Wild Utah

We're taking a look back at 2022, the challenges we faced, the coalitions we helped build, and lands we protected. We'll also take this opportunity to thank you, our steadfast members and followers. Our thanks goes way beyond words that you can read or hear. In 2023, SUWA celebrates its 40th anniversary. As it has been since those early years in the 1980s, our members and supporters are the heart of the movement to Protect Wild Utah. And as the day-to-day work to protect wild redrock country grinds along slowly, sure progress is being made, step-by-hard-earned-step, and we're taking the opportunity to focus on that progress in this episode.Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Bears Ears National Monument has been in the news for years due to its status as a national monument being in flux– and as it finally enters its official planning process, we're looking to Indigenous leaders to tell us what co-management (and the change in agency culture it could take to make that happen successfully) really mean.A note: It's at this stage of the planning process that the Bureau of Land Management receives input from the public to prioritize issues they should focus on. The current open comment period (which ends October 31st) is your golden opportunity to help shape the future of the Bears Ears National Monument and echo sentiments put forward by the Indigenous voices leading the way. Joining us for this essential conversation about the role of Indigenous knowledge and leadership for Bears Ears National Monument and beyond is Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, whom we're honored to have on the show. Regina is a fierce advocate for nature who has served as a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council. She's a former co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-tribal Coalition and helped lead the effort that resulted in the Bears Ears being designated as a national monument. She has been appointed by Department of Interior Secretary Haaland to serve as the Chair of the current Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee, and she also serves on SUWA's board of directors.Take action after this episode!The BLM is accepting comments until 10/31 as part of the scoping process. This is your chance to tell the BLM what issues are important for them to consider as they develop a draft management plan.Comment Today!Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

TAKE ACTION TO SAVE LABYRINTH CANYON: Leave a comment by 10/7!⁠The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on a draft travel management plan for the iconic Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges area outside of Moab. The plan will determine where off-road vehicle (ORV) use is allowed in this remarkable landscape for decades to come, so public input is extremely important. ⁠⁠Home to irreplaceable cultural and historic resources, critical wildlife habitat, and unmatched quiet recreational opportunities, the Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges region is a magnificent area of Utah's backcountry. The BLM's travel plan will have a long-lasting impact on the future of this region by determining where ORVs will be able to travel and what areas will be managed for the protection of wildlife, solitude, cultural values and non-motorized recreation.⁠⁠Labyrinth Canyon is a gem of the American West, where the placid Green River flows for more than 40 miles past towering canyon walls. This stretch of river provides an unparalleled multi-day wilderness experience for boaters of all ages and experience levels. It is also a designated Wild and Scenic River, noted for its outstanding recreational, scenic, ecological, and cultural values. ⁠You can act now by leaving a comment with the BLM by October 7th. It only takes minutes and your voice truly matters on these issues. Head to suwa.org/travelplans where we've made it easy to get started, and thank you for taking action.

What's “GSENM RMP”, anyway? It's shorthand for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan. Originally proclaimed by President Clinton in 1996, the almost two million acre monument was slashed in half under former President Trump in 2017. It's been close to a year since President Biden restored the monument to its original boundaries, and it's time for his administration to re-write the Trump-era plan and re-emphasize scientific discovery and conservation as the primary purpose of the monument. That also means that it's time for you to get involved!Our guest is SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld, who is heading up SUWA's official comments about Grand Stairacse-Escalante to the BLM. In non-legal terms, she explains the process for monument planning and helps us understand how to effectively engage in making the final plan a guiding document we can all be proud of. Take Action After this Episode:Have a Say in the Future of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument!Leave your public comment to the Bureau of Land Management by 9/27.Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Terri Martin, Organizer for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, has lived a life in service to Utah's wild desert landscapes. In this bonus episode of the Bristlecone Firesides podcast, Terri tells us about the spiritual and ecological value of Utah's wilderness and what she has learned over the decades of working with SUWA and other organizations that defend sacred landscapes.Take Action After this Episode:Subscribe to the Bristlecone Firesides podcast!Resources:Act now with SUWACatch up on Season OneUtah Diné BikéyahThank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah and Bristlecone Firesides are made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Bristlecone Firesides Podcast

