Public Lands

Manti-La Sal National Forest Plans Prescribed Burning in Monticello Districts Plan Fuels Reduction During Fall and Winter

The Manti‑La Sal National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burns this fall and into winter, as conditions allow, on the Monticello, Ferron/Price, and Sanpete Ranger Districts across San Juan, Sanpete, and Emery counties in Utah. Certified prescribed fire specialists use these treatments to reduce...

CNHA Accepting Applications for 2027 Discovery Pool Research Grants

Canyonlands Natural History Association is now accepting applications for its 2027 Discovery Pool grant program. Established in 2007, the Discovery Pool supports research partnerships between qualified scientists and CNHA’s National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service...

A helicopter delivers materials to crews closing mine openings in San Juan County. Photos courtesy Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining

Abandoned Mine Cleanup Project in Northern San Juan Receives National Award

A Utah project to clean up abandoned mines in Northern San Juan County was given a national award. Named the Kane Creek Project, officials covered an 85-square mile study area in northern San Juan and southern Grand counties. The project identified 206 abandoned uranium mines with closures in the...

A screen shot from the Energy Fuels website. Courtesy photo

Uranium’s Historic Past Leads to Rare Earth Extractions

Uranium has been a major ore mined in San Juan County since the 1940’s. According to former County Commissioner Ken Bailey, the first mill was built in 1942 and both vanadium and uranium were removed from the ore at that time. In an interview with Fay Muhlestein, she asked if anyone worried about...

Babylon by the numbers

Fire Mosaic interior of the Babylon Fire photo credit: Keley Martin, Soil Scientist

Babylon Fire repairs continue

by David Boyle News Director Repair and restoration efforts continue to make progress on the Babylon Fire. The fire that burned 107,000 acres in the blue mountains remains at 95-percent contained with crews continuing to work in the fire area. On Monday July 27 command of the Babylon Fire was...

Map of the Babylon fire with the black representing containment. The fire sparked up in June and took weeks of intense battles to get a hold of, crews are in closing stages of management of the fire. Courtesy photo

Babylon Fire at 95-percent containment after burning 107,000 acres

by David Boyle News Director Following weeks of aggressive fire behavior and a massive regional response, officials announced on Monday, July 20, that the Babylon Fire has reached 95% containment. The blaze, which consumed 107,189 acres, is now transitioning into a phase of meticulous suppression,...

helicopter carries a load of water toward Abajo Peak submitted by Talmage Nielson,

Babylon Fire crews get 50% containment

by Bill Boyle SJR Editor An army of more than 1,500 firefighters, from nearly every corner of the nation, have converged on San Juan County to fight the massive Babylon Fire. Over a two-week period, the lightning-caused fire that started near the Babylon Pasture on Elk Ridge grew to become the...

Fire damage in the North Cottonwood area submitted by Gabe Clarke

A week of firefighting efforts sees growth from 0 to 50% contained

After a grueling week of record-breaking heat and explosive fire behavior, the Babylon Fire has reached a critical 50% containment. The wildfire, which has dominated the landscape of San Juan County for over two weeks, is now estimated at 106,610 acres. This milestone marks a significant turning...

Screenshot from the broadcast of President Trump's signing of two proclamations reducing Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monuments.

President Trump reduces size of Bears Ears National Monument from 1.36 million to 121,100 acres

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 13 once again reducing the size of the Bears Ears National Monument. The proclamation reduces the size of the Bears Ears Monument from approximately 1.36 million acres to 121,100 acres, an action the White House described as “Rightsizing”. In...