The Story
By 2050, federal and state public lands in Utah are managed similar to today:
- Energy production (fossil fuels and renewables) and mining stay the same.
- Lands managed to preserve natural character (including wilderness) and low-impact recreation (hiking, fishing, etc.) stay the same.
- High-impact recreation (e.g., use of off-highway vehicles) stays the same.
- Grazing stays the same.
- Recreational facilities like trails and campgrounds expand at half the rate needed to accommodate increased demand.
Results
In comparison to today, by 2050:
- Statewide jobs, economic development, and tax revenue stay the same.
- Rural Utah jobs, economic development, and tax revenue stay the same.
- Ecosystem health stays the same.
- The ability of watersheds to capture storm water for water supply and flood prevention stays the same.
- Our ability to meet our energy needs is lower.
- Our ability to meet our recreation needs is lower.
- Conflicts between increasing numbers of recreational users and other users increase.
Background
Utah is a spectacular place, known around the world for the beauty of its public lands. From deserts to alpine mountaintops, there’s a lot to love in Utah. However, there are competing uses for these lands, ranging from energy development to habitat preservation, and many of these demands are growing as our population, tourism, and need for outdoor recreation increase. How should we balance these demands? How these lands are managed has implications for ecosystem health, recreation, water supply, energy production, and Utah’s economy, particularly in the rural parts of the state.
Over 70% of Utah is public land owned by the federal or state government. Public lands include national forests, national and state parks, School and Institutional Trust Lands, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
About 42% of the public lands in Utah are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These lands are managed for multiple uses, ranging from recreation and habitat preservation to grazing, energy, and mining.
National Forests
National forests in Utah constitute about 15% of Utah's public lands. The lumber industry in Utah declined and disappeared nearly two decades ago, and these areas are now mainly used for recreation and habitat. National forests are also used for limited amounts of mining, grazing, and energy development.
Wilderness and Parks
Approximately 11% of Utah's public lands are wilderness, wilderness study areas, state parks, and national parks and monuments. These areas are largely managed to preserve natural character and for recreational use. Though roads and bicycles are not permitted in wilderness and wilderness study areas, they are allowed in some locations in state and national parks.
School and Institutional Trust Lands
Almost 10% of Utah’s public lands are School and Institutional Trust Lands. When Utah became a state, Congress granted parcels of land to Utah from which revenue could be generated to support state institutions, including public schools, hospitals, teaching colleges, and universities. Today these lands generate revenue primarily for public schools.
Energy Development
Approximately 9% of Utah's public lands are leased for energy development, almost all for oil and gas, though much of this acreage is not being actively used to produce energy. Because oil and natural gas are found in only a few portions of Utah and most known reserves are already leased, there will likely be few additional oil and gas leases in the future. The largest concentration of oil and gas leases in the state is in the Uinta Basin, with other small areas scattered throughout the state. Public lands are also used to produce renewable energy like wind and solar power. As the state’s population grows and power generation shifts away from coal, Utah will likely need to produce more electricity from natural gas and renewables, like wind and solar, if we want to be energy self-sufficient.
Sources: Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center and BLM Utah: Oil and Gas