Where does wilderness show up in literature and spirituality? We're proud to share 20 minutes of the Bristlecone Firesides podcast to provide some answers to this question.  Great nature writers such as John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, and Aldo Leopold have written extensively that wilderness contains the salvation of mankind. Wilderness is also a recurring spiritual theme in sacred texts throughout the world. What is this Wilderness and why is it crucial to our spiritual growth? What can we learn about ourselves from understanding this Wildness? Join co-hosts Madison Daniels and Abigail Pinegar to dig in with this engaging conversation that gets to the heart of what draws some individuals to wilderness conservation.Take Action After this Episode:Subscribe to the Bristlecone Firesides podcast!Resources:Act now with SUWACatch up on Season One30×30 CampaignThe Wilderness ActHow to Do Nothing by Jenny OdellFrom Wild Man to Wise Man by Richard RohrThank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah and Bristlecone Firesides are made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Bristlecone Firesides Podcast

Do two things this summer to feel good: get out into redrock wilderness for a visit, and get involved in demanding respect for la tierra. Carlos Prado (@Outdoorlos) joins us to give some tips. https://www.instagram.com/outdoorlos/For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands.Host: Olivia JuarezProduction: Laura BorichevskyMusic: Kevin MacLeod

Haga dos cosas este verano para sentirse bien: visita a tierra salvaje de roca roja, e involúcrese en exigir respeto por la tierra. Carlos Prado (@Outdoorlos) se une a nosotras para dar consejos. Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas.Presentador de podcasts: Amy DominguezProducción: PROArtes MexicoMúsica: Kevin MacLeod

Latinos have called Utah home since before our gente were called Latino. We speak with University of Utah Professor Armando Solórzano to learn about the long history. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1179313&page=2&facet_setname_s=dha_latinoFor more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands.Host: Olivia JuarezProduction: Laura BorichevskyMusic: Kevin MacLeod

Latinos han llamado Utah a la patria antes de que nuestra gente fuera llamada latina. Hablamos con el Profesor Armando Solórzano de la Universidad de Utah para conocer la historia larga. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1179313&page=2&facet_setname_s=dha_latinoPara más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas.Presentador de podcasts: Amy DominguezProducción: PROArtes MexicoMúsica: Kevin MacLeod y opo

Focusing on the ways that wilderness benefits the climate, wildlife, or your own community's wellness on a daily basis with the Co-Director of Uplift, Lyrica Maldonado. https://upliftclimate.org/For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands.Host: Olivia JuarezProduction: Laura BorichevskyMusic: Kevin MacLeod

Enfocamos en las maneras en que la tierra silvestre beneficia la clima, la vida silvestre, y bienestar de comunidad a diario con Codirectora de Uplift, Lyrica Maldonado. https://upliftclimate.org/Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas.Presentador de podcasts: Amy DominguezProducción: PROArtes MexicoMúsica: Kevin MacLeod y Tim O'Keefe

What are federally "owned" lands? What does BLM have to do with wilderness? Get the answers with former Utah State Representative and SUWA Board Member Rebecca Chavez-Houck. For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands.Host: Olivia JuarezProduction: Laura BorichevskyMusic: Kevin MacLeod

¿Cuáles son tierras en la propiedad del gobierno? ?¿Cuál es la relación entre BLM y tierra silvestre? Obtenemos las respuestas con anterior Representativa del Estado de Utah, y miembro del consejo de SUWA, Rebecca Chavez-Houck.Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas.Presentador de podcasts: Amy DominguezProducción: PROArtes MexicoMúsica: Kevin MacLeod

The heart behind activism can sometimes be overlooked– but it's often what grounds us in why we do this work. That couldn't be more true for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. This spring, they passed a Resolution in support of America's Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA) and Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The church's support benefits future generations of Americans and show respect for Indigenous people with ties to the land, and it furthers action to combat climate change and stem the global loss of biodiversity by protecting habitat for all living beings.⁠Joining this episode to discuss the importance of this resolution as one component of protecting all living things are three people from the Episcopal Church in Utah:  the Very Reverend Tyler Doherty, the Dean & Rector at St Mark's Cathedral; Ron Barness, a longtime member of St Mark's who serves on the vestry and is chair of the Creation Care sub-committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah; and Forrest Cuch, a Ute tribal Elder, Senior Warden at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Whiterocks, Utah, and a member of the Creation Care sub-committee. Take Action After this Episode:Sign up to stay in the loop on redrock news and actions from SUWA!Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Since its inception a few years back, SUWA's Stewardship Program has aimed to foster a stewardship ethic and promote service as recreation in Utah through opportunities to work directly and actively to preserve and enhance the wilderness character of Utah's public lands. So what does all of that mean– for volunteers, and for the redrock wilderness?Tune in to find out! You'll be transported to a recent stewardship project in the Canyon Rims area (featuring voices from a couple inspiring University of Utah Alternate Break students) while hearing all about SUWA's stewardship philosophy from one incredibly dynamic duo: Stewardship Director Jeremy Lynch and Stewardship Coordinator Jack Hanley. Take Action After this Episode:Sign up to stay in the know about future Stewardship Projects this season and beyond!Check out the SUWA Stewardship Project Calendar here!Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastA special thank you for this episode also goes to the U of U Alternate Break crew who joined us for a one-day project that helped to create the in-the-field audio you hear on this episode.Subscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

