WASHINGTON COUNTY – Within the last seven months, a group of concerned local citizens formed the Utah Public Lands Alliance, an organization whose mission is “preserving public lands for public use” and whose main concern (and the impetus behind its establishment) is a proposed 1,200-acre land swap on Sand Mountain, a place it calls “Your OHV Paradise” on its fliers. Read more…
The BLM recognizes the positive economic impact that motorized recreation on public lands has on communities throughout Utah and is committed to working with its many partners to support responsible OHV-use on BLM-managed lands. In recent years, nearly six million annual visitors recreating on Utah’s public lands have boosted local economies and community job growth through recreation tourism; in 2012, recreation on BLM-managed lands in Utah provided $490 million in local and national economic benefits. Read more…
HURRICANE – In a brief, early meeting to accommodate neighborhood caucuses, the Hurricane City Council approved two subdivisions but spurned plans for another potential subdivision, whose developer has been waiting nearly 18 years for a proposed development to come to fruition. Read more…
HURRICANE – The Mojave desert tortoise has long been a source of contention in Washington County, at least insofar as it has taken preeminence over landowner’s rights. One landowner in particular has been waiting 17 years for a viable exchange of his property that was appropriated to the interest of the tortoise. Read more…
ST. GEORGE – A land use group is threatening action to prevent a proposed land exchange that would remove 1,200 acres from the popular Sand Mountain Recreation Area. In an April 13 letter to developer Bob Brennan, the Utah Public Lands Alliance vowed to use “every conceivable legal means available … including widespread publicity and public demonstrations” Read More
To see a history of the Brennen swap proposal, click here.