applications on March 5th, 2019 and will review additional applications on a rolling basis. We will accept applications until the position is filled.
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.
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February 26th, 2019We’re delighted to tell you that the Emery County Public Land Management Act just passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the president’s desk for his signature. (Yes, he’s expected to sign.)
Take a moment to appreciate just how historic this victory is.
For more than twenty years, the Utah delegation has put forward lousy bills that would have sold the San Rafael Swell short. SUWA opposed all those bills. And now, after a year-long fight, what began again as terrible legislation will instead extend much-needed protection to some of Utah’s most beloved redrock landscapes—places like Muddy Creek and parts of Desolation and Labyrinth Canyons.
Muddy Creek wilderness in the San Rafael Swell. Copyright Ray Bloxham/SUWA
This happened because of people like you. Your emails, phone calls, and contributions made the difference—showing our congressional allies and opponents alike that the American people care about protecting Utah wilderness.
Thanks to you and our Utah Wilderness Coalition allies—the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council—we’ve made this legislation deserving of the places protected.
The result? 663,000 acres of wilderness will now be protected in Emery County! (Click here to view our story map showing what the bill protects.)
We’re grateful to our congressional champions, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA 47), who each challenged an earlier, flawed version of the bill—flaws that have now been largely addressed.
These lands belong to all Americans, and wilderness bills like this one can only succeed if Utah politicians recognize the national significance of their protection.
To be sure, there are still lands in Emery County and elsewhere deserving of protection, and we will continue to work every day to protect all of Utah’s magnificent redrock wilderness.
But today, it’s time to celebrate.
Thank you for being a critical part of the movement to protect Utah wilderness.
If you live in Utah, please call Representative John Curtis’ office at 202-225-7751, and Sen. Mitt Romney at (202) 224-5251 and thank them for seeing this legislation through.
If you live in California, please call Representative Lowenthal’s’ office at 202-225-7924 and thank him for his hard work to enact this legislation.