How do we balance off-road vehicle use with the critical need to protect southern Utah's redrock wilderness?Anyone who visits southern Utah will inevitably hear the whine of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and see how their use has scarred the landscape. In southern Utah especially, the recent exponential growth of ORV recreation has led to stream erosion and water pollution, dust and soil erosion, destruction of wildlife habitat, damage to archaeological sites and cultural resources, and increased conflicts between public land users.Travel management is one tool that can help us to take part in the creation of thoughtful, balanced plans that provide access– not excess– when it comes to off-road vehicle use and mitigate impacts to wilderness. Tune in to hear all about it (including how you can take action right now!) from SUWA's ORV Policy Fellow, Kelsey Cruickshank. Take Action After this Episode:Comment now on the scoping plans for Paunsaugunt (Kanab, UT) travel management area!Sign up to receive action alerts from SUWA so you can participate in upcoming comment periods for ORV use on Utah's public lands!Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

The oil & gas leasing, drilling and cleanup program in the United States is a mess– needing serious reform, time and money to fix. During the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden made some encouraging statements and promises to address the climate crisis. in particular, Mr. Biden promised to wind down oil & gas leasing and drilling on public lands in the U.S. So where do things stand one year later, especially in Utah? To answer that question and explore the administration's ongoing efforts to reform this broken program, we are joined by SUWA Staff Attorney Landon Newell.Take Action After this Episode:Sign up to receive alerts from SUWA so you can participate in petitions, keep up to date on oil & gas leasing news, and take other actions to support oil & gas reform!Resources:Story Map: The Pause on New Oil & Gas Leasing in Utah: One Year LaterThank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here when this link becomes active.

What happens when new land protections and wilderness are designated? While every land management journey is different, one thing's for sure: the devil's in the details.⁠⁠The latest episode of Wild Utah looks at this process through 663,000 acres of land recently designated as wilderness through the 2019 John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, Congress passed the Emery County Public Land Management Act. Among other things, this act created 17 new wilderness areas, the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area, and three Wild and Scenic segments on the Green River. ⁠⁠As a result of these new designations, there are a lot of details to consider. And because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must update its management plan for each of the affected areas-- which includes input from the public-- it's a process that will take well over a year to complete. ⁠⁠So, what's the importance of this process? What do we want to see happen in following through with these new wilderness protections? And when and how do we contact the BLM about all of this to make our voices heard? SUWA Wildlands Attorney Judi Brawer joins us in this highly informative episode that we can all look to as a guide.⁠⁠Take Action After this Episode:Sign up to receive action alerts from SUWA so you can participate in the next phase of the commenting process!Thank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

