Urge Representative Matheson to Oppose Efforts to Severely Curtail Access to the Greater Canyonlands!

Urge Representative Matheson to Oppose Efforts to Severely Curtail Access to the Greater Canyonlands!

Earlier this week non-motorized recreation groups joined a number of Utah businesses on a letter to President Obama urging him to designate 1.4 million acres of the Greater Canyonlands in Utah as a National Monument. The letter stated, “Federal land use plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land to drilling and mining and fail to address exploding off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude” (emphasis added). Of course the letter fails to note that a recent management plan was put in place for the area that is supported by local governments and limits motorized and non-motorized activities to routes that have been subject to environmental analysis and public involvement. Further, the letter from non-motorized organizations cites an economic impact study that shows “that outdoor recreation is ‘an overlooked economic giant,’ generating $646 billion in national sales and services in 2011 and supporting 6.1 million jobs…” Again, they are telling only part of the story. The same study shows that approximately $257 billion or nearly 40% of the total $646 billion in economic impact is derived from motorized recreation. And, as you know, motorized recreation is far too often shut out of National Monument areas.

Most of Utah’s Congressional delegation has already responded. Click here to view a letter from Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee and Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz urging the President to reject this, and all, petitions for National Monument designation by presidential decree.

Please click the Take Action link below to send an email urging Representative Jim Matheson to oppose this designation as well.

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