Don’t let this administration dismantle public lands The Administration’s recent dismantling of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments is not just a loss for Utah; it is a warning for all Americans who care about our iconic public lands. Here in Colorado, that’s nearly every one of us. Recent polling found that
Member Op-Ed: Chaco buffer provides breathing room for site
By Tom Vaughan Aug 9, 2026 I spent decades working at remarkable sites across the National Park System, but Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico stands out. Set aside by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, Chaco Culture NHP has since been designated a World Heritage Site, putting it in the same globally
Member Op-Ed: Monuments never blocked public access, but stripping their protections will cost us.
Letter to the editor: Monuments never blocked public access, but stripping their protections will cost us Published: Aug 2, 2026, 11:00 a.m. MDT As someone who spent nearly 40 years managing our public lands, including as superintendent of Bryce Canyon National Park, I was dismayed by President Donald Trump’s false statement about access to Bears
Member Op-Ed: Don’t Abandon World Heritage
The July 26 front-page article “Okefenokee becomes a World Heritage site” prominently noted the addition of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the 27th World Heritage Site in the United States. Unfortunately, Okefenokee might be the last such addition for years to come. The United States led the
Member Op-Ed: Ensuring Colorado’s furbearer policies are science-based
Ensuring Colorado’s furbearer policies are science-based May 6, 2026 By Dr. ELAINE LESLIE It’s a sad fact that the kit fox has disappeared from our state. What’s even more concerning is that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has made no course corrections from this avoidable tragedy. And so, the agency continues down this same path
Member Op-Ed: BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why.
BLM nominee puts Grand Canyon at risk. Here’s why | Opinion OP ED | Opinion This piece expresses the views of its author(s), separate from those of this publication. BLM nominee Steve Pearce’s record shows he would not protect Arizona’s national parks and monuments. He would do the opposite, putting them at risk. Steve Martin
Member Op-Ed: Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands
Trump’s pick to lead BLM is a threat to our great public lands (Opinion) By Daily Camera guest opinion | Boulder Daily Camera PUBLISHED: March 19, 2026 By Elaine F. Leslie The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) exists to sustain and safeguard our nation’s public lands in the present and for future generations. And yet,
Member Op-Ed: Don’t desecrate Big Bend National Park with a border wall we don’t need
As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name
Member Op-Ed: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid
Letters: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid By Don Neubacher Feb 27, 2026 Regarding “Exclusive: How Yosemite superintendent plans to manage crowds without reservation system” (Outdoors, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 21): New Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden justified the decision end the day-use reservation system, claiming that traffic congestion affects the
Member Op-Ed: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground
Guest Column: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground By Cheryl Schreier Feb 19, 2026 America’s national parks and public lands represent the very best of this nation. Unrivaled in their natural beauty and significance, these vast and glorious spaces of refuge, recreation, and reflection define our history. During my 40 years with the National
Member Op-Ed: Timed entry at Zion National Park is good for the park, its visitors and neighboring communities.
The idea of a reservation is nothing new. It seems we are all used to making a reservation to have a meal at a restaurant, to go to a concert or to a play. By Donald Falvey | For The Salt Lake Tribune Dec. 16, 2025, 8:05 a.m. The state of Utah’s Public Lands Coordinating
Member Op-Ed: National park cuts threaten Nevada’s economy
NEVADA VIEWS: National park cuts threaten Nevada’s economy Catherine Cortez Masto and Mark Butler Special to the Las Vegas Review-Journal September 27, 2025 – 9:01 pm Updated September 29, 2025 – 7:03 am In addition to their natural wonders, Nevada’s national parks and public lands such as Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead National
Member Op-Ed: Trump administration cuts to National Park Service threaten NC economy
From the majestic peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the unparalleled beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, millions of Americans visit North Carolina’s national parks each year to enjoy the natural beauty, culture, history, and recreation they offer. I spent more than four decades with the National Park Service, much of it
Member Op-Ed: Ciscomani, others must stand up for our public lands
Ciscomani, others must stand up for our public lands The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: This summer, many of us Arizonans got out to enjoy our public lands. From Grand Canyon National Park and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints Grand Canyon National Monument to Ironwood National Monument and Las Cienegas National
Member Op-ed: A Short-Sighted View of Our Parks
A Short-Sighted View of the Parks NPS budget cuts threaten our economy, environment, and quality of life Watching the current administration eviscerate staffing and budgets in the National Park Service has horrified and sickened those of us who have spent years working in our parks. These short-sighted decisions pose a grave threat to the Outer
Protecting National Parks in Montana and Throughout the Country for Generations to Come
Protecting National Parks in Montana and Throughout the Country for Generations to Come We need to ensure that public lands are protected for generations to come. By Steve Daines & Jeff Mow August 4, 2025 While visits to our national parks are at an all-time high, the parks and their infrastructure are crumbling. Bridges
Member Oped: Protect our national parks, don’t exploit them
May 7, 2025 Opinion by Mike Soukup National Parks are a beautiful reflection of our country’s magnificent national and cultural heritage. Their protection is a high form of patriotism and worldwide source of inspiration. National Parks also generate significant revenue for national, regional, and local economies. From all angles National Parks are a good deal
Member Op-Ed: Burgum should uphold Roosevelt’s legacy
Bismarck Tribune: Letter: Burgum should uphold Roosevelt’s legacy Mark Motsko | April 8, 2025 “We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when
Member Op-Ed: In The National Park Service, No Deep State, Only Deep Concern For The Future Of America’s Best Idea
Op-Ed | In The National Park Service, No Deep State, Only Deep Concern For The Future Of America’s Best Idea By Sheridan Steele Firing federal employees without regard for the importance of their work or the consequence of their loss is not smart — or justified. Identifying and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse is
Member Op-Ed: Federal workers deserve better
Federal workers deserve better Our precious public lands are not red or blue. Some are sacred. Some are waterways. They are forests, deserts or grasslands. And some tower over our landscapes topped with snow where eagles soar. Here in the Four Corners, we are fortunate to have access to these special places where no matter
Member Op-Ed: They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know
They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know opening the Going to-the- Sun Road, clearing trails, opening backcountry sites and facilities and preparing visitor centers may be delayed BY CHIP WEBER & JEFF MOW FEBRUARY 25, 2025 Much has been written and broadcast recently regarding the impacts of the Trump administration and particularly the Department of
Member Op-Ed: Congress should pass the CORE Act now
Nov 27, 2022 By BRUCE NOBLE So the election is over and the dust is beginning to settle. And yet so much remains unclear. For example, what will happen to the long-suffering CORE Act? Also of critical importance, what if the CORE Act fails to pass by the time this session of Congress ends
Member Op-Ed: Yes, please stop building on the Mall
Washington Post OpEd November 11, 2022 I agree with Philip Kennicott’s Nov. 7 front-page Critic’s Notebook essay, “Stop building museums on the National Mall. Extend it.” When Congress established the Reserve — national park land on the cross-axis of the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and the White House to the
Member Op-Ed: Reform oil and gas rules before allowing new leases
Reform oil and gas rules before allowing new leases By Michael Murray and Paul Reed Our national parks and monuments are full of rich history and culture and some are sacred ancestral homes to Tribes – like the Navajo, Hopi and Puebloan peoples — who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Their cultural legacies
Op-Ed: Our National Parks Still Need Fixing
Our National Parks Still Need Fixing By Theresa Pierno and Michael Murray, opinion contributors – 08/07/22 Two years ago, we witnessed a historic moment for our national parks with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act — the biggest investment our country has made in our parks in more than 50 years. Even during