Zone 6 Information

Another update on recreation groups' efforts to protect the Greater Moe’s Valley Area. This is an attempt to explain some of the complexity of this situation, the efforts recreation groups are making to protect the area, and things you can do to help, depending on what is important to you.

Everyone must understand that the Utah State Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) is moving forward with its plans to develop the Greater Moe’s Valley area. These plans have been, if anything, accelerated by the BLM’s recent Supplement Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) recommending the revocation of the right-of-way for the Northern Corridor Highway (NCH) through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. SITLA has indicated that they will likely be signing contracts with developers to develop the lower portion of the Greater Moe’s Valley area (the Bear Claw Poppy Trail portion) as soon as March 2025. SIGN OUR PETITION TO PERMANENTLY SAVE GREATER MOE'S VALLEY!

Washington County Commissioners, the County Attorney, and officials from the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve believe that the best way to preserve the land in the Greater Moe’s Valley area is to persuade the BLM to reverse their decision and allow the construction of the NCH. If this happens, SITLA has said they will keep their lands in the Greater Moe’s Valley area in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve for the next 20+ years, giving the federal government time to arrange land purchases and land exchanges to permanently protect those lands. At the end of the 20+ year agreement, the agreement to keep SITLA lands in the Reserve can be extended. The County argues this is likely because SITLA would continue to need the land to act as mitigation for the development of other Desert Tortoise habitats on their lands elsewhere in Washington County. If this is something you support, you can email the BLM at BLM_UT_NorthernCorridor@blm.gov encouraging them to keep their lands in the Reserve. These emails should be sent sometime in the next few weeks if you would like them to be read before the BLM makes their Decision of Record on this issue. Also, the County Commissioners explained in the town hall meeting on November 12th that anyone could email them about this topic and they would love to hear people's thoughts. Adam.Snow@mail.house.gov

It is the belief of Washington County officials, SITLA officials, and local recreation groups such as SUCA that once in office the Trump Administration will work to allow the construction of the NCH. Washington County also has pending lawsuits that could allow the NCH, especially under a friendly administration.

While it is impossible to predict what the new administration will do or the results of County lawsuits, in our opinion, it makes the allowance of the NCH more likely.

Regardless of what happens with the NCH (which may take months or years to be decided), we are asking everyone (St George City, Washington County, the State of Utah, Federal institutions, influential private individuals and institutions, and everyday citizens) to do everything they can to slow down the development of the Greater Moe’s Valley area. Anything that can be done to slow things down gives us more time to find solutions. Recreation groups are in the process of forming a committee/task force to work with Washington County and hopefully to further these efforts.

What options are there (besides waiting for a controversial decision allowing the NCH) to block the development of the Greater Moe’s Valley area?

1. Urge SITLA to voluntarily pause the development of their land while we seek other ways to compensate them for the monetary value of these lands.

2. Find federal or private funding to protect these areas. But it would require millions of dollars (possibly hundreds of millions of dollars) in a very short amount of time.

3. Explore regulatory options for the City and/or County to strategically slow down SITLA’s development process. The City can force open space rules and restrictions on existing trails or new trails.

4. Do you have other ideas that you believe will protect the area and can be implemented by early next year? Let us know!

We also continue to urge locals and visitors to recreate responsibly and leave no trace, being a good steward in our efforts and being respectful when you are out there. And share your adventures with friends and family however you can. Let’s show everyone how much we love this area!