With Bears Ears National Monument now restored to its original boundaries, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting preliminary input (known as “scoping comments”) on how to manage the […]
Read MoreHelp Save Labyrinth Canyon: Comments Due October 21st!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on a draft travel management plan for the iconic Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges area outside of Moab. The plan will […]
Read MoreSeptember 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreStatement on State of Utah Filing Federal Lawsuit over Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bears Ears National Monuments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801-712-5034, scott@suwa.org Moab, UT (August 24, 2022) – Today, the State of Utah, along with Garfield and Kane […]
Read MoreBiden Administration Seeks Public Input on Old-Growth Forest Conservation
Last Earth Day, President Biden issued an executive order calling on the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve mature and old-growth forests as a climate solution. […]
Read MorePlanning process kicks off for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially kicked off its management planning process for the restored Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and has announced a series of public meetings—two virtual […]
Read MoreJuly 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision on West Virginia vs. EPA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Bloch, Legal Director, 801-859-1552, steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (June 30, 2022) – In response to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on West Virginia vs. […]
Read MoreJune 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreMay 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreEpiscopal Diocese of Utah Passes Resolution Supporting America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, Utah Monuments
SUWA is pleased to announce that on Friday April 29th, at their 117th annual convention, lay and clergy delegates of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah passed a Resolution in Support […]
Read MoreApril 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreThere’s Never Been a Better Time to Shake Off Fossil Fuel Dependency
More than a year ago, President Biden directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to pause all new oil and gas leasing on public lands while the agency conducted a […]
Read MoreMarch 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreStory Map: Learn More about Utah’s Paunsaugunt Region
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a motorized travel management plan for the greater Paunsaugunt area near Kanab, located just west of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and south […]
Read MoreTell the BLM to Protect Utah’s Wild Paunsaugunt Region
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a motorized travel management plan for the greater Paunsaugunt area outside of Kanab—a plan that will determine where off-road vehicle (ORV) use […]
Read MoreWhy More Fossil Fuel Leasing on Public Lands Is Not the Answer to Rising Fuel Prices
Utah Governor Cox and his pro-fossil-fuel allies are cynically trying to take advantage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to encourage President Biden to quickly lease publicly-owned lands across the United […]
Read MoreFebruary 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreBiden Leasing Pause, One Year Later: The Sky Hasn’t Fallen
It’s now been a year since President Biden issued his Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. Among other things, the order placed a pause on […]
Read MoreSenators Urge Interior Department to Protect Western Wild Lands as Part of Climate Strategy
Great news! Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland urging her department to designate new wilderness study areas as part of the Biden administration’s […]
Read MoreJanuary 2022 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 32: Devil in the Details: Planning for a Wild San Rafael Swell
What happens when new land protections and wilderness are designated? While every land management journey is different, one thing’s for sure: the devil’s in the details. The latest episode of […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 31: We Protest!
On December 4th, the state of Utah issued a multi-million dollar contract bid, furthering their plans to file a lawsuit challenging the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national […]
Read MorePlanning Process Underway for San Rafael Swell and Surrounding Public Lands
In 2019, as part of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, Congress passed the Emery County Public Land Management Act, which designated, among other things, 17 […]
Read MoreNavajo Nation Council Passes Resolution Supporting America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act!
Great news! The Navajo Nation Council has passed a resolution in support of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, a first-of-its-kind endorsement that acknowledges the role protecting public lands can play […]
Read MoreNovember 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSay It Isn’t So?! Utah Solicits Bids to Sue Over National Monuments Restoration
It’s been a month and a half since President Biden’s Rose Garden ceremony where he fully restored Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments and righted one of the most […]
Read MoreComments Needed on Oil & Gas Lease Sale Planned for Utah
Not long ago we told you about the Biden administration’s plan to auction off more than 6,600 acres of public land in Utah for oil and gas development. You may […]
Read More2021 Stewardship Year in Review: Implementing Emery County Wilderness
Over the past half-decade, our nearly 1,000 stewardship volunteers have dedicated over 11,500 hours of direct service on Utah’s public lands. If we include the travel time our volunteers have […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 30: What’s Next for Monuments
Now that we’ve collectively taken a month or so to deeply breathe in full restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments to their original boundaries: what comes next? […]
Read MoreOctober 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 29: Reimagining Recreation
Human-powered recreation is exploding on public lands throughout the west, with Southern Utah as the poster child for unsustainable growth and associated impacts to resources and user experiences. These problems […]
Read MoreHelp shape the future of Utah’s Manti-La Sal National Forest
Want a say in how the Forest Service manages public lands and mountain ecosystems outside of Moab? The Manti-La Sal National Forest, which includes distinct forest units in the La […]
Read MoreSUWA’s Response to President Biden’s Restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments
“President Biden’s restoration of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments will be hailed by generations for protecting some of the nation’s wildest and most culturally significant public lands. It’s […]
Read MoreBiden administration prepares to auction public lands for oil & gas development
Fossil fuel extraction on public lands accounts for nearly a quarter of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. These climate-altering emissions are wreaking havoc on our natural world, resulting in massive […]
Read MoreUtah Conservation Groups Call on BLM to Create Working Group to Address Rapid Growth of Non-Motorized Recreation on Public Lands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Neal Clark, Wildlands Director, 435-259-7090, neal@suwa.org Judi Brawer, Wildlands Attorney, 435-355-0716, judi@suwa.org Moab, UT (September 21, 2021) – More than a dozen conservation organizations based in […]
Read MoreSeptember 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 28: Restoring the Science Monument
Sometimes referred to as “the science monument,” Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was established 25 years ago to protect the objects of significant scientific value found in the area. Since President […]
Read MoreThe Redrock and the IPCC Report
Last week, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a devastating new scientific report detailing the dire consequences of the ongoing—and worsening—climate crisis. The United Nations Secretary […]
Read MoreAugust 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 27: Why the Red Rock Bill Matters
We examine how America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act defines the turf of Utah’s wilderness debate—literally on the ground, as well as politically—and how the bill sets the standard against which […]
Read MoreJuly 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreTell the BLM to Protect Utah’s Wild Book Cliffs Region!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a travel management plan for the remote Book Cliffs area in Uintah and northern Grand Counties—a plan that will determine where off-road […]
Read MoreWilderness on the Ground: A Report from the Swell
Thanks to the steady and persistent work of our Wildlands Team and more than a half-decade of service expertise gained by our Stewardship Program, SUWA has successfully catalyzed overdue protection […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 26: The Beauty Way
We take a step back to look at the macro view of why southern Utah captures the hearts of so many. We’re joined by Michael Haswood, Bears Ears Artist in […]
Read MoreTell the BLM to Reject Drilling Proposal Near Dinosaur National Monument
The Biden administration is poised to authorize oil and gas drilling on the doorstep of Dinosaur National Monument. If approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the proposal will […]
Read MoreNot Helpful: Utah Delegation Introduces Facetious Legislation in the Face of Climate Crises
There is some entertainment value to Senator Romney and Representative Curtis introducing an Illinois wilderness bill to contrast the more serious proposal from Senator Durbin to protect federally-owned wild lands […]
Read MoreAmerica’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Reintroduced in the House!