On December 4th, the state of Utah issued a multi-million dollar contract bid, furthering their plans to file a lawsuit challenging the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, possibly all the way to the Supreme Court. ⁠⁠The state was clearly not listening to the people.⁠⁠Two days prior, on December 2nd, Tribal and Indigenous community leaders, in addition to people from across Utah, protested at the state Capitol to discourage the irresponsible misuse of state tax dollars. ⁠⁠Tune into the latest episode of the Wild Utah podcast to hear each of the speakers from that night, recorded live at the Capitol:⁠⁠• Malcom Lehi, Councilman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition⁠• Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Chairman of the Hopi Tribe⁠⁠• David Filfred, Co-Chair of Utah Diné Bikéyah⁠• Olivia Juarez, Latinx Community Organizer for SUWA⁠⁠• Brooke Larsen, Utah community activist, organizer, & writer⁠⁠Take Action After this Episode:Send a message to Utah Governor Cox and Attorney General Reyes to let them know that pursuing this lawsuit would be another monumental mistake!Resources:Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Statement on Bears Ears National Monument restoration Utah Diné Bikéyah SUWA Statement on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument restorationsLearn more about SUWA's stance on Bears Ears hereLearn more about SUWA's stance on Grand Staircase-Escalante hereHighlights In the News: KSL: ‘Stop the attacks': Tribal leaders, activists plead for end to ‘political football' over Utah monumentsSalt Lake Tribune: Utahns gather at State Capitol to protest Attorney General's lawsuit against Bears Ears National Monument restorationSalt Lake Tribune: Utah Attorney General's office selects law firm in legal challenge over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase monumentsKSL: Utah AG's Office picks national law firm to assist in potential monuments lawsuitThank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Now that we've collectively taken a month or so to deeply breathe in full restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments to their original boundaries: what comes next? We've invited SUWA's Legal Director, Steve Bloch to explain the current state of things. Steve has guided SUWA's work through legal and administrative challenges on both monuments over the years, and he's here to bring us up to date on the process, answer your questions, and explain what you can do to reinforce protections for these outstanding places.Take Action After this Episode:Sign a thank you card to President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland for restoring Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments!Attend an upcoming webcast with Oregonians of Wild Utah, Washington Friends of Wild Utah, and Jacqueline Keeler to further unpack the future of Bears Ears.Resources:Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Statement on Bears Ears National Monument restoration SUWA Statement on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument restorationsLearn more about SUWA's stance on Bears Ears hereLearn more about SUWA's stance on Grand Staircase-Escalante hereHighlights In the News: KSLTV: Tribes, advocates praise Bears Ears restorationHigh Country News: Bears Ears is back-- but don't celebrate just yetWashington Post Opinion: Bears Ears is protected again. But for how long?Deseret Opinion: It's time to deflate the Bears Ears political footballHuffington Post: Utah Republicans Shamelessly Invoke Tribes to Condemn Bidens Monument RestorationsABC 7 Denver: Native stewards of Bears Ears hope for more Indigenous voices to be included in federal land managementKUTV2: Utah AG challenging orders over Bears Ears, Grand Staircase National MonumentsOutside Magazine Op-Ed: There's more work to do at Bears EarsThank you to our show supporters!Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support!Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app!wildutah.info/Stitcherwildutah.info/Applewildutah.info/SpotifyTheme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis.Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah.Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

Human-powered recreation is exploding on public lands throughout the west, with Southern Utah as the poster child for unsustainable growth and associated impacts to resources and user experiences. These problems are compounded by under-staffed and under-resourced federal land management agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. Join Professor of Recreation Resources Management Dr.Christopher Monz and SUWA Wildlands Director Neal Clark to learn about the impacts of human-powered recreation in Southern Utah, and how implementing more proactive land management strategies from the Bureau of Land Management will protect public lands, wildlife and wild places-- all while providing a spectrum of high-quality, meaningful experiences for a diverse recreating public.

Sometimes referred to as “the science monument,” Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was established 25 years ago to protect the objects of significant scientific value found in the area. Since President Trump illegally halved the monument in 2017, monument supporters including SUWA and Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners have been working hard to get it back. We speak with Sarah Bauman, Executive Director of Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners, about the effort to restore the monument, and why this area is so deserving of restored protection. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah's theme music, “What's Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

We examine how America's Red Rock Wilderness Act defines the turf of Utah's wilderness debate - literally on the ground, as well as politically - and how the bill sets the standard against which other legislative and administrative actions are measured. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah's theme music, “What's Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

We take a step back to look at the macro view of why southern Utah captures the hearts of so many. We're joined by Michael Haswood, Bears Ears Artist in Residence at Utah Diné Bikéyah, to ask: What is beauty? How is beauty embodied in your art? Is beauty important in the movement to protect wilderness? Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah's theme music, “What's Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

SUWA and coalition partners across the country are calling on the Department of Interior to assert its long-held and ongoing authority to inventory and manage Wilderness Study Areas as a practical and secure means of achieving national conservation and restoration goals. We discuss the role BLM wilderness study areas, in Utah and across the western U.S., can play in helping to connect wildlife corridors, protect biodiversity, and mitigate the climate crisis. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah’s theme music, “What’s Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

Get the details behind a new scientific report from EcoAdapt: Contribution of the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Efforts. The report is authored by EcoAdapt's Laura Hillberg, and she joins us to explain its conclusions. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah’s theme music, “What’s Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

In this episode, we take on the climate implications of the Bureau of Land Management's “vegetation removal” program. Previously, we’ve discussed this clearcutting of mostly healthy pinyon-juniper forest in the name of “habitat restoration” - a practice that mostly benefits domestic livestock grazers. SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld joins us to preview a new SUWA report on how the BLM’s vegetation removal program is Moving Backward on Climate and 30 x 30. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah’s theme music, “What’s Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments for a new travel management plan for the spectacular San Rafael Swell. With the designation of new wilderness areas in the Swell in 2019, and with the BLM’s poor track record of over-designating new routes through this kind of planning, your comments are important. SUWA staff attorney Laura Peterson rejoins us to talk about the San Rafael Swell Travel Management planning process and what you can do. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Wild Utah’s theme music, “What’s Worth?” is composed by Moab singer-songwriter Haley Noel Austin. Post studio production and editing is by Jerry Schmidt.

