March 20th 2019 Update: In our previous status updates regarding the closure of Area BFE, we referred to the current owner of area BFE as the “new” owner.  This was incorrect, as the current owner has been the owner of Area BFE since its inception.  I spoke with him this morning, and his response to was that other than the incorrect referral to him as the “new owner” our reports have been accurate, and fair.  He spoke of the history of Area BFE, and said that “After 15 years of ownership of the property, due primarily to escalating costs of insurance, I decided to develop the area into an OHV park, with improved facilities onsite.”    As we have stated previously, the closure of Area BFE does close a portion of the Strike Ravine trail, and therefore Strike  Ravine trail will not be run as a trail during Easter Jeep Safari.  The Red Rock 4 Wheelers are working with the BLM to create a new portion of the trail that will bypass Area BFE.  This will take some time, but once this new portion is completed  Strike Ravine Trail wil be opened for public use.  Until then, the trail will be truncated and will not be open across Area BFE.  Please respect the private land owner’s decision to develop his property.   – Gil Meacham, UPLA President.

We received an update from the Red Rock 4 Wheelers club (who host the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah) that off roading area BFE is sold, and the new owner will be building a retreat.

This has caused the closure of Strike Ravine run, which has been the subject of much legal maneuvering in the past. The courts found that the Strike Ravine trail is a recognized right of way, and it was reopened, until now.

Up to 2018, Strike ravine was kept open, but now the Red Rock 4 Wheelers have announced that Strike Ravine will not be run for the 2019 Easter Jeep Safari, and that they plan to create an alternative route to circumnavigate the closed private area that has been open until the closure of Area BFE.

• 15 other trails within Area BFE are also closed.

On the the area BFE website (www.areabfe.com) news page, they a have posted the following statement:

“On June 5, 2018, AreaBFE will be closing its doors to the general public to allow construction to start on the property for its build-out.

This means that AreaBFE is closed until further notice.

Special Events will be accommodated in Area BFE during our build-out phase to bring in power and water to the property. This will allow Area BFE to add some much needed facilities such as a bathroom house with showers.

Once reopened, the park will be membership-based, with daily access fees also available. Please watch our website and social media for membership updates.”

UPLA has requested a clarification of the utah public land protection status of this area. Any answers will be posted on the utahpla.com website as they are received.

HURRICANE – What began last Tuesday as a meeting with officials about the broader picture of maintaining access to public lands quickly turned into a debate about a proposed land swap involving a 1,200-acre chunk of the Sand Mountain off-highway vehicle area, a move opponents believe would open the floodgates to development in the area. Read More…

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…

ST. GEORGE – The BLM-Utah Canyon Country District is seeking public comment on proposed supplementary rules for public lands in the Moab and Monticello Field Offices. The proposed rules, which are now available for public review in the Federal Register, are designed to facilitate safe and responsible recreation on BLM-administered public lands. 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…