In early January 2025, the Bureau of Land Management signed the Record of Decision for the final Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The plan is the result of over 30 public and stakeholder engagement meetings over two years with community members, state and Federal officials, Tribes, and other stakeholders. The RMP is focused on protecting and managing cultural and historical resources, while addressing recreational use, visitor experiences, and conservation values.
The new plan identifies four management areas – Front Country, Outback Area, Passage Area, and Primitive Area – that each detail visitor experiences, recreational usage and infrastructure, OHV use, and other relevant aspects. The plan details where activities such as recreational shooting and livestock grazing will be allowed and prohibited, and emphasizes the use of native plant species during restoration efforts. The final version of the plan represented a more collaborative and conservation-focused approach with best management practices and a monitoring plan to assess the impacts of policies and practices on the landscape’s resources.