What role can America's Red Rock Wilderness Act play in achieving the Biden administrations goals of mitigating the climate crisis and protecting 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030? We dive deep into two recent scientific reports that provide an answer. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

SUWA Legislative Director Jen Ujifusa and Legal Director Steve Bloch discuss how the 2020 election results will affect our work to protect Utah’s wild redrock country, and what we expect President Biden to do with respect to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

Located just three miles from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s White Mesa community and one mile from Bears Ears National Monument, the White Mesa Uranium Mill was originally designed to run for 15 years before being closed and cleaned up. 40 years later, the mill is still in operation, and community members are concerned about the mill's continued impacts on public and environmental health, as well as the mill’s ongoing desecration of cultural and sacred sites. As the last remaining conventional uranium processing mill in the country, will the White Mesa Mill become the world's radioactive waste dump? We speak with Yolanda Badback from White Mesa Concerned Community and Talia Boyd, Cultural Landscapes Program Manager with the Grand Canyon Trust, about the nuclear fuel cycle, impacts to Indigenous communities, and what you can do to help stop ongoing harm by closing and cleaning up the mill. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

SUWA Staff Attorney Landon Newell discusses a proposal by the Bureau of Land Management to allow a helium drilling project within the newly-established Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness along the Green River. This is the latest in a long series of outrageous actions on public lands by President Trump’s Bureau of Land Management, but there are ways for you to get involved in the effort to stop the drilling of this spectacular wilderness before it starts. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

SUWA Staff Attorney Laura Peterson discusses the recent decision by the Utah Bureau of Land Management to more than double the number of off-road vehicle routes across the wild San Rafael Desert. We get her perspective on the decision, how it will affect future BLM travel planning across Utah, and what this means for SUWA’s efforts to protect wild Utah from motorized mayhem in our remaining wild places. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

SUWA attorneys Landon Newell and Kya Marienfeld discuss the recent Trump Administration revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. NEPA and its implementing regulations have been described as our nation's “Magna Carta for the protection of the environment." Not surprisingly, the revised regulations severely undermine the dual NEPA requirement of ensuring public participation and scientific scrutiny. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

Our guest is Leah Thomas, activist, eco-communicator and founder of Intersectional Environmentalist, a new and growing community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color environmental writers and content creators. Intersectional Environmentalism advocates for the protection of both people and the planet by identifying ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and to the earth are interconnected. In this episode, Thomas shares her perspective as a Black environmentalist and discusses her experiences as a person of color on public lands. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

How can mother nature cultivate confidence, healing, and embodiment for LGBTQ+ people? In this episode, SUWA Community Organizer Olivia Juarez and guests Eva Lopez of Orgullo Utah and Salvador Oregon-Torres, a Utah-based LGBTQ+ and undocumented community advocate, delve into queerness in the wild. Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

Michael Johnson, Senior Policy Advisor for Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), discusses the resolution Sen. Udall is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030, known as the “30 by 30” campaign. This urgent push represents America’s contribution to avert catastrophic collapse of the planet’s natural systems. Our conversation lays out some of the underlying science and need for such broad action, as well as current congressional efforts to lead the way. We’ll also turn to SUWA Organizer Terri Martin to explain the role that America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act plays in the broader national and international “30 by 30” campaign. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

While physical distancing measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus have kept many people at home, gateway communities at the edge of wild public lands in Utah are hardly catching a break. Residents and healthcare practitioners in places like Moab and Boulder, Utah are doing everything they can to stop the transmission of Coronavirus in their small rural communities – communities particularly vulnerable to stress on healthcare, groceries and other vital resources during a pandemic. In this episode of Wild Utah, we are joined by Dr. Dylan Cole, Chief Medical Officer at Moab Regional Hospital, and Blake Spalding, Chef/owner of Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah, to hear more about why staying at home this spring is imperative for their communities. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