Today, America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA). That means both the House and Senate versions are officially on […]
Read MoreJune 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreBureau of Land Management Moving Forward to Authorize Oil and Gas Drilling on Doorstep of Dinosaur National Monument
Bending over backwards to help company, agency sets ball in motion to allow drilling within ½ mile of national monument; within greater sage-grouse priority habitat and wilderness-caliber lands FOR IMMEDIATE […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 25: Protecting Wilderness Study Areas
SUWA and coalition partners across the country are calling on the Department of Interior to assert its long-held and ongoing authority to inventory and manage Wilderness Study Areas as a […]
Read MoreSen. Durbin Reintroduces America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act!
Yesterday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (S. 1535), the seminal legislation that would protect 8.4 million acres of wild public lands in Utah. This bill […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on U.S. Senate Introduction of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jen Ujifusa, Legislative Director, jen@suwa.org Washington, DC (May 11, 2021) – Yesterday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced S. 1535, America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, the seminal […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on the “America the Beautiful” Initiative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, 801-712-5034, scott@suwa.org Moab, UT (May 6, 2021) – Today, the White House released the “America the Beautiful” initiative to reach the U.S. goal […]
Read MoreLabyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges Need Your Help!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is developing a travel management plan for the iconic Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges area outside of Moab—a plan that will determine where off-road […]
Read MoreApril 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 24: The Role of Redrock Wilderness in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
Get the details behind a new scientific report from EcoAdapt: Contribution of the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Efforts. The report is authored by […]
Read MoreComments Due April 15th on Public Land Leasing Program
The Biden administration has begun the process of reviewing and modernizing the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) outdated and broken oil and gas leasing program—and not a moment too soon. […]
Read MoreMarch 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read More15 Women Who Helped Shape the Utah Wilderness Movement
Today, in honor of National Women’s History Month, we harken back to the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to recognize the pivotal role of women in the early decades of the […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 23: Moving Backward on Climate and 30 x 30
In this episode, we take on the climate implications of the Bureau of Land Management’s “vegetation removal” program. Previously, we’ve discussed this clearcutting of mostly healthy pinyon-juniper forest in the […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on the Confirmation of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, 801-712-5034, scott@suwa.org Moab, UT (March 15, 2021) – In response to the Senate’s confirmation of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the […]
Read MoreUtah BLM Lags in Protecting San Rafael Swell as Two-Year Anniversary of Dingell Act Approaches
This Friday, March 12th, marks the second anniversary of the Emery County Public Land Management Act becoming law as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation […]
Read MoreState of Utah and Washington County Withdraw Zombie Application Claiming Title to the Manganese Road
The Bureau of Land Management Failed to Decide the Application During the Trump Administration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Michelle White, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.236.3775 Liam Kelly, National Parks Conservation […]
Read MoreFebruary 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreUtah Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Open and Public Meetings Act Cases
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance lawsuits challenging secret 2017 meetings held between Kane, Garfield and San Juan County Commissions and Trump officials can proceed Contact: Laura Peterson, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 22: A Not-so-Swell Travel Plan
The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments for a new travel management plan for the spectacular San Rafael Swell. With the designation of new wilderness areas in the […]
Read MoreTravel Plan: Tell the BLM to Protect the San Rafael Swell
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently developing a travel management plan for Utah’s spectacular San Rafael Swell and your input is urgently needed, especially if you’ve visited the […]
Read MoreAsk Your Reps to Cosponsor America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act in the 117th Congress!
In just a few weeks, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) will reintroduce America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act in the 117th Congress! This legislation is the grand […]
Read MoreInterior Board Overturns BLM Decisions to Use Non-Native Livestock Forage and Chaining within Historic Boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 435-259-5440, kya@suwa.org Laura Welp, Western Watersheds Project, 435-899-0204, laura@westernwatersheds.org Decision finds BLM failed to consider project alternatives that would have […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Prioritize Protection of Utah’s Remote San Rafael Desert
Two conservation organizations filed suit today in federal district court in Utah challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s highly destructive motorized vehicle travel plan for the San Rafael Desert
Read MoreRegistration Live for the 2021 Stewardship Season
Our 2021 Stewardship Season begins mid-March and registration is now open for all posted projects. Whether you’ve joined us before or this is the first you’ve heard of our program, […]
Read MoreAnnouncing Our First Scholarship Essay Contest Winner
Our Stewardship Scholar Essay Contest seeks to elevate new and essential voices through personal narratives pertinent to the broader conversation around public lands and their protection. Read Laci Begaye's Grand Prize-winning essay.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 21: The Grand Nexus: Climate, 30×30 & America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act
What role can America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act play in achieving the Biden administrations goals of mitigating the climate crisis and protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by […]
Read MoreA New Administration: The First 10 Days
The Earth and all its inhabitants face the dire threats of climate change and the loss of nature, including extinctions. And in its first ten days the Biden administration has […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order on the Climate Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Landon Newell, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 428-3991, landon@suwa.org Steve Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 428-3981, steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (January 27, 2021) – […]
Read MoreSupreme Court Declines to Review Court Decision on Contentious Public Lands Litigation
State of Utah’s sprawling litigation claiming more than 12,000 dirt paths and stream bottoms as “highways” threatens redrock wilderness across the state Contacts: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981, […]
Read MoreJanuary 2021 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreLawsuit Launched Over Trump Plan to Accelerate Clearcutting, Herbicide Spraying, Fuel Breaks Across Six Western States
Contacts: Scott Lake, Center for Biological Diversity, (802) 299-7495, slake@biologicaldiversity.org Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (435) 259-5440, kya@suwa.org Paul Ruprecht, Western Watersheds Project, (208) 421-4637, paul@westernwatersheds.org Connie Howard, Sierra […]
Read MoreCourt Blocks Drilling Set to Begin in Newly Designated Utah Wilderness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Landon Newell, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 428-3991, landon@suwa.org Steve Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 859-1552, steve@suwa.org Anne Hawke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (646) 823-4518, […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 20: Election 2020 and the Redrock
SUWA Legislative Director Jen Ujifusa and Legal Director Steve Bloch discuss how the 2020 election results will affect our work to protect Utah’s wild redrock country, and what we expect […]
Read MoreLawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Leasing for Helium Drilling in Newly Designated Utah Wilderness
For Immediate Release Contacts: Landon Newell, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 428-3991, landon@suwa.org Steve Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) 859-1552, steve@suwa.org Anne Hawke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (646) 823-4518, […]
Read MoreEleventh-hour Trump Actions Prolong a “Scorched Earth” Policy that Threatens Western Public Lands
Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 573-228-1061, kya@suwa.org Scott Lake, Center for Biological Diversity, 802-299-7495, slake@biologicaldiversity.org Gwen Dobbs, Defenders of Wildlife, 202-772-0269, gdobbs@defenders.org Chris Krupp, WildEarth Guardians, 206-417-6363, ckrupp@wildearthguardians.org […]
Read MoreSUWA’S Salt Lake City Office Goes Solar!
