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Protecting Utah's Redrock Country

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40th Anniversary #tbt Flashback! In an unlikely Tr

40th Anniversary #tbt Flashback! In an unlikely Trump-era victory for the redrock, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act was passed into law in March of 2019.

Tucked inside this enormous legislative package was the Emery County Public Land Management Act, which protected more than 663,000 acres of wilderness in Utah, including Muddy Creek, the San Rafael Reef, and the west side of Labyrinth Canyon. At last, the greater San Rafael Swell region was largely protected, either as wilderness or as a recreation area withdrawn from new mining claims and closed to the construction of new off-road vehicle routes. As icing on the cake, about 70 miles of the Green River were added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

This hard-won victory was decades in the making; SUWA had defeated six prior proposals for the San Rafael Swell that failed to do justice to the landscape. This time seemed no different. Representative John Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) had introduced legislation designating the barest amount of wilderness they thought they could get away with.

While Representative Curtis refused to negotiate, in the final days of the Congress redrock champion Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was able to work out a deal with Senator Hatch for legislation that protected significant portions of Labyrinth Canyon and Muddy Creek.

At the time, the Trump administration was wreaking havoc on the nation. By some miracle, 663,000 acres of protected wilderness emerged from that quagmire, proving that even in the darkest of times real progress is possible. The San Rafael Swell wilderness bill remains the most significant legislative victory in SUWA’s history, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.

We’ve come a long way together—thank you for being part of the Utah wilderness movement!

📷 1 & 2: Tom Till
📷 3: Ray Bloxham/SUWA

Have you seen recent news headlines about the Red

Have you seen recent news headlines about the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) and the Northern Corridor Highway? Scroll through for a brief history behind Red Cliffs and to learn why the Northern Corridor Highway would be devastating to threatened species like the Mojave Desert tortoise.

What is the Northern Corridor Highway? A proposed 4 lane highway, 4.5 miles of which would run through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, UT.

Why is the NCA important? This congressionally-established conservation area is home to some of the most important remaining critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. The highway would also impact over 20 other threatened, endangered and sensitive species.

As has been pointed out previously, a threat to one National Conservation Area is a threat to all protected public lands. If constructed, the Northern Corridor Highway would set a dangerous national precedent that would make all protected public lands vulnerable to development.

Learn more at protectredcliffs.com or conserveswu.org. Keep an eye out for an Advocacy Action coming next week! The public comment deadline is December 21st.

#KeepRedCliffsRoadless

SUWA is hiring for two field positions based out o

SUWA is hiring for two field positions based out of our Moab office! If you love working in the great outdoors, are an experienced leader and group facilitator, and enjoy meeting new people, we encourage you to apply.

* The Stewardship Coordinator position is FULL-TIME and, among other things, involves facilitating volunteer projects, coordinating with federal agencies, conducting fieldwork, and preparing detailed reports.

* The Seasonal Stewardship Coordinator is a PART-TIME position with similar responsibilities and a seasonal work schedule running from roughly mid-February to mid-November.

Both positions involve consecutive long days in remote regions, rigorous physical activity, and periodic backcountry driving.

Read full details and apply at suwa.org/careers (link also in bio).

#ProtectWildUtah #JobOpportunity #CareerOutdoors #EnvironmentalJobs #Conservation

40th Anniversary #tbt Flashback! In July of 2016,

40th Anniversary #tbt Flashback! In July of 2016, more than 1,400 people braved 100-degree heat to attend a public meeting hosted by former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in the tiny town of Bluff, Utah. The topic of discussion was a proposed Bears Ears National Monument.

Sec. Jewell had already toured the Bears Ears area, met with the Utah delegation and local community leaders, and attended the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Summer Gathering. Now she was greeted by a sea of "Protect Bears Ears" t-shirts.

Informed by her report, President Obama designated Bears Ears National Monument that December. It was the first time a U.S. president had responded to a formal request from sovereign Native American Tribes to protect public lands and cultural resources under the Antiquities Act.

You know what happened next. President Trump was sworn into office in January 2017, Ryan Zinke was confirmed as his Interior Secretary, and the war on Bears Ears commenced.

Near the top of Sec. Zinke’s agenda was a trip to Utah to investigate what he called the “problem” of Bears Ears National Monument. Before he arrived, more than 2,500 people rallied at the state capitol in support of Utah’s monuments. While touring Bears Ears, Zinke and his entourage encountered more than 70 activists and Tribal members at Butler Wash. They were waiting for him at Indian Creek too.

But Zinke was resolved to eviscerate the monument, and by early December Trump was on his way to Utah to make a big announcement. Thousands showed up at the state capitol for a “Monumental Mistake” rally, then turned out again two days later to support both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments as Trump revealed he was slashing them by 83% and 47%, respectively.

One year later, Americans submitted an unprecedented 500,000 comments largely in favor of restored protections. Their voices were heard and President Biden restored both monuments in October of 2021. Meanwhile, lawsuits filed by SUWA, the Tribes, and other parties against Trump’s unlawful actions continue to wind their way through the legal system.

We’ve come a long way together—thank you for being part of the Utah wilderness movement!

Utah residents: The Division of Outdoor Recreation

Utah residents: The Division of Outdoor Recreation is seeking your input and we encourage you to speak up for conservation! The Division's survey will help shape the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan. It will also inform management priorities, including Land and Water Conservation Fund investment throughout the state.

Please take a moment to review our Recreation Management web page at suwa.org/recreation, then fill out the survey, which should only take a few minutes (link in bio). Responses are due at the end of the day on Friday, Dec. 1st. Thank you!

📷 Ray Bloxham/SUWA

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425 East 100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 486-3161

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Washington, DC 20001
(202) 546-2215

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Moab, UT 84532

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