Red Cliffs Warner Valley Land Exchange: UPLA, BlueRibbon, and Desert Roads and Trails Society File Joint Protest for OHV Access Clarification
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:
- Preserve open OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) access on top of the ridge
- Prevent future residential development on the east side of the West Rim Ridge
- Maintain OHV access from the Washington Dam staging area floor
- Support building an improved staging area at Washington Dam with amenities such as restrooms
- Develop alternatives to accommodate dispersed camping displaced by the reservoir footprint
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:
- WCWCD Resolution and Attachments
- Environmental Assessment Recreation Section (Pages 56–58)
- Environmental Assessment ROW Easement Section (Pages 68–71)
- Decision Record Pages 3–4
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.
