A new survey shows 66% of Utah voters want to restore full protections to the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, according to results released Wednesday by conservation groups. The poll, commissioned by the Grand Canyon Trust, indicates broad support for the monuments across the political spectrum and throughout the state, even as mining claims are set to open on the reduced lands this Friday.
Widespread Support for Tribal Management
The results of the poll, conducted by research firm New Bridge Strategy, were announced during a virtual news conference on Wednesday. Beyond the call for restored monument boundaries, the survey found that 82% of Utahns believe it is important for Native American tribes to have a strong role in managing public lands that contain sacred or culturally significant sites.
Tribal Sovereignty and Stewardship
Davina Smith-Idjesa, a Navajo Nation representative and co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, said the findings demonstrate that tribal nations must remain meaningfully involved in the stewardship of their ancestral lands. She noted that the poll allows the voices of Utah residents to be heard clearly, particularly regarding the termination of the Bears Ears Commission.
Impact of Monument Reductions
The survey results follow a July 13 proclamation by President Donald Trump that slashed the size of both national monuments by 90%, reducing the protected area from over 3 million acres to 303,000 combined acres. The president's order also disbanded the Bears Ears Commission, which had previously managed the monument through a historic collaboration with five tribal nations: the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe.
Environmental and Health Concerns
The announcement comes as mining interests prepare to move into the newly unprotected lands. While all claims filed before Friday, Sept. 11, are considered invalid, the prospect of a new uranium boom has raised concerns among tribal advocates. Smith-Idjesa noted that the community has faced historical health consequences from uranium mining between the 1940s and 1970s, including cancer and respiratory disease.
State Leadership Response
The findings stand in contrast to the positions held by top Utah Republican leaders. Governor Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, Attorney General Derek Brown, and House Speaker Mike Schultz have previously expressed support for the monument reductions. In a joint statement in July, these leaders stated they envision a collaborative approach for the new boundaries that would include tribal representatives.
Governor Defends Reductions
Governor Cox has previously defended the administration's decision to shrink the monuments, suggesting that many residents do not fully understand the implications of the reduction. During an August news conference, the governor stated his support for the reductions, asserting that the lands remain protected and are not being sold off to private interests.
