Utah ranks second in the nation for the amount of land controlled by the federal government, sparking debate over who should shape the state’s destiny. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are the largest landholders in the state. Despite some criticism, a new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute highlights the economic benefits of the Utah-federal government connection for public lands.
The report reveals that federal land ownership ranges from 4% to 90% across different counties in Utah, with more than 50% of acreage being federally owned in 18 counties. The federal government collected $186.3 million in natural resources revenue in 2024, returning $93.7 million to Utah. The report also highlights the ongoing legal battles between GOP lawmakers in Utah and the federal government over unappropriated BLM land.
Federal land management in Utah is primarily handled by the BLM and the Forest Service, with the National Park Service, Department of Defense, and other agencies also playing a role. The extensive control of federal land in the state has led to disputes over various issues, with lawsuits and counter lawsuits being filed by different interest groups.
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