In the interest of transitioning to clean energy sources, we’re excited to announce that SUWA’s Salt Lake City office has gone solar! Panels were installed this summer and we are […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 19: Indigenous Justice at White Mesa, Utah
Located just three miles from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa community and one mile from Bears Ears National Monument, the White Mesa Uranium Mill was originally designed to […]
Read MoreStewardship Moving Forward
The coronavirus pandemic entered the American psyche the same week our 2020 stewardship season was slated to begin, forcing us redefine how we work on the landscape. Today, as we […]
Read MoreNovember 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSave Labyrinth Canyon from Industrial Development!
One month before the largest wilderness bill of the last ten years was passed (the Emery County Public Land Management Act, signed into law as part of the John D. […]
Read MoreIndigenous Peoples’ Day
Yesterday was Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We recognized it by sharing the Bears Ears Inter Tribal Coalition’s words. Today, we want to continue the spirit of Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a […]
Read MoreSUWA’s Legal Challenge Halts Large Vegetation Removal Project in Utah’s Remote Book Cliffs
For Immediate Release Contact: Oliver Wood, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 435-355-0716, oliver@suwa.org Moab, Utah (October 5, 2020) – Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) withdrew its […]
Read MoreSeptember 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 17: Motorized Mayhem Gets Green Flag
SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson discusses the recent decision by the Utah Bureau of Land Management to more than double the number of off-road vehicle routes across the wild San […]
Read MoreSUWA’s Legal Challenge Stops Oil and Gas Drilling Proposal on Doorstep of Dinosaur National Monument
Trump administration forced to reverse course; rescind approval for oil/gas wells on public lands located less than a quarter-mile from the national monument; in greater sage-grouse Priority Habitat Management Area […]
Read MoreTake Action to Protect Bears Ears from Radioactive Waste
In June, we wrote to you about plans from Energy Fuels Resources—the company that successfully lobbied the Trump administration to reduce Bears Ears National Monument in 2017—to ship radioactive waste […]
Read More2020 Stewardship Scholar Essay Contest
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is excited to announce our Fall 2020 Stewardship Scholarship Essay Contest. Please review the guidelines below: Students are invited to write a 750-1250 word […]
Read MoreTrump Administration Proposes New Coal Mine in Eastern Utah’s Book Cliffs
Proposal will open 4,231 acres of public lands to coal mining and contribute millions of new greenhouse gas emissions—emissions that are driving the climate crisis, including the wildfires and droughts […]
Read MoreNow Is the Time: Ask Your Reps to Endorse ARRWA!
After a long August recess, Congress is back in session for September. This is one of the best chances to get your members of Congress to cosponsor America’s Red Rock Wilderness […]
Read MoreAugust 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreBLM Releases Long-Delayed, Destructive Travel Plan for Utah’s San Rafael Desert
For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Peterson, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance 801-236-3762, laura@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (August 24, 2020) – On Friday, August 21, the Bureau of Land Management released the […]
Read MoreGood news: Controversial Leases Pulled from September Sale!
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) each recently sent separate letters to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt urging against the leasing of nearly 87,000 acres of redrock country […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 16: Defanging NEPA
SUWA attorneys Landon Newell and Kya Marienfeld discuss the recent Trump Administration revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. NEPA and its implementing regulations have been described as […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Praise the BLM’s Withdrawal of Oil and Gas Leases Near Utah National Parks
Contact: Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801-859-1552, steve@suwa.org Anne Hawke, Senior Press Secretary, Natural Resources Defense Council, 646-823-4518, ahawke@nrdc.org Liam Kelly, Communications Manager, National Parks Conservation Association, […]
Read MoreProtect Your Public Lands and Public Voice: Tell Congress to Defend NEPA!
It’s been a wild month. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration finalized its attack on America’s bedrock environmental law—the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Today, SUWA, along with a nationwide […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 15: Intersectional Environmentalism
Our guest is Leah Thomas, activist, eco-communicator and founder of Intersectional Environmentalist, a new and growing community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color environmental writers and content creators. Intersectional […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Appointment of Greg Sheehan as State Director of BLM Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah (July 21, 2020) – The Bureau of Land Management today announced the appointment of Greg Sheehan as the BLM’s new State Director for Utah. In response, […]
Read MoreJuly 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreTell the BLM to Drop Its Massive Lease Sale Near Utah’s National Parks
As you may have heard by now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wants to open up more than 114,000 acres of wild lands in Utah—including more than 86,000 acres […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 14: Pride Outside
June is Pride month! In this episode, we explore how mother nature can cultivate confidence, healing, and embodiment for LGBTQ+ people. SUWA Community Organizer Olivia Juarez and guests Eva […]
Read MoreTake Action to Keep Radioactive Waste Away from Bears Ears
At the doorstep of Bears Ears National Monument, the White Mesa Uranium Mill in southern Utah wants to acquire tons of new radioactive waste shipped all the way from Estonia. […]
Read MoreTell Utah Governor Herbert: Say No to Drilling Near Utah’s National Parks
As expected, the Trump administration has gone all-in on its plans to flood southern Utah’s redrock country with oil and gas development. If Trump’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gets […]
Read MoreCall to Action: Write an LTE on Drilling Near National Parks
Speak out against climate-damaging oil and gas leasing near Arches and Canyonlands National Park The Trump administration is proposing to sacrifice our national parks and exacerbate the climate crisis by […]
Read MoreAmid Pandemic, Interior Moves Forward with Enormous Oil and Gas Drilling Plan on Public Lands Near National Parks
Contact: Liam Kelly, National Parks Conservation Association, 213-814-8666, lkelly@npca.org Landon Newell, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3991, landon@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT – The Trump administration has released its proposal to […]
Read MoreTell the BLM to Stop New Coal Development on Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently accepting public comments on a proposed coal mine expansion on the western slope of the Book Cliffs in eastern Utah. The proposal […]
Read MoreStop the BLM from Doubling Down on Clearcutting with No Accountability!
As you know, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been destroying native vegetation like sagebrush, pinyon pine, and juniper for decades. But in recent years, your voice and input […]
Read MoreMay 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 13: Save the Redrock, Save the Planet
Michael Johnson, Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), discusses the resolution Sen. Udall is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by […]
Read MoreFAQ: How is COVID-19 Affecting SUWA and our Work?
An FAQ page on what has changed and what hasn't.
