There have been many confusing and conflicting reports of the alarming actions in Moab and media posts about off roading in Moab.  UPLA takes restrictions to off road access very seriously, so we went to one of our Trustees, Melissa Fischer, to get the answers. Melissa not only lives in Moab, but is very active in the off road community.

She began adding to her personal knowledge by calling Chris Baird, the Administrator for the Grand County Commission, where Moab is located. This commission is the body responsible for issuing special event permits. He explained to her that there are several separate issues that happened simultaneously that impacted permits.

The first issue involved special event permit registration caps related to COVID. All events that had been permitted are currently able to be held. Based on the state’s COVID transmission level, there are guidelines that Grand county adopted in consultation with the SE Utah Health Department. When Utah is in a High Transmission status, there are no indoor events that could be held in Grand County and outdoor events were restricted to 250 people PER DAY for all locations. If the Transmission status was lowered to a moderate category, that number increases to 1000 per day outdoor and adds 500 per day indoors. It was because of these restrictions that Red Rock 4 Wheelers announced the cancellation of EJS.

After hearing an interview with Chris Baird on Fox 13 where Chris made an offer to try to draft an amendment to the ordinance that would allow 250 people at each separate location for off road events,  UPLA Trustee Melissa Fischer and President Gil Meacham leaped into action. They contacted Mike Kelso, President of Red Rock 4 Wheelers, and Chris Baird to find a common solution that would allow EJS to be held, at least on a limited basis. Quickly we found common ground, and UPLA put Chris and Mike together to drafting an amendment to the Ordinance that allowed 250 people per location. That amendment was quickly drafted and Fast Tracked to get the EJS permit approved by County Commissioners on February 16. The amendment passed with 100% of the commissioner’s approval, and EJS 2021 was back on the calendar!

The second major issue is directly related to ATVs or rock crawlers that have an ATV plate. Last Fall, the County received a “historical number of citizen complaints, mostly related to noise impacts of ATV rentals and tours, many of them specifically during the Rally on the Rocks event.” It should also be noted that most of these complaints involved complaints on Moab city streets, not on trails. In response to these complaints, Grand County and City of Moab voted on October 20, 2020 to pass Resolution 3245 creating a joint temporary moratorium that bans new licenses issued for ATV sales and leasing, rentals, guide services, outfitters, and guide services. It has nothing to do with modified, street legal jeeps nor does it prevent UTV use on county roads (if street legal). The moratorium also prevents the issuance of special event permits. This moratorium will exist for 180 days and then it expires. It is the county’s goal to have a redraft of the land use code in Grand County (not public lands) in place before the moratorium expires. We have no information on what the redraft will look like or at what level it will permanently impact the ATV or off-roading community and businesses, but promise to update you as we get information.

UPLA is very concerned about any restrictions or limits placed on all types of motorized use of public lands. It should be noted that even in these recent events, motorized access on public lands and trails was not restricted, the actions were focused on what happens on Moab city limits and streets.

Just like the work UPLA did to put EJS back on the calendar, we will continue to work to preserve and protect access to public lands by all motorized traffic, 4x4s, ATVs, UTVs, Motorcycles, and Snowmobiles. We will also work to improve our education of Tread Lightly and “Good Neighbor” policies amongst all off road users. Help us spread the word to all your Off Roading Family.

UPLA got involved today and may have paved a path for EJS to be held for 2021.

UPLA Trustee Melissa Fischer started by calling Chris Baird, the Administrator for the Grand County Commission, where Moab is located. This commission is the body responsible for issuing special event permits.

The principal issue is regarding special event permit registration caps related to COVID. Based on the state’s COVID transmission level, there are guidelines that Grand County has adopted based on the SE Utah Health Department recommendations.  SE Utah is in a High Transmission status, meaning there can be no indoor events and outdoor events are restricted to 250 people PER DAY for all locations.

According to an interview with Chris Baird, Grand County Commission Administrator, with Fox 13 today, Chris made an offer to Red Rock 4 Wheelers to draft an amendment to the ordinance that would allow 250 people at each dispersed location. He indicated that the amendment would still have to be approved by the Commission through public forums.

This morning, UPLA President Gil Meacham spoke with Red Rock’s President, Mike Kelso. Mike was unaware of Chris Baird’s offer to work on revising the ordinance. and confirmed that if that was done,  Red Rock was willing to do the event with Trail Runs and limited other activities.

A subsequent phone call by Melissa and Gil with Chris Baird also was very productive. Chris indicated that if Red Rock wished to proceed, that he could draft an amendment and with  Fast Tracking they could get approval by February 16. He also confirmed that he felt the amendment  was likely to be approved by the Commission. Another phone call with Mike Kelso confirmed that if approval was granted by February 16  Easter Jeep Safari 2021 would proceed! We put Mike and Chris in touch with each other.

Bottom line is this morning Easter Jeep Safari for this year was cancelled. Through the active collaboration of UPLA, County Administrator Chris Baird, and Red Rock 4 Wheelers, it appears there is now a path for EJS to continue this year.

