Utah Issues
What Can You Do?
Visit the Library of Congress to view the text of the Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009, H.R.1275 and S 390.
Thank your Congressional representatives for passing the bill.
Check this site frequently for news about our upcoming work on future comprehensive land bills for southern Utah.
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We need a workable policy of land exchange to get state lands out of WSAs, critical wildlife habitat lands, recreational areas and municipal watersheds. Protection is needed for large blocks of federal land with state inholdings near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Getting state trust lands out of wilderness study areas: The Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act
About 3.5 million acres of state trust lands remain in Utah today, awaiting disposition:
- 190,000 acres of SITLA lands held within wilderness study areas (WSAs)
- 330,000 acres in wilderness inventory areas
- 500,000 acres in America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act
In August 2009, President Obama signed the Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act into law. This legislation directs the exchange of about 46,300 acres of SITLA lands and mineral estate for about 35,700 acres of BLM lands and mineral estate in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah counties for equal value. Grand Canyon Trust worked since 2004 for passage of this legislation.
BLM will acquire lands in WSAs, critical wildlife habitat areas, and important recreational lands. SITLA will acquire lands with high energy-development potential, slated for development regardless of ownership.
Various conservation and business groups supported the bill, including the Nature Conservancy, Utah Open Lands, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Utah Wilderness Coalition, Utah Rivers Council, Outdoor Industry Association, National Parks Conservation Association, Utah Guides and Outfitters, and the Trust. It also had broad bipartisan support from Grand, San Juan and Uintah counties; The City of Moab and the Town of Castle Valley; Governor Huntsman and the Utah Legislature; and the Utah Education Association.
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