Read MoreEarth Day 50th Anniversary: Terry Tempest Williams, Mark Maryboy, & Youth on Climate Strike
Spatial distancing doesn’t mean that we can’t engage in collective action! On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we hope you will join us online for three days of workshops, […]
Read MoreWhat the CARES Act Means for Your Charitable Giving
Thank you, as always, for supporting the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. You may be aware that Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, […]
Read MoreTell the BLM Not to Cut Public Input from Its Public Land Clearcutting Plans
Comments due by April 13th, 2020! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars destroying hundreds of thousands of acres of native pinyon pine and […]
Read MoreApril 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWilderness Week Activists Boost Congressional Support of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act
Twenty-eight redrock volunteers traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC in the waning days of February to participate in our annual Wilderness Week event. Their advocacy will lay the groundwork […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 12: Stay Home, Save Lives: Coronavirus in Southern Utah
While physical distancing measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus have kept many people at home, gateway communities at the edge of wild public lands in Utah are hardly catching […]
Read MorePhysical Distancing
In light of coronavirus impacting our communities and disrupting our day-to-day routines, we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the fear and uncertainty that the world is facing right […]
Read MoreBLM Prepares to Flood Southern Utah with Oil and Gas Leases to Develop the State’s Most Scenic Redrock Country
Salt Lake City, UT (March 19, 2020): The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing to offer a massive swath of treasured Utah public lands for oil and gas development. […]
Read MoreA “Scorched Earth” Policy that Threatens Utah National Monuments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, 573-228-1061, kya@suwa.org Moab, UT (March 11, 2020) – Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld released the following statement in […]
Read MoreFebruary 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreScott Groene: Red Rock Wilderness Act Drives Utah’s Wilderness Debate
This op-ed by SUWA Executive Director Scott Groene was published in the online version of the Salt Lake Tribune on February 13, 2020. With the reintroduction of America’s Red Rock […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 11: Kya Goes To Congress
In this episode, we talk with SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld and Legislative Director Jen Ujifusa about the status of, and funding for, large-scale eradication of piñon pine and juniper forests on BLM lands in Utah.
Read MoreAmerica’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Introduced in the House!
It’s official! America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA). With your support to galvanize members of Congress, there are […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Utah National Monument Plans
Salt Lake City, UT (February 6, 2020) – In response to the release today of the management plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, the Southern Utah Wilderness […]
Read MoreSUWA Praises BLM Withdrawal of Last Remaining Vegetation Removal Projects Proposed In Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Withdrawal Means Planned Vegetation Treatments in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Have Been Reduced From More Than 135,000 Acres to Zero FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, […]
Read MoreJanuary 2020 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreAmerica’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Needs Your Voice!
Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) will soon reintroduce America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act in the House of Representatives, and we need your help to gather support! We have two actions for […]
Read MoreSUWA, Partners’ Appeal Stymies 175 Oil & Gas Drilling Permits in Utah’s Nine Mile Canyon Region
The Trump administration’s rush for “energy dominance” encounters another setback in Utah; BLM forced to reanalyze environmental impacts of oil and gas development For Immediate Release Contact: Landon Newell, Southern […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 10: Let Me Tell You What I Think
Check out a short clip from our latest episode of Wild Utah: Listen to the full episode: Mark Maryboy made history when he was elected in 1986 as the first […]
Read MoreBLM Commits $75 Million to the Continued Destruction of Utah’s Public Lands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 435-259-5440, kya@suwa.org Laura Welp, Western Watersheds Project, 435-899-0204, laura@westernwatersheds.org Mary O’Brien, Grand Canyon Trust, 435-259-6205, mobrien@grandcanyontrust.org Moab, UT (January 9, […]
Read MoreBLM Wants to Open up San Rafael Desert to Twice as Much Motorized Use
Last Friday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft travel management plan for the San Rafael Desert in Emery County, Utah that would more than double the number […]
Read MoreBLM Releases Disastrous Draft Travel Plan for the San Rafael Desert
Offers public only 30 days, including over the holidays, to submit comments on a plan that has been years in the making. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Peterson, Southern Utah […]
Read MoreTell BLM No Way to a Highway through Red Cliffs!
Utah’s public lands are facing death by a thousand cuts. And now the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) near St. George—home to the densest population of threatened Mojave desert […]
Read MoreTell BLM Not to Pave the Way for R.S. 2477 Highways across Utah’s Public Lands!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering giving away the United States’ interest to a 10-mile dirt road (the so-called “Manganese Road”) in the southwest corner of Utah. This […]
Read More2019 Stewardship Impact Summary
What a year! As we push onward under a deeply problematic administration, we take time to revisit those encouraging stewardship moments and milestones of the past year to buoy us […]
Read MoreNovember 2019 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 9: Controlling Motorized Mayhem
Following a public outcry, an outlandish Interior Department order that was proposed to allow off-road vehicles in national parks in Utah was dropped by the Trump administration. But the controversy […]
Read MoreLawsuit Spurs Trump Administration to Suspend 130 Oil, Gas Leases in Utah
Fourth Time This Year BLM Has Suspended Leases in Utah; Feds Ignored Climate Change, Opened Scenic, Cultural Lands to Fossil Fuel Extraction For Immediate Release Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah […]
Read MoreInterior Department Accelerates Public Lands Giveaway
Agency may hand over an alleged right-of-way to the state of Utah as it considers unprecedented public land giveaway FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2019 Contacts: Alison Heis, National Parks […]
Read MoreWhere do ATVs belong on our public lands?
As you no doubt have heard, the National Park Service (NPS) recently abandoned a proposal to allow certain off-road vehicles in Utah’s national parks and monuments. That proposal provoked enough […]
Read MorePark Advocates Applaud Decision to Keep Off-Road Vehicles Out of Utah National Parks and Monuments
Decision protects park resources, promotes visitor safety
Read MoreSay No to Off-Road Vehicles in Our National Parks and Monuments
From Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef national parks to Dinosaur, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, and Cedar Breaks national monuments, Utah is home to some of the most spectacular […]
Read MoreOctober 2019 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Federal Judge’s Denial of Motion to Dismiss Monument Lawsuits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, (801)-859-1552 or steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (October 1, 2019) – In response to Judge Chutkan’s decision allowing lawsuits to proceed against President […]
Read MoreVictory! Clearcutting Plan Overturned in Grand Staircase!
SUWA and partners win appeal of plan to masticate and chain Skutumpah Terrace in GSENM.
Read MoreInterior Board Overturns BLM Decision to Replace Native Forests with Exotic Livestock Forage in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Decision finds BLM ignored cumulative impacts and failed to comply with the Monument’s prohibitions on using non-native seed Moab, UT (September 17, 2019) – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s […]
Read MoreClimate Lawsuit Targets 130 Oil Leases on Public Lands in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (September 12, 2019)— Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today for failing to consider the climate pollution from 130 oil and gas leases spanning 175,500 acres […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 7: Your Time is Up!
SUWA Latinx organizer Olivia Juarez speaks with activists Brooke Larsen (UPLIFT) and Eliza Van Dyk (Wasatch Rising Tide) about the protest, and about the intersection between the fight for climate justice and efforts to protect Utah’s remaining wild lands.
