Speak Up for Public Lands

URGENT! Support our public lands! Did you know that much of the backcountry ski terrain in the Central Wasatch is on Forest Service land? And that WBA partners with the U.S Forest Service (USFS) to help ensure public lands remain accessible?

Last week the new administration laid off about 10% of the USFS and other federal agencies’ workforce. The consequences for our public lands and winter recreation are devastating. We’ve learned that both the forest level (the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest) and the district level (Salt Lake Ranger District) have experienced significant cuts.

One of our key partners at the Salt Lake Ranger District—who played a vital role in supporting our Trail Counting Program which collects data that strengthens our advocacy for protecting human-powered recreation—has been let go. Their absence will be felt, as will the broader impacts of these cuts across public lands.

On a national scale, these cuts to the USFS, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management will affect things like trails, campgrounds, roads, recreation infrastructure, emergency response teams—including wildfire teams, weather stations, and educational programs. In addition, we could see the frequency of plowing of parking in Millcreek Canyon diminished so please have patience as our local USFS teams navigate these changes. 

Land managers are essential to keeping public lands safe, accessible, and well-maintained. Many have dedicated their careers to stewarding these cherished landscapes for little pay, and their loss will be felt by all who recreate outdoors. 

We need your help. Take a moment to contact your lawmakers and urge them to restore funding and staffing for land management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management. Public lands—and the people who care for them—need our support.

Personalize the subject line and message to have a greater impact! Submitting a prefilled comment helps, but a personalized message makes an even bigger impact. Want to go the extra mile? Call your representative too! Calling is easy- learn about calling your elected officials in this link.

Senator John Curtis
Send a message: https://www.curtis.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/
Call his DC office: 202-224-5251
Call his Salt Lake office: 801-524-4380

Senator Mike Lee
Send a message: https://www.lee.senate.gov/contact
Call his DC office: 202-224-5444
Call his Salt Lake office: 801-524-5933

Representative Blake Moore (1st District)
Send a message: https://blakemoore.house.gov/contact/email-blake?clear
Call his DC office: 202-225-0453
Call his Salt Lake office: 801-625-0107

Representative Celeste Maloy (2nd District)
Send a message: https://maloy.house.gov/contact/email-me.htm
Call her DC office: 202-225-9730
Call her Bountiful office: 801-364-5550

Representative Mike Kennedy (3rd District)
Send a message: https://mikekennedy.house.gov/address_authentication?form=/contact/email-me
Call his DC office: 202-225-7751
Call his Provo office: 801-607-3238

Representative Burgess Owens (4th District)
Send a message: https://owens.house.gov/contact
Call his DC office: 202-225-3011
Call his West Jordan office: 801-999-9801

Learn more by reading the latest post from Outdoor Alliance.