Public Lands

mage shows climber making their way up a crack on red rocks with a belayer down below. Courtesy photo

Indian Creek climbing

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sincerely thanks those in the climbing community that followed avoidance recommendations for raptor nesting sites during the spring and summer climbing season. This year, there was a successful fledging of chicks on two prairie falcon nests and one golden eagle...

Flash flooding in Lime Canyon washed out fence lines, flooded Highway 163 for several hours, and contributed to significant damage in recent days. David Kartchner photo

Storms drench San Juan, cause damage

Several days of storms, driven in part by moisture from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, brought a deluge of rain to San Juan County, resulting in floods, disruptions and damage during a normally dry June. The storms were widespread, but had particular impact on several key areas. Highways were...

Firewood permits on Ntl Forest

The USDA Manti-La Sal National Forest is issuing fuelwood permits and other forest products for the Monticello and Moab districts starting May 20, 2024, and continuing through November 30, 2024. Fuelwood permits on the forest cost $5 per cord with a four-cord minimum purchase, and a ten-cord max...

Info sought on theft at Canyonlands National Park

National Park Service officials seek help from the public on archeological theft incident at Canyonlands National Park Law enforcement park rangers at Canyonlands National Park are seeking information from the public to help identify suspects involved in an archeological theft incident at Cave...

Blanding City hosts Bears Ears Q&A session

by David Boyle News Director Representatives from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service attended a two-hour question and answer session hosted by the city of Blanding on May 9. The meeting offered a unique back-and-forth between agencies and local residents to discuss concerns...

Rally for Arch Canyon draws more than 100 with concerns about Bears Ears management plan

by David Boyle News Director More than a hundred people gathered in Monticello on May 4 for a rally to call for continued Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) access in Arch Canyon. A 1,200-page draft management plan for the Bears Ears National Monument was published on March 8, with a 90-day public comment...

Second online forum held for Bears Ears Monument Draft Plan

by David Boyle News Director Federal land agencies and members of the Bears Ears Commission held another online forum related to the Bears Ears National Monument draft plan on May 2. The meeting was the fourth of seven public meetings held by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service...

Around 200 attend Bears Ears open house

by Bill Boyle San Juan Record Editor Approximately 200 people participated in an open house in Blanding on April 23 regarding the draft management plan for Bears Ears National Monument. Public comment will be accepted on the draft plan through June 11. In attendance at the open house were a wide...

Photo of the Bears Ears by Bob Wick courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management

BLM, Forest Service, and Bears Ears Commission answers questions at first virtual meeting for draft plan

by David Boyle News Director Federal land agencies and members of the Bears Ears Commission provided information and answered some questions related to the Bears Ears National Monument draft plan in an online forum on April 16. The groups spoke about recreation, grazing, target shooting, Tribal co-...

Eastland Ucolo Water Adjudication

The Utah Division of Water Rights (DWRi) met with the Monticello City Council on March 26 and to the San Juan County Commission on April 2, about the water rights adjudication process and its plans to kick off adjudication efforts in the Eastland area this summer. Eastland area residents should...