Read MoreA Plan to Plunder: Trump Administration Releases Plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Plan Undermines Standards for National Monument Protections, Ignores Public Opposition and Ongoing Litigation Over Reduced Boundaries ESCALANTE, Utah (August 23, 2019) – Today, local and national groups, businesses and globally-respected scientist organizations, denounced […]
Read MoreWilderness Stewardship Training Draws a Crowd!
Over the weekend, SUWA’s Service Program organized a Wilderness Stewardship Training in Salt Lake City. Forty trainees attended the Saturday session, twenty-four of whom then took part in a training […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Sue BLM Over Decision to Allow Cross-Country Motorized Use around Utah’s Remarkable Factory Butte
BLM’s “wild west” mentality will deface Utah landscape For Immediate Release Contact: Laura Peterson, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801-236-3762 Anne Hawke, Natural Resources Defense Council, 646-823-4518 Phil Hanceford, The Wilderness […]
Read MoreTrump Administration Rushes Flawed Plan for Bears Ears National Monument
MOAB, UT — Utah’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to rush forward a plan for the illegally reduced Bears Ears National Monument that completely ignores the more than 1 […]
Read MoreJuly 2019 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreFor the Third Time in Less Than Three Months, the BLM Recognizes It Violated Law, Pulls Back Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Approximately 57,000 acres of remote, wild, and culturally significant public lands temporarily spared from oil and gas development Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981, steve@suwa.org […]
Read MoreBLM Recognizes it Violated Law, Pulls Back Oil & Gas Leasing Decision in Utah’s San Rafael Desert, Dirty Devil Region
Approximately 204,000 acres of remote, wild, and culturally significant public lands temporarily spared from oil and gas development Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981, steve@suwa.org Landon Newell, […]
Read MoreThe Truth About BLM’s Decision to Open Factory Butte to ORV Destruction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801-428-3981 steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (May 31, 2019) – This weekend is the second since the Bureau of […]
Read MoreBLM Opens Factory Butte to Off-Road Vehicle Destruction — Take Action!
Without prior notice or opportunity for public input, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Richfield field office announced last Wednesday—just before Memorial Day weekend—that it has opened 5,400 acres of […]
Read MoreBLM Rescinds Authorization for Vegetation Removal Project in Wilderness Study Areas Following SUWA Lawsuit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 435-259-5440 kya@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (May 14, 2019) – Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) […]
Read MoreBLM Reconsiders Oil and Gas Leases Following SUWA Appeal
Good news! Following SUWA’s appeal of the BLM’s decision to sell eight oil and gas leases for development at its March 2018 sale, the BLM has reluctantly agreed with SUWA […]
Read MoreConservation Groups File Federal Lawsuit over BLM Decision to Allow County to Chip-Seal Utah’s Remote Burr Trail
For Immediate Release Decision Made Under Cover of Darkness to Push Through Garfield County’s Long-Held Desire to Pave Remote Desert Dirt Road Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness […]
Read MoreSUWA Files Lawsuit Challenging BLM’S Oil and Gas Leasing On The Doorstep Of Bears Ears, Canyons Of The Ancients, and Hovenweep National Monuments
For Immediate Release April 22, 2019 Contact: Landon Newell, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3991, landon@suwa.org Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.859.1552, steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (April 22, 2019) […]
Read MoreApril 2019 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreCiting New Scientific Report, SUWA Calls on BLM to Halt Mechanical “Vegetation Treatment” Projects in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
February 2019 scientific review counters claims made by agencies on environmental benefits of vegetation removal on public lands Contact: Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, 435-259-5440, kya@suwa.org Moab, UT (April 10, 2019) […]
Read MoreGood News in San Juan County
Following public outcry and a formal protest from SUWA, this week the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) deferred all of its proposed oil and gas leases in San Juan […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 6: SUWA Gets Dirty
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 […]
Read MoreBLM Withdraws Permit for Helicopter Shuttles Near Bighorn Habitat Outside of Moab Following SUWA Appeal
FOR 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) […]
Read MoreSan Rafael Swell Protected by the U.S. House!
We’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. […]
Read MoreSUWA Praises U.S. House Vote on Emery County Public Land Legislation
Utah’s Iconic San Rafael Swell Nears Wilderness Protection as Part of Public Lands Package Passed by U.S. House of Representatives Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, 801-712-5034, scott@suwa.org Jen Ujifusa, Legislative […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 5: A Swell Victory!
In this episode of Wild Utah, we bring you exciting news from Washington, D.C. about an issue we detailed in our first episode — wilderness legislation for Emery County, Utah. […]
Read MoreSan Rafael Swell Nears Wilderness Protection — You Can Help Make It Happen!
Are you sitting down? We can hardly believe we get to say this, but against great odds, Labyrinth Canyon, Muddy Creek, Desolation Canyon and other Utah wild lands may soon […]
Read MoreSUWA Praises Passage of Emery County Public Land Legislation
Utah’s Iconic San Rafael Swell Nears Wilderness Protection as Part of Public Lands Package Passed by U.S. Senate Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, 801-712-5034, scott@suwa.org Jen Ujifusa, Legislative Director, 801-791-2598, […]
Read MoreTrump Administration’s Latest Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sale Targets Doorstep of National Monuments, Wild Lands
SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE – THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY – SIERRA CLUB FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981 Nada Culver, The Wilderness Society, 303.225.4635 Over the […]
Read MoreUtah School Trust Lands Administration Drops Proposal to Sell Oil, Gas Leases in Bears Ears National Monument
For Immediate Release January 29, 2019 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981 Salt Lake City — In a remarkable about-face following a protest from the Southern Utah Wilderness […]
Read MoreConservation Group Protests Utah School Trust Lands Administration’s Shortsighted Proposal to Sell Oil, Gas Leases in Bears Ears National Monument
For Immediate Release January 25, 2019 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981 Salt Lake City — In a remarkably shortsighted decision, the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands […]
Read MoreStatement on Senators Lee and Romney’s Introduction of Anti-Antiquities “PURE” Act
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 […]
Read MoreFrom the Ground Up — 2019 Field Volunteer Opportunities
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 […]
Read MoreHappy Solstice!
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 […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 3: A Clearcut by Any Other Name….
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” — […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Secretary Zinke’s Departure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, (801)-859-1552 or steve@suwa.org Salt Lake City, UT (December 15, 2018) – In response to the announcement of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s departure from […]
Read MoreUtahns Protest Yet Another Auction of Oil & Gas Leases on Sensitive Public Lands
The Trump administration today offered up more than 150,000 acres of public land in Utah for fossil fuel development, including in the heart of some of the state’s most iconic […]
Read MoreHelp Protect the Redrock in 2019 and Beyond!
