Federal public lands the source of huge recreation wealth in Utah
Salt Lake Tribune’s editorial wonders why Utah congressionals so negative except for drilling and mining-
Opinion of the Salt Lake Tribune. Recreation Wealth. July 4, 2011. DOI report says Utah benefits economically more from recreation on Department of Interior lands than any other state.
This article is based on the same data as our earlier story, Not even close . . . jobs from recreation on public lands versus jobs from public land ranching. June 24, 2011.
The Tribune is puzzled why “If you listen only to those pushing an anti-federal-government agenda — such as Congressman Rob Bishop or state Rep. Howard Noel — you might be convinced that the only way Utahns can benefit from federal lands is to drill them to barrenness or grind them under the wheels of all-terrain vehicles.”
I am not puzzled. The Tribune and probably most people think these reactionary extremists care about jobs. They don’t! They care about profits for their patrons like the Koch Brothers and the oil industry.

Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He has been a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and also its President. For many years he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
One Response to Federal public lands the source of huge recreation wealth in Utah
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Recent Posts
- A Greater Yellowstone National Park Proposal July 5, 2022
- Key Impacts of Livestock Production (not just grazing) Upon the Land. June 21, 2022
- Climate Not Fuels Drive Large Blazes June 21, 2022
- Wolves in the West are collateral damage of human selfishness June 16, 2022
- Targeted Grazing–The Latest Magical Solution To Improve Rangeland Health June 16, 2022
Recent Comments
- Michael Kellett on A Greater Yellowstone National Park Proposal
- Mark L on Wolves in the West are collateral damage of human selfishness
- Mark L on Wolves in the West are collateral damage of human selfishness
- John Glowa on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Ida Lupine on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Ida Lupine on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- John Glowa on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Ida Lupine on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Ida Lupine on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Maximilian S Werner on Wolves in the West are collateral damage of human selfishness
- Rich on Wolves in the West are collateral damage of human selfishness
- Mark L on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Mark L on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- Mark L on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
- John Glowa on A White Mountain National Park? Has its time arrived?
The “physical freedom and space” of the federal lands in Utah becomes ever more important as the human population increases. Please note that every state in the union when “selling their state for tourism” displays the most beautiful pristine part of the state. Beauty sells, mountain top mining removal doesn’t.