In this episode, we talk with SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld and Legislative Director Jen Ujifusa about the status of, and funding for, large-scale eradication of piñon pine and juniper forests on BLM lands in Utah. As you may recall, back in October 2018 we talked about BLM plans to destroy native forests on over 135,000 acres inside Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Fifteen months later we’re happy to report that ALL of those plans have now been shelved. We’ll learn why, and we’ll take a deeper dive into the shadowy manner in which these projects are funded, and what we’re doing about it.  Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

Mark Maryboy made history when he was elected in 1986 as the first Native American county commissioner in Utah’s history — in San Juan County, home to Bears Ears National Monument. A former Navajo Nation Council delegate and longtime advocate for Native people and the environment, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of both SUWA and Utah Diné Bikéyah. In this episode, Maryboy shares his personal stories about the political history of San Juan County and the struggle of Native people for representation at the county government level. More than half of San Juan County's population is Native American, yet it wasn't until 2018 that a majority Navajo county commission was elected, after gerrymandered commission districts were redrawn by the courts following a successful Voting Rights Act challenge by the Navajo Nation. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

Following a public outcry, an outlandish Interior Department order that was proposed to allow off-road vehicles in national parks in Utah was dropped by the Trump administration. But the controversy over the Park Service proposal raises a larger, under-the-radar ORV issue with the potential for long-term damage to America’s redrock wilderness. In this episode, we discuss how the BLM’s travel management planning has been at the heart of SUWA’s work for more than two decades, and how it’s coming to a head over the next few years. Our guests are SUWA Wildlands Program Director Neal Clark and Staff Attorney Laura Peterson. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.  

SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld speaks with Dave Pacheco about about the Trump administration's new master management plans for what remains of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, as well as the nearly one million acres that President Trump excised from the 23 year-old monument. These plans authorize rampant chaining of pinyon and juniper forests and unbridled energy development, and set the stage for a free-for-all of off-road vehicle abuse. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

In May of 2019, Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and other high-profile politicians met at the Governor’s Energy Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah — but their discussion and promotion of a carbon-based energy future in the West was disrupted by more than a dozen young climate activists who took the stage to make the case for climate justice. SUWA Latinx organizer Olivia Juarez speaks with activists Brooke Larsen (UPLIFT) and Eliza Van Dyk (Wasatch Rising Tide) about the protest, and about the intersection between the fight for climate justice and efforts to protect Utah’s remaining wild lands. Wild Utah is produced by Jerry Schmidt and is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Our theme music, “What’s Worth?” was written and performed in Moab by Haley Noel Austin.

In this episode, we discuss SUWA’s field volunteer program, which gets folks working outside across Utah to preserve and enhance the lands we are fighting to protect. We work directly with the BLM and Forest Service to identify and implement projects that focus on wilderness and habitat preservation, cultural resource protection, and restoration of damage caused by off-road vehicles. Join us for the discussion, then come join us in the field by visiting SUWA.org/join-service-project.

In this episode of Wild Utah, we bring you exciting news from Washington, D.C. about an issue we detailed in our first episode -- wilderness legislation for Emery County, Utah. What happened in Congress on February 12, 2019 was a long time in the making, and is great news for redrock country.

Dave Pacheco discusses the environmental consequences of oil and gas leasing on public lands with SUWA Staff Attorney Landon Newell. Millions of acres of public lands in Utah are still natural or in a wild condition. It’s these places, proposed for wilderness designation in America’s Redrock Wilderness Act, that SUWA works to defend. So, what happens when the BLM proposes drilling in those wild places?

Dave Pacheco speaks with SUWA's Kya Marienfeld and Wild Utah Project's Allison Jones about the Utah BLM's ecologically destructive practice of "chaining" -- or, in the BLM's vernacular, "vegetation treatment." This practice of mechanically removing trees, shrubs and virtually all vegetation from otherwise healthy pinion-juniper forests -- often to benefit domestic livestock -- is being challenged by conservationists as an extreme overreaction to a non-existent problem.

In this episode, Dave Pacheco speaks with SUWA Board Member Darrell Knuffke about the origins and early days of SUWA. In doing some research for our show, we found Darrell’s name listed as a Board Member in SUWA’s newsletter as early as 1986, just three years after our organization’s founding. He has some fascinating insights to share with us about SUWA’s origins and the early days of the Utah wilderness movement.

In this episode, SUWA Wildlands Program Director Neal Clark takes a deep dive into the Emery County Public Lands Management Act of 2018. Neal explains where this bill originated, what the bill does, why it's an injustice to the wildlands in Emery County -- including the San Rafael Swell and Desolation and Labyrinth Canyons -- and discusses its prospects in Congress.