Poll Finds Utah Voters Want Monument Boundaries Restored
A new survey indicates that two-thirds of registered voters in Utah favor reinstating the original borders of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, which were slashed by executive order in July. The poll, commissioned by the Grand Canyon Trust, comes as conservation groups and outdoor brands pursue legal challenges against the administration's actions. Mining claims have already begun appearing in the areas stripped of federal protection.
The survey, conducted by New Bridge Strategy for the Grand Canyon Trust, shows strong bipartisan backing for tribal involvement, with 82% of respondents deeming tribal voices essential to site management and 69% opposing the disbandment of the inter-tribal coalition. Additionally, 81% of Utah voters reject the sale of public lands to private entities.
This state-level sentiment mirrors broader regional trends, as a separate Colorado College poll found 91% of Western voters support maintaining existing monument designations. Legal challenges from Patagonia and various conservation groups are proceeding while mining claims have already emerged on the newly exposed acreage.
This polling could influence Utah lawmakers who have historically championed reduced federal oversight, potentially softening their stance on monument downsizing. It may also bolster legal arguments by showing broad public opposition to the executive orders, while the emergence of mining claims could create irreversible ecological damage if courts do not act. Tribal communities, whose co-management authority was revoked, could see renewed political pressure to restore their advisory roles, affecting local governance and cultural preservation efforts.