UPLA was asked to prepare a briefing for Congress on the importance of volunteerism in helping with the management of our public lands. I shared a personal experience from working with the San Bernardino National Forest through their Adopt a Trail Program to encourage them to expand AAT within National Forests and to implement a similar program within BLM.
UPLA Congressional Hearing Briefing on Volunteerism
UPLA reviewed Scoping documents for the Beas Lewis Flat Improved Campground near Torrey, UT and submitted comments. Generally, we are in support of adding camping capacity, but we want to be sure it does not impact OHV or current disbursed campsites.
You can read our comments here.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced that in support of the Administration’s efforts to streamline federal regulations and reduce unnecessary red tape, they are seeking public input on how to reduce regulatory burdens. Further, they broadly defined “regulations” to capture any agency action that may be considered for revision or repeal. The comment period will be open until at least June 15, 2025.
We encourage you to submit your comments directly using the dedicated email of Interior.RegulatoryInfo@doi.gov. Please also share your comments with me at President@UtahPLA.com
UPLA has begun compiling a list of regulations we would like revised or eliminated, here’s our current draft document.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued its official Record of Decision (ROD) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Red Cliffs Warner Valley Land Exchange, documented under DOI-BLM-UT-C030-2023-0008-EA. This long-debated project includes the construction of a new reservoir and water infrastructure intended to meet critical community needs in Washington County, Utah.
From the beginning, Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA), BlueRibbon Coalition, and Desert Roads and Trails Society evaluated the proposal carefully. While recognizing the need for water infrastructure and the benefits it brings, the groups made a strategic decision not to oppose the project outright but instead to work proactively to secure protections for recreation and open access in the area.
Specifically, the groups negotiated and prioritized five key commitments:
After reviewing the final BLM documents, UPLA, BlueRibbon Coalition, and Desert Roads and Trails Society are filing a joint protest seeking only one clarification: that the BLM explicitly confirms in the Decision Record that the entire West Rim area, above Pipeline Road, will remain designated as open OHV access.
This clarification aligns with the commitments already made by the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), which passed a formal resolution on May 3, 2023, stating they will ensure the eastern portion of the federal parcel, not affected by the reservoir’s high-water mark, remains available for open OHV use — even if BLM’s language falls short.
You can reference the official documents and supporting materials on the UPLA website:
The complete BLM project files can be accessed at the BLM ePlanning website: BLM Red Cliffs Warner Valley Land Exchange.
We encourage all interested readers, OHV users, and public lands advocates to review these documents carefully. If you identify any additional concerns or points you believe should be raised, please email your input directly to President@utahpla.com. Your voice can help ensure that recreation access and public land protections remain at the forefront of this important community project.
By Loren Campbell, President, Utah Public Lands Alliance
This bill does not mandate the sale of public land. It simply makes 94 specific parcels—totaling 12,982 acres—available for purchase by local governments at fair market value. Of these, 12,920 acres are in Washington County. That’s just about 2% of the 629,000 acres of BLM-managed land in the county, or 1.5% of all federally managed land in the area.
The requested parcels originate from long-standing local planning documents. Some have been under Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP) requests for years. This bill provides the mechanism to finally act on these plans through a transparent process involving appraisals and local decision-making.
Utah has consistently called for the transfer of certain federally managed lands to local control—this bill is a direct response to that need. Allowing local governments to acquire these parcels enhances their ability to manage them in ways that benefit residents, whether for infrastructure, parks, utilities, or other public purposes.
Critics have claimed these parcels will be used for “affordable housing.” But in Utah, the amendment includes no specific use restrictions—and only a handful of parcels are even being considered for housing. Each municipality will determine land use based on their community needs, with no federal mandate or blanket development plan.
We conducted a parcel-by-parcel analysis of all 94 areas, including map reviews and field visits for those requiring closer inspection. Of these, 32 parcels were flagged for deeper review. Working alongside representatives from the Washington County Water Conservancy District, Washington County, Congresswoman Maloy’s office, and recreation advocacy groups—including Utah
Public Lands Alliance, Desert Roads and Trails Society, and the BlueRibbon Coalition—we evaluated each parcel’s potential impact on OHV use, other recreation, and scenic value.
The result? We found no significant adverse impacts to OHV access or outdoor recreation. Many parcels are already encumbered with utility easements or limited-use authorizations. Transferring these lands to local control will improve the ability to make upgrades such as utility extensions, road improvements, or public access enhancements.
Every parcel identified in the amendment serves a clear public purpose—whether for water infrastructure, trailheads, civic expansion, or improving public access. By converting these areas from uncertain federal status to accountable local stewardship, this amendment gives communities the tools to responsibly meet growing regional needs.
Unfortunately, much of the media coverage surrounding this bill has relied on emotional appeals rather than facts. Let’s set the record straight: this amendment empowers local governments to purchase select parcels for meaningful public use. It does so with safeguards, local input, and full appraisal transparency.
We stand in full support of Congresswoman Celeste Maloy for her leadership and responsiveness to Utah’s long-standing call for balanced, responsible land management. This amendment is good for Washington County, good for local governance, and good for the people who call this land home.
Click any of the articles below for more information
Final Site Specific Review of BLM Land Transfer
amodei-amendment-NVUT-Land-Sales
UT5_Water_Conservancy_Compressed
UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025
UT 4 – Washington County Land Conveyance West Half – April 9 2025
UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025
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Visit www.UtahPLA.com or email President@UtahPLA.com to learn more about our Mission
There has been a lot of discussion about the Maloy-Amodei Amendment recently that will transfer 11,000 acres of BLM land to local governments in Southern Utah and Nevada. The purpose of the land transfer is for either infrastructure improvements for things like water (4372 acres of it is for Washington County Water Conservation District) or to allow local governments to buy land at reduced cost near other urban areas to provide affordable housing.
UPLA has been analyzing some of the parcels for conflicts with recreation, but I can really use your help. Please take a look at the attached maps, and if you see any conflicts with either these purposes or adversely impact recreation, please email mailto:president@utahpla.com with as much detail as possible. At this point, whether you’re for it or against it is not what we’re looking for, I need details of conflicts with current uses or lands. Also attached is the complete text of the amendment if you care to read it.
We already scheduled a meeting with Washington County Water District to discuss their parcels, but I really need your help with others.
Thank you.
Loren Campbell
NV 1 – Fernley Economic Development Act – October 6 2020NV 2 – Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act Disposal Map – February 6 2025”]UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025UT 4 – Washington County Land Conveyance West Half – April 9 2025
UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025
UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025
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NV 2 – Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act Disposal Map – February 6 2025