Experts are worried the lawsuit could “upset the apple cart” of the American West
SIERRA-jonathan
Mon, 2024-12-30 02:00
Photo courtesy BLM
KatherineIrving
Dec302024
NostateismorefamousforitsoutdoorrecreationopportunitiesthanUtah.Withterrainrangingfromdesertstoevergreenforestsandlotsofseasonalvariation,thestateattractshikers,skiers,climbers,cyclers,hunters,fishermen,andmore.“It’saboutperfectforallthingsoutdoors,”saysDennisGoreham,theconservationdirectoroftheUtah-basedWasatchMountainClub.
However,publicaccesstoUtah’soutdoorareascouldbeabouttochange.InAugust,theStateofUtahfileda lawsuitwiththeSupremeCourtcallingintoquestiontheBureauofLandManagement’srighttoretainownershipof18.5millionacresofpubliclandinthestate.AmongthelandsinvolvedinthesuitareiconicplacessuchasLabyrinthCanyon,DirtyDevilRiver,andtheFisherTowers.“Thisisjustincrediblyradical,”saysStephenBloch,legaldirectoroftheSouthernUtahWildernessAlliance(SUWA). “UtahistryingtoentirelyupsettheapplecartofhowtheAmericanWestisstructured.�
