Issues

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

The 1.9 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante has claimed its place as a crown jewel of our nation’s public lands. It was the first monument managed by the BLM to specifically prioritize conservation of cultural, ecological, and scientific values, and it is now world-renowned for its remarkable paleontological discoveries, stunning scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems.

© Jack Dykinga

BLM Releases Draft Management Plan

Sunset Arch, GSENM (James Kay)

With Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument now restored to its original boundaries, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has begun the process of developing a new management plan. This is a rare opportunity to ensure that the monument is managed for its unique and extraordinary values, as the plans won’t be revised again for decades. The BLM released its draft plan in August and announced a 90-day public comment period. It’s important that people like you, who know and love this wild landscape, take time to participate in the planning process. Join our email list (or check back here soon) for further details plus tips on how to most effectively make your voice heard. (Photo © James Kay)

Public Meetings Announced

The BLM is seeking public comments on the draft monument management plan and has announced a schedule of public meetings, all taking place this fall.

A virtual public scoping meeting is scheduled as follows:

Additionally, the BLM invites members of the public to attend in-person public engagement meetings on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 4th, from 6-8 pm, Kanab Center, Ballroom A, 20 N 100 E, Kanab, UT
  • Tuesday, Oct. 17th, from 6-8 pm, Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S West Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT
  • Wednesday, Oct. 18th, from 6-8 pm, Panguitch Elementary School Gymnasium, 110 S 100 W, Panguitch, UT

The “Science Monument” and So Much More

The 1.9 million-acre Grand Staircase-Escalante has claimed its place as a crown jewel of our nation’s public lands. It was the first monument managed by the BLM to specifically prioritize conservation of cultural, ecological, and scientific values, and it is now world-renowned for its remarkable paleontological discoveries, stunning scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems.

Since its original establishment in 1996, heightened protections for its geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, 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. More than 25 years later, 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, paleontological, and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau.

Repeal and Restoration

On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and repealed Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, slashing it by 47 percent. Thankfully, on October 8th, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries.

Podcast:
All You Need to Know About Grand Staircase-Escalante RMP

This episode’s guest is SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld, who is heading up SUWA’s official comments on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In non-legal terms, she explains the process for monument planning and helps us understand how to effectively engage in making the final plan a guiding document we can all be proud of.

 

Grand Staircase-Escalante Gallery

Escalante Canyon at dawn. © Jack Dykinga
Deer Creek ,Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. © Jack Dykinga
Cockscomb, Grand Staircase-Escalante. © Tim Peterson
Calf Creek Falls. © Jeff Foott
Sunrise on Circle Cliffs at top of Long Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah.

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