Relentless. That’s the word that best describes the assault on Utah’s public lands from the Trump administration and Utah politicians over the past 12 months. From President Trump’s illegal reduction […]
Read MoreYoung Womxn of Utah Call for Protection of Wild Lands in the San Rafael Swell and Beyond
Today at the Utah State Capitol, a group of 40 young womxn* and allies — including students, educators, and community leaders from throughout Utah — braved the cold to make […]
Read MoreGrand Staircase-Escalante Under Siege
Even as it solicits public comments on how to (mis)manage the illegally-reduced Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving forward with two terrible “vegetation management” […]
Read MoreLast Chance to Comment on Bears Ears Plans
This Thursday, November 15th, marks the closing of the comment period for the Trump administrations’s hastily-drafted management plans for the illegally reduced Bears Ears National Monument. If you haven’t already […]
Read MoreCourt Rejects Utah’s Efforts to Undermine Common Sense Settlement to Correct Illegal Off-Road Vehicle Planning by the BLM
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Court issued a short opinion this week dismissing challenges brought by the State of Utah and various counties to a settlement between conservation groups, the United States, and off-road vehicle groups over travel management plans governing millions of acres of public...
Read MoreWhat the Election Results Mean for the Redrock
Harry Truman once wished for a one-armed economist because he’d grown tired of hearing, “On the one hand…on the other hand.” This post-election wrap-up is a bit like that: slivers […]
Read MoreOctober 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode 2: A Ragtag Group of Desert Rats
Welcome to the SUWA podcast, Wild Utah! In this episode, Dave Pacheco speaks with SUWA Board Member Darrell Knuffke about the origins and early days of SUWA. In doing some […]
Read MoreWhat Legacy is Hatch Really Leaving Us?
SUWA Executive Director Scott Groene has an op-ed in The Salt Lake Tribune today: At the end of his 40-plus year tenure as the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history, […]
Read More#NotSoSwell Bill Passes Senate Committee: What You Can Do
Sen. Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) “Not-so-Swell” bill, the Emery County Public Land Management Act of 2018, passed a Senate markup Tuesday on voice vote. The bill remains a one-sided proposal from […]
Read MoreHispanic Heritage of Wild Utah: Past, Present, and Future
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationally from September 15th to October 15th to commemorate the important contributions of Hispanic and Latinx peoples to America’s cultural tapestry. The wild public lands […]
Read MoreThe Not-So-Swell Emery County Bill Gets a Mark-Up
There were a few fireworks today during the House Committee on Natural Resources’s markup of HR 5727, Rep. Curtis’s (UT-3) “Not-So-Swell” bill for Emery County bill. Rep. Grijalva (AZ-3), the […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Federal Ruling that Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Lawsuits Will Stay in DC Courts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, (801)-859-1552 or steve@suwa.org Washington, D.C. (September 24, 2018) — This morning, Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ruled from the bench and denied a […]
Read MoreHappy Birthday Grand Staircase-Escalante!
Twenty-two years ago, the real Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated, encompassing one of our nation’s most spectacular and scientifically important wilderness landscapes. It includes world-class fossil sites, archaeological and […]
Read MoreUpdate on #NotSoSwell Emery County Legislation
It was an interesting week for the Emery County Public Lands Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John Curtis and Sen. Orrin Hatch and introduced in May of this year, […]
Read MoreSeptember 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreUtahns Call for Protection of San Rafael Swell at People’s Hearing in Salt Lake City
More than 300 passionate wilderness advocates poured into the Salt Lake City Main Library for the People’s Hearing on the San Rafael Swell last night. The auditorium filled to overflowing […]
Read MoreWild Utah Podcast, Episode One: What the Swell?!?!
Welcome to the new SUWA podcast, Wild Utah! In this episode, Dave Pacheco interviews SUWA Wildlands Director Neal Clark about the Emery County Public Land Management Act of 2018, introduced […]
Read MoreBLM Backs Down on Controversial Pinyon-Juniper Obliteration Projects in Utah’s West Desert
Last fall, SUWA filed a lawsuit to stop the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from destroying pinyon-juniper woodlands through “chaining” and “bull-hog” projects in an area of Utah’s West Desert […]
Read MoreThe Not-So-Swell Bill Gets a Senate Hearing this Week — Tell Your Legislators to Oppose It!
This Wednesday, August 22nd, the “Not-so-Swell” bill proposed by Utah’s Sen. Hatch and Rep. Curtis will receive a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Emery County […]
Read MoreTrump’s Plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Are Out — and They’re Horrible
President Trump’s Interior Department just released draft management plans revealing their vision for how to manage what’s left of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments as well as the […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on BLM’s Draft Management Plans for Illegally-Reduced National Monuments in Utah
For Immediate Release August 15, 2018 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, 801-428-3981 Salt Lake City, UT – In response to the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) release of draft management […]
Read MoreBLM’S Energy Dominance Agenda Threatens to Blanket Utah’s Wild Lands
203,000 Acres of Remote and Wild Lands Including in the San Rafael Desert and Dirty Devil Regions to be Auctioned Off for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development SOUTHERN UTAH […]
Read MoreMassive Oil & Gas Lease Sale Threatens Wilderness Across Utah
Guided by the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda, on July 16th the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed a massive statewide auction of federal public lands for oil and […]
Read MoreTrump Administration’s Oil-Gas Lease Sale Targets Utah’s Wild Book Cliffs, White River and Four-Corners Region
Proposed Sale of More than 300K Acres Threatens Wild Utah Federal Public Lands SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE * THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY * NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL For Immediate Release July […]
Read MoreTrump Administration Supports Expanding a Coal Mine at the Base of Bryce Canyon National Park
Proposed approval is yet another signal of the Administration’s lack of support for our public lands FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2018 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (801) […]
Read MoreJuly 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreBecome a Crew Leader for SUWA’s Service Program!
Thanks to the commitment of our Field Volunteers, 2018 is proving to be our most active and productive service season to date. Our crews continue to expand our work across […]
Read MoreJohn Curtis’s San Rafael Swell Bill Gets a #NotSoSwell Hearing
This morning, HR 5727, the Emery County Public Lands Management Act—or the Not So Swell bill—was heard before the Federal Lands Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. The hearing, […]
Read MoreInto the Field: Volunteer with SUWA this Summer
Greetings from Southern Utah – Summer is upon us and our Field Crews are gearing up for a season of high elevation volunteering! Several spots remain open on our first […]
Read MoreSUWA Launches Statewide, DC Media Campaign on San Rafael Swell Bill: Watch the TV Spot
On May 9, 2018, Senator Orrin Hatch and Rep. John Curtis of Utah introduced “The Emery County Public Land Management Act of 2018” — a bill that would significantly impact […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Blast Sen. Hatch, Rep. Curtis on New San Rafael Swell Bill
Bill is a “Big Step Backwards” for Conservation and Wilderness on Public Lands in Emery County, Utah FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jen Ujifusa, 202-266-0473, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance jen@suwa.org Virginia […]
Read MoreDéjà vu in the San Rafael Swell?
