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

Next Up: A 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 once-in-a generation opportunity to ensure that the monument is managed for its unique and extraordinary values, as the plans won’t be revised again for decades. That’s why it’s so important that people like you, who know and love this wild landscape, take time to participate in the planning process. The scoping period is now closed (thanks to all who submitted comments!) and we now await the draft plan. We’ll let you know when the next opportunity for public input arises. (Photo © James Kay)

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On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and repealed Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, slashing it by 47 percent.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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