This is a developing story with information changing rapidly. In the meantime, we urge you to check accuracy of information you post on this subject and to check back with UPLA for further updates.

Update, Just In: The Grand County Commission administrator has requested that EJS attendees, RR4W members, and the 4-wheeling community send letters to the county commission in support of the amendment to allow 250 participants at each dispersed location. Please send via email to: commission@grandcountyutah.net

JUNE 2019 POWERSPORT NEWS

Hanksville, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced increased access and off- highway vehicle (OHV) opportunities within the Factory Butte Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) near Hanksville, UT.
The Richfield Field Office has rescinded the 2006 Factory Butte OHV travel restriction after meeting criteria to develop a threatened and endangered species monitoring plan and installing infrastructure to protect endangered cactus species.
“We have been monitoring and installing infrastructure over the last 10 years to protect endangered cactus species so that the BLM can enhance recreational access at Factory Butte,” Joelle McCarthy, BLM Richfield Field Manager, said. “We have met all of the necessary criteria. Factory Butte provides nationally renowned opportunities for motorized recreation where families and OHV enthusiasts can play.”
Two OHV play areas have been subject to temporary travel restrictions until certain monitoring and infrastructure requirements were in place: Factory Butte (5,300 acres) and Caineville Cove (100 acres). After meeting the criteria, those play areas are now available for motorized use. Additionally, riders can continue to enjoy cross country riding at Factory Butte within the Swing Arm City OHV Play Area (2,602 acres), as well as more than 200 miles of designated routes in the area.
“We have worked closely with the BLM to conserve the rare and endangered plants found exclusively in southcentral Utah,” Larry Crist, project leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Utah Ecological Services Field Office, said. “We support lifting the restriction order and will continue to work with the BLM to ensure recreation and conservation activities here remain compatible and sustainable.”
The BLM seeks to maintain motorized access to the area while protecting endangered plant species. The BLM, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has been monitoring these species annually since 2009. To ensure that visitors can maintain access to these areas, the BLM requires cross country motorized users to stay within the OHV open play areas and on designated routes within the SRMA. Maps and information are posted on kiosks throughout the SRMA and are available at the BLM offices in Richfield and Hanksville, UT.
The BLM asks visitors to the Factory Butte SRMA to ride by the rules and stay on designated routes when riding outside of the open areas. Future motorized access is dependent on compliance and continued protection of the endangered cactus species under the Endangered Species Act. You can also get involved by volunteering with the BLM to maintain signage, infrastructure, and provide resource education and safety information to riders visiting the SRMA.
If you have questions, or would like to know more about opportunities for riding or volunteering at Factory Butte, visit the Henry Mountains Field Station in Hanksville, at 380 South 100 West, or call (435) 542-3461. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.

Public land swaps are common in this country and hundreds of acres of land might be exchanged in any given year. As part of our mission to preserve Utah’s public lands for all to enjoy and use, we at Utah Public Lands Alliance keep an eye on ongoing land swaps that might restrict our use of these public lands.

The Land Exchange Program

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts land swaps with other landowners in order to acquire important or threatened lands while disposing of lands that have become difficult or impossible to manage. This allows BLM to trade off parcels of private or public land, to smooth out ownership of land in the country and to improve access to public land. The agency is authorized to conduct land exchanges under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. Furthermore, Congress sometimes enacts legislation that governs or authorizes specific land swaps.

FLPMA outlines how land exchanges are to happen. Some of the stipulations include:

• Land exchanges must be in the public interest.
• The nonfederal and federal lands to be swapped must be in the same state.
• The value of the lands swapped are to be equal – sometimes payments may be made under strict and specific terms to equalize the value.

Some land exchanges involve single parcels of land while others have involved the consolidation of multiple parcels involving one or more swaps over time.

Does the Public Really Benefit?

Lands that are acquired by BLM through exchange become public lands and are managed under existing authorities.

While land swaps can offer local communities better access to public land or help in preserving areas of historic, natural or recreational significance, these exchanges are not always benign. There have been instances where land swaps have benefitted private interests such as mining conglomerates, timber companies and developers who then traded used-up tracts for pristine swathes of land. This compounded by under-appraisal of public lands and overvaluing of private lands means that the swaps sometimes yield dubious benefits to the public.

Additionally, the complexity and obscurity of land swaps mean that the public often remains in the dark, hence largely unaware about the entire process.

Support Our Work To Preserve Utah’s Lands

Given the importance of our public lands, the UPLA works to expand public knowledge of the land swap program and encourages citizens to become more involved in his crucial issue. Through our projects, we strive to make a difference in Utah land use and we won’t hesitate to speak out when our public lands are threatened.

You too can get involved with UPLA through one of our membership options, subscribing to our newsletter or sharing our mission and work with others. We also hold or assist in events to encourage people to enjoy this beautiful land we have.