As early as next week, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative John Curtis could introduce legislation for the San Rafael Swell and portions of Labyrinth and Desolation Canyons. While we […]
Read MoreReports from the Field: An Archaeologist on Cedar Mesa
Reports From the Field is a blog of SUWA’s Field Volunteers, accounting experiences, reflections and activism from time spent in direct service of Utah’s wild and public lands. When hiking […]
Read MoreApril 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreComments Due Next Week on Management Plans for Reduced Utah Monuments
As you know, on December 4th, 2017, the Trump administration illegally repealed Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, replacing them with two and three drastically smaller national monuments, respectively. […]
Read MoreSUWA’s Field Volunteers Take Action
Over the past two years, SUWA’s Field Volunteers have traveled across Utah to work for the protection of our public lands. In our third season, we invite you to join […]
Read MoreReport Highlights Need for Better Science on Vegetation Removal and Chaining
Over the past few weeks, the State of Utah and other organizations have taken to the airwaves and Internet to bolster support for vegetation removal projects on Bureau of Land […]
Read MoreSUWA and Conservation Groups Oppose Trump Administration’s Move to to Lease Lands Near National Monuments for Oil and Gas
March 20 Lease Sale Sold Leases on Public Lands near Bears Ears, Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments, along with Culturally Significant Areas in Southeast Utah Updated March […]
Read MoreJoin Wilderness Week Activists in Calling on Congress to #ProtectWildUtah!
What happens when the government is controlled by friends of the oil/gas/mining industry and decides that public lands should be destroyed for short-term rewards? People get angry, and that anger […]
Read MoreFebruary 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSan Rafael Swell: The Next Conservation Opportunity
As you know, SUWA works day in and day out to protect Utah’s magnificent wild lands. From our lawsuits challenging President Trump’s illegal reductions of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante […]
Read MoreTell the BLM to Protect Grand Staircase and Bears Ears — Comments Due April 11th!
As you know, on December 4, 2017, President Trump signed two illegal proclamations that seek to significantly reduce the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments. Despite legal […]
Read MoreNew BLM Oil/Gas Policies Will Fast-track Leasing, Cut Opportunities for Public Review
BLM also does away with popular master leasing plan program FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2018 Contact: Steve Bloch, Legal Director, 801.428.3981 or 801.859.1552(c) Landon Newell, Staff Attorney, 801.428.3991 Salt […]
Read MoreChaining in Grand Staircase? SUWA Goes on the Air
The Bureau of Land Management in Utah is ramping up a failed policy called chaining—in which bulldozers drag anchor chains to uproot and destroy native pinyon and juniper forests and […]
Read MoreJoin Monument Watch!
We need your eyes and ears. President Trump’s orders to rescind Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments and replace them with dramatically smaller monuments has stripped protections for over […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on BLM’s Announcement to Begin Planning Process on Illegal Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante Proclamations
In response to the announcement today by the Bureau of Land Management that it will begin to prepare Monument Management plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, which […]
Read MoreStop Rep. Curtis’s Bears Ears Giveaway Bill
As you know, one month ago President Trump issued an unlawful order to repeal the Bears Ears National Monument and replace it with two smaller monuments—leaving nearly 80% of the […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Decision to Threaten National Monuments, Irreplaceable Cultural Resources with Oil and Gas Leasing and Development
Federal Public Lands Targeted for Oil and Gas Development near Bears Ears, Hovenweep and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments, and Culturally Significant Areas in Southeast Utah For Immediate Release […]
Read MoreDecember 2018 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreThrough Dark Times, the Light Persists
Today, the Winter Solstice takes place in the northern hemisphere, which means we will pass through the longest night of the year. What most of us forget is that this […]
Read MoreStop Rep. Stewart’s Grand Staircase Giveaway Bill!
As you know, last week President Trump issued an unlawful order to repeal the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and replace it with three smaller monuments—leaving nearly half of the original […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on the Two Utah Delegation Bills to Ratify President Trump’s Repeal of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2017 Contact: Jen Ujifusa, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, (202) 266-0473 This week, following the outrageous and illegal repeal of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National […]
Read MoreSUWA and Other Groups File Lawsuit after President Trump Illegally Axes Bears Ears National Monument
President’s abuse of authority strips protections from a priceless cultural and natural heritage that belongs to all Americans FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2017 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness […]
Read MoreTake Action in Response to Trump’s Illegal Repeal of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante
On December 4th, President Donald Trump swooped into Utah and committed the most destructive act against public lands in the history of the presidency by repealing both the decades-old Grand […]
Read MoreConservation Groups File Lawsuit after President Trump Illegally Axed Dinosaur Treasure Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
President’s abuse of authority strips protections from iconic dinosaur wonderland in Utah and undermines 1906 Antiquities Act FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2017 Contact: Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on President Trump’s Illegal Attempt to Eviscerate Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2017 Contact: Scott Groene, Executive Director, 801.712.5034 (cell) Steve Bloch, Legal Director, 801-428-3981 Mathew Gross, Media Director, 802-578-3394 Salt Lake City, UT – In response […]
Read MoreOil, Gas, Coal and Mining Interests Stand to Gain from Trump’s Illegal Repeal of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments
Following President Trump’s unlawful attempt to repeal Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments, the federal public lands and significant cultural, paleontological and wilderness resources in those monuments will be […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Reports President Trump Will Eliminate 85% of Bears Ears and Half of Grand Staircase-Escalante
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Bloch, 801-428-3981 In response to reports in the Washington Post today that President Trump intends to eliminate 85% of Bears Ears National Monument and half […]
Read MoreNovember 2017 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreHouse Committee Passes the SECURE Act — Help Stop this Public Lands Giveaway!
On November 8th, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed one of the most egregious dirty energy bills Trump’s Congress has attempted yet. H.R. 4239, the so-called “SECURE Act,” prioritizes […]
Read MoreNew Poll on Monuments: Déjà Vu All Over Again
A new Utah poll demonstrates, again, that while bold conservation is often controversial at inception, it becomes appreciated with time. But Utah’s politicians still haven’t learned. When significant landscapes are […]
Read MoreBadgers Speak Up for Keeping Public Lands in Public Hands
A band of badgers confronted Utah state officials today about their efforts to turn federal public lands over to the state of Utah to own or manage. “How can we […]
Read MoreHouse Republicans Declare Full-Scale War on the Antiquities Act
The House Natural Resources Committee has advanced H.R. 3990, a disgraceful bill that would essentially gut the Antiquities Act. The full committee mark-up also effectively killed a Democratic request for […]
Read MoreHelicopters Landing in the Middle of Wilderness Study Areas?
Do you want to hear the sound of helicopters in Utah’s backcountry? Moab-based Pinnacle Helicopters wants to fly wealthy tourists into wilderness quality areas, using a loophole that would allow […]
Read MoreBLM Targets Wild and Culturally Significant Lands for Fossil Fuel Leasing
Once again the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is poised to auction off outstanding federal public lands in redrock country for fossil fuel development. The latest ill-conceived proposal targets some […]
Read MoreSeptember 2017 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreBLM Announces Intention to Sell Oil, Gas Leases Next to Bears Ears National Monument and on Culturally and Ecologically Significant Federal Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this afternoon released an environmental study in support of its proposal to offer 46 leases (encompassing approximately 57,000 acres) for oil and gas development on federal public land in southeastern Utah.
