Redrock Heritage for SE Utah Public Lands

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The majority of southeast Utah's world-famous public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is in the process of deciding which of these lands will be left in their natural state, and which will be open to short-sighted energy exploration and increasing off-road vehicle damage. Decisions made in the next two years will affect these spectacular but fragile lands for decades to come...

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Redrock Heritage Plan for Sustainable Economies and Ecosystems

(This is a summary. Click here for the full plan.)

For many, the redrock wilderness of southeast Utah is the greatest place on earth. It has inspired hundreds of writers and artists. People are captivated by the aesthetic qualities of canyon country, including the striking clear skies, sprawling vistas, profound natural quiet, geological marvels, and its wild and primitive feel.

Unfortunately, the threats to this world-famous landscape are great and growing. Oil and gas development is escalating, leaving behind toxic sludge pits and an unwieldy system of roads that permanently scars this world-class scenery. Off-road vehicle use is causing loss of natural quiet, soil and crusts, damage to desert streams and springs and conflicts with other users. Domestic livestock grazing in this desert ecosystem is devastating to the native vegetation and drastically reduces forage for the wildlife that call this landscape home.

The BLM must acknowledge that the canyons, mesas, rivers and dunes of southeastern Utah are a precious resource that should not be managed as just another place for oil drilling, unmitigated grazing and ORV mayhem. Economically, it makes sense to protect this outstanding scenery. Studies show that communities near protected wilderness are economically resilient. The aim of this proposal is to care for the goose laying the golden eggs.

Transportation Plan and Off-road Vehicles

The current road and trail network in SE Utah is the unplanned result of historical seismic and mineral exploration. This haphazard spider web of routes makes no sense whatsoever as a reasonable recreational transportation plan. The Redrock Heritage transportation plan is based on the following principles:

Vehicles should be restricted to designated roads and trails throughout the entire SE Utah region -- no "open" ORV play areas.
In order to facilitate enforcement, there should be a "closed unless signed open" policy
All routes should serve some identifiable and compelling purpose.
There needs to be adequate opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, while avoiding conflicts between these two groups.
Ecologically damaging routes, such as routes through riparian areas, should be closed.
There needs to be adequate opportunities to get out of earshot of motorized trails.

Maps of the Redrock Heritage transportation plan can be found here.

The proposed transportation plan moves toward a more balanced spectrum of recreational opportunities, as is shown on this page.

Oil and Gas

Oil and gas exploration and development is one of the major causes of environmental destruction in SE Utah. But most geologists agree that very little energy remains to be tapped outside the areas already developed. If every remaining undeveloped area in Utah were filled with drill pads, it would extend our national oil supply by about 3 weeks and our natural gas supply by less than 5 months.

O & G development could continue in and near productive areas such as the eastern Book Cliffs and Lisbon Valley.
O & G development would be phased out in the eastern Canyonlands Basin, Labyrinth/Goldbar/Island in the Sky area, Dome Plateau, and Fisher Valley.
Click here for maps of the oil and gas leasing proposal.

Other Provisions

New lights in remote areas are strongly discouraged.
Popular recreational and sensitive biological areas are not appropriate for livestock grazing.
All grazing allotments will be eligible for voluntary buyout and retirement.