Press Release
Utah Public Lands Under Threat: 18 Million Acres at Risk of Sale
Salt Lake City, UT – Senator Mike Lee’s recently proposed legislation poses a significant risk to over 18 million acres of Utah’s public land. This expansive area, rich in natural beauty and recreational opportunities, includes essential trails, grazing grounds, and popular ski resorts.
As chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Lee unveiled an updated draft bill aiming for the mandatory sale of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. The legislation mandates the sale of 3 million acres of public land over the next five years, with selections drawn from a pool of 258 million acres across 11 Western states, including Utah.
Notable Utah locations that could see a potential sale include beloved hiking trails, ski areas, and backcountry regions within the Wasatch Front, notably in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Mill Creek Canyon, and Parleys Canyon. The Wilderness Society, a nonprofit land conservation group, has raised alarms about the implications of such legislation, emphasizing the essential role these lands play in community recreation and environmental health.
The bill is under scrutiny as public debate intensifies over the future of Utah’s cherished landscapes.
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