Read MoreSan Juan County Closed-Door Meetings with Interior Secretary Zinke and Others Violate Utah Open and Public Meetings Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 2017 Contact: Laura Peterson, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.236.3762 Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801.428.3981 Last Friday afternoon, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance filed a […]
Read MoreCongress Returns from Vacation on the Attack Against Public Lands
Congress is back in session following its summer vacation and, unfortunately, a return of Congress often means a fresh set of attacks made on public lands. These assaults come in […]
Read MoreLate-Night Interior Department Order Seeks to Shortcut Environmental Reviews
Interior Order sets arbitrary process for completing complex environmental review; poses a direct threat to local community involvement in decision making FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2017 Contact: Stephen Bloch, […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Denounce Utah BLM’s Decision to Offer Oil and Gas Leases on Doorstep of Dinosaur National Monument and in the San Rafael Swell
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced plans to offer seventy-five leases for oil and gas development on federal public land on the doorstep of Dinosaur National Monument and in the San Rafael Swell.
Read MoreSupport UT Monuments by Sharing Your Labor Day Public Lands Photos on Social Media
Labor Day commemorates the social and economic achievements of American workers. This century-old tradition began in the spirit of protest from laborers fighting for fair wages, better working conditions, and […]
Read MoreSecretary Zinke Continues His Attacks on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante
In August, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke sent his final monument report to the White House. Remarkably, Secretary Zinke refused to divulge what his final recommendations are. But early reports from […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Secretary Zinke’s Monuments Report
In response to news that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has delivered his monuments report to the White House, SUWA executive director Scott Groene released the following statement: “Secretary Zinke’s illegal […]
Read MoreAugust 2017 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreUtah Counties’ Closed-Door Meetings with Zinke and Others Spark Lawsuit
Kane and Garfield County Commissions held a series of unlawful meetings over Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, violating Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act For Immediate Release August 15, 2017 Contact: […]
Read MoreCongress Steps Up to Engage Latinos in Conservation
In July, a Resolution supporting Latinx engagement in the great outdoors and conservation was introduced to the U.S. Senate. The Resolution is supported by Democrats and Republicans across the nation […]
Read MoreWild Lands in the San Rafael Swell and Dinosaur/Book Cliffs Regions Again Proposed for Leasing
Once again, your voice in defense of Utah’s wild places is urgently needed. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to lease 79 parcels for oil and gas development […]
Read MoreAn Amazing Show of Support for the Redrock
The Trump administration asked for your opinion on their plans to reduce Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and 25 other national monuments across the country—and you gave them an earful. Thanks […]
Read MoreLast Chance to Speak Up for Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears — Comments Due July 10th!
This coming Monday, July 10, is the final day for you to tell Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that he and President Trump need to leave Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears […]
Read MoreJune 2017 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MorePress Release: Proposed Oil and Gas Leases Threaten the San Rafael Swell and Dinosaur National Monument
* SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE * For Immediate Release: June 22, 2017 Contact: Landon Newell, Staff Attorney Tel: 801-428-3991 Acting in lockstep with the Trump administration’s relentless onslaught against federal […]
Read MoreProposed Oil and Gas Leases Threaten San Rafael Swell and Dinosaur National Monument
Acting in lockstep with the Trump administration’s relentless onslaught against federal public lands, the BLM is proposing to offer at the agency’s December 2017 oil and gas lease sale 79 […]
Read MoreUtah Counties’ Closed Door Meetings with Zinke and Others Violates Utah Open and Public Meetings Act
San Juan, Kane and Garfield County Commissions held a series of unlawful meetings over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2017 Contact: Stephen Bloch, […]
Read MoreZinke Vows to Eviscerate Bears Ears
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s interim report on the fate of Bears Ears National Monument was released yesterday—and it isn’t good. As expected, Zinke recommends that President Trump dramatically shrink the […]
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Secretary Zinke’s Interim Report on Bears Ears
For Immediate Release: June 12, 2017 Contact: Mathew Gross, (435) 259-4316 Today Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued an interim report that signaled his desire to greatly reduce the Bears Ears […]
Read MoreCitizen Activism Prevails! Zion National Park Spared from Proposed Oil and Gas Leasing!
Terrific news! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has pulled back an outrageous proposal to lease federal public lands for oil and gas development at the doorstep of Zion National […]
Read MoreHelp Save Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!
You stood up in defense of Bears Ears National Monument. Now we need you to do the same for Grand Staircase-Escalante. Over the last few weeks, you helped deluge the […]
Read MoreSUWA Kicks Off 2017 Field Season with Ten Mile Canyon Service Project
SUWA’s field volunteers set things in motion on Sunday, May 21st, with the season’s first work trip. In collaboration with the Moab BLM, our crew set out for a side […]
Read MoreSUWA Defends Bears Ears in the New York Times and Washington Post
Last week, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke came to Utah to “review” Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments — and SUWA supporters were on the ground to meet him in […]
Read MoreComment Period Open on National Monument Review
President Trump has declared war on Utah’s national monuments. Now is the time to act. President Trump’s April 26th Executive Order requires a “review” of national monuments dating back to […]
Read MoreGood News: Appeals Board Rejects Challenge to Red Cliffs and Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area Plans
On April 28th, the Interior Board of Land Appeals issued an order dismissing an appeal filed by Washington County, the City of St. George, and the Washington County Water Conservancy […]
Read MoreAmerica’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Reintroduced with Backing from 18 Senators!
Great news! Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) last week reintroduced America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (S. 948) in the Senate. The bill would permanently protect 9.2 million acres of Utah’s amazing wilderness—places […]
Read MoreMountain West Hard Cider Honors Utah’s Red Rock Wilderness and Desolation Canyon with Release of New Cider
For Immediate Release April 12, 2017 SALT LAKE CITY – Mountain West Hard Cider today announced the launch of its new Desolation Prickly Pear Hard Cider in honor of Southern […]
Read MoreOctober 2015 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSave the Date: Public Lands Rally on Saturday, January 11 (SLC)
The day after the election, we said, “SUWA has never backed down from a hard fight, and we’re not about to start now.” The reason we’ve been able to never […]
Read MoreSeason to Season: Wrapping Up 2024 Stewardship and Looking Ahead to 2025
As we see it, stewardship is our land ethic in action, a way of honoring the relationship between people and the places that sustain them.
Read MoreNovember 2024 Redrock Report
Our e-newsletter with the latest on redrock wilderness news and events.
Read MoreSUWA Statement on Senator Lee’s selection to lead Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – 11.19.24
November 19, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SUWA Statement on Senator Lee’s selection to lead Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – 11.19.24 Contacts:Grant Stevens, Communications Director, Southern Utah Wilderness […]
Read MoreNow Hiring: Executive Director (Salt Lake City)
Posted: 11/11/24 The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is made up of members, volunteers, a board, and staff in Utah and across the United States who share the common goal […]
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