BLM Oil and Gas Leasing.  The Bureau of Land Management holds quarterly lease sales for parcels of public lands that are in the Moab and Monticello Field Offices.  We urge everyone who cares about these areas, and their vitality to the economic and environmental health of SE Utah to file protests when these leases impact critical wilderness quality and watershed-related lands, call the Governor, call your Congressperson, call Grand County local government officials.

Oil Shale Development.  Utah is one of three states with major oil shale reserves that are being actively pursued for development.  At issue are the expected major need for water, as well as power to even get the shale out of the ground.  Currently, the technology doesn't even exist to extract this resource in a way that will is economically, let alone, environmentally feasible.

Wild and Scenic River Eligibility and Suitability Process - Utah.   Utah and Nevada are the only two western states that do not have any rivers designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.  The Act is designed to protect the free-flowing waters that are the heritage of the natural world.  Given the spectacular and unique geography and landscapes of the state, it is amazing that no such rivers are designated.  On the Manti-La Sal, we went through an initial 'inventory' known as eligibility back in 2003-2004, which produced a list of rivers on the Monticello Ranger District.  The eligibility process includes the evaluation of features such a geology, culture/archaeology, scenic features, etc.  Unfortunately, no rivers on the Manti-La Sal National Forest were selected in the Final EIS/Record of Decision.  To view the final decision and Final EIS, here's the link:  www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/index.shtml.

Forest Planning Update.  Due to a lawsuit brought by environmental groups, the 2005 Forest Planning Rules were enjoined by the courts for failure to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act.  As a result, the Forest Service prepared an Environmental Impact Statement to satisfy the courts, which was finalized in April 2008. The EIS is currently under appeal. Looks like the forests are gearing up to resume the forest planning process.  We'll notify members when planning is back in swing.  Click here to get involved in the Forest Planning Process.

Abajos Road Inventory.  In the summers of 2007 through 2009, RRF staff were in the Abajos gathering an incredible amount of data regarding impacts from authorized and unauthorized roads as well as dispersed campsite.  In June 2010, we will began our fourth year of field work in the Abajos.  The data is given to our project partners, Broads Healthy Lands Project, for analysis and entry into their Broads Health Lands Project Database (formerly known as GINGER) (www.greatoldbroads.org).  The data is also shared with the Forest Service to be used in development of their new Motor Vehicle Use Maps, and travel planning.

Many thanks to the National Forest Foundation for their matching grant funding and to Great Old Broads for Wilderness for their partnership and cooperation in this project.   

Uranium Mining.  We've been responding to several project proposals on the Manti-La Sal National Forest regarding the resurgence of uranium mining on public lands in SE Utah.  Next door, just across the Utah-Colorado border, the Bureau of Land Management recently approved 36 uranium permits in the Paradox Valley, as part of the 2005 Energy Policy to open up more public land to minerals development.  We are working with our fellow advocates in Utah and Colorado to respond to this new threat.  We'll keep you posted on how things progress.

Willow Basin Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. The Forest Service complied with the requests of the Castle Valley community, Red Rock Forests, and other groups to conduct a public process resulting in a community fire plan. That process has just concluded. Click here to find out more about some of the issues involved in this project.

Tushar Allotment Collaborative.  Red Rock Forests is one of 7 appellants that has entered into an agreement to use a collaborative decision-making process to resolve outstanding disputes related to 2 of 8 cattle grazing allotments on the Tushar Range in the Fishlake National Forest.  This process is designed to develop existing and desired condition in management pro-active in management plans for the Ten Mile Allotment in Pinedale/Sulphabeds Allotments.  Issues addressed including natural resource conditions and livestock management, aspen and mountain mahogany recruitment, and a plan for restoring beaver habitat on at least one stream.  Click here for more information.

On any given day, we have information available on a variety of projects happening on the forests - hazardous fuels reduction, timber sales, road construction, travel planning, forest planning, oil and gas, minerals development, grazing, etc.  If you have an interest in a specific topic and would like to know what's happening on the forests on that issue, please contact us at:  info@redrockforests.org.