It would be tragic if the public lost some of the most valuable lands we have left. That’s why we encourage all Utahns and Americans to join us in our cause to preserve and keep Utah’s public lands for public use.

Over 70% of Utah land is public and our mission here at Utah Public Lands Alliance is to preserve these lands for public use. Utah’s public land is put to a variety of uses including solar and wind farms, gas wells, grazing, wildlife habitats, and recreation. Each year, hundreds of tourists and visitors come from all over to take part in different recreation activities on our public lands – including ohv travel, overlanding, hiking, cycling, canyoneering, equestrian, fishing, and boating.

In order to carry out our mission and help make a difference in Utah land use, we rely on assistance from a team of volunteers. It would have been impossible to accomplish all our various projects without the support and commitment of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers over the years. Additionally, without volunteers, the UPLA would not have achieved the level of influence and presence we’ve had both locally and nationally.

We welcome new volunteers all the time and we greatly value the ideas, expertise, time and commitment you bring.

Some Of The Ways Utah Volunteers Help Us

Volunteering with the UPLA is an opportunity to develop new skills, learn more about Utah’s public lands and their use as well as make new friends.

By volunteering with us, you’ll be helping us reach more people to raise awareness of the importance of our precious public lands and ensuring they remain in public hands for years to come.  There is something for everybody whether you want to spend time helping organize some of our events or helping out with one of our projects.

Some of the tasks our volunteers have helped with include:

• Creating approved new trails or maintaining existing trails, including adding signs.
• Keeping an ear out for news that affects our public lands and bringing it to our attention.
• Helping at events. During events such as the Winter 4×4 Jamboree, our volunteers help with search and rescue, registration, recovery, clean up and even act as trail leaders.
• Lobbying – Keeping everyone updated on legislation that might restrict our use of public lands and chatting to government or local authority officials and representatives to lobby support for our mission and campaigns.

Other Ways To Get Involved With UPLA

Other than subscribing to our newsletter, spreading word about what we do on social media and volunteering, you can also help the UPLA by donating.

We have several membership subscriptions available, each with different donation amounts so you can choose the one you’re most comfortable with. For instance, a small donation of $10 per year would get you an individual UPLA membership with access to GPS tracks and reports to help you enjoy the best trails in Utah.

A donation of $50 or $100 annually will get you Organizational or Corporate Membership, respectively, while a donation of $500 will give you Lifetime UPLA Membership.

Every little donation or time spent volunteering counts and is appreciated. We welcome you to volunteer or donate and help us carry on with our work.

The Natural Resources Management Act was passed by the Senate the morning of February 12, 2019.

It’s not too late to stop it in the House, and we encourage motorized and mechanized (bicycle) users to contact their representatives to say they oppose restricting access around the San Rafael Swell.

The main reason Emery County Commissioners and Governor Herbert support the bill is it consolidates over 64,000 acres of School Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA) property that is currently spread out across Emery County. Developing the consolidated land could generate at least $50 million. Such consolidation has been achieved many other times without having to designate 10 acres of wilderness for every 1 acre of SITLA land, which is what happened here.

We feel that the Governor’s and Commissioners’ support of the bill is very short sighted, because putting over 642,000 acres around the San Rafael Swell into Wilderness designation will close 73 miles of county Class D primitive roads plus other motorized trails. The loss of future OHV revenue from these 642,000 acres dwarfs the one-time revenue of $50 million from consolidating those other 64,000 acres. Decision makers likely undervalued the 642,000 acres and 73 miles because they didn’t consider the OHV revenue potential.

The San Rafael Swell is a beautiful area. The land is rugged and vast, with historic travel routes winding through magnificent mesas. For many years, it has been enjoyed by families traveling by horse, 4x4s, ATVs, bikes, and foot. Travel in the San Rafael Swell is currently restricted to “Designated Routes Only” so it is already legally protected. Wilderness is restricted to “Non-mechanized Use Only” and thus limits access to only elite hikers.

For a more detailed analysis of the bill, go to www.SageRidersMC.com/land-use-issues.html.

On February 11th, 2019, Senator Mike Lee wrote an article for the Deseret News titled “This bill is not the right move for Utah lands.” Here are a few key points Senator Lee Makes in that article:

The bill fails to reform federal land acquisition programs, and reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which has not been implemented consistent with the original intention of the fund.

The bill adds new restrictions on land already under federal control and protection.

The bill creates another 1.3 million acres of Wilderness in the West, over half [642,000 acres] in Utah.

Wilderness designation limits far more activities than required to actually protect the land.

Wilderness designation prohibits almost all activity, including all commercial activity, all infrastructure development, and any travel by car or bicycle.

This bill does nothing to address the imminent threat to Utah from unilateral executive land grabs through the Antiquities Act. Other western states have this protection. All that would have been required to provide Utah the same protection would be adding Utah to the list of protected States.

Please consider joining the Utah Public Lands Alliance. You can show your support for keeping public lands open by joining UPLA. UPLA will continue updating status of this bill here online.

Remember, “United We Stand!”