This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Zion National Park is a treasure — one of the top parks in the country with unique awe-inspiring views and world-class recreation activities. Since 1992, I have been proud to work as a professional guide and public land steward for multiple tour companies including my own, Magpie Cycling, in the Zion area, helping outdoor recreationists enjoy the park.
Businesses like mine that bring visitors to Zion and the adjacent public lands make up the fastest-growing tourist economy in the state of Utah. Local jobs in leisure and hospitality sectors near Zion have actually increased by nearly 30 percent in just the past few years. And visitors to the park and nearby trails bring in millions of dollars in revenue for our local economy each year.
But all of that is at risk. Zion National Park and our local jobs and small businesses are being threatened by a short-sighted and poorly planned lease proposal from the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM is offering oil and gas leases on the doorstep of Zion National Park — in an area less than a mile outside the park.
The BLM is responsible for managing the multiple uses of our public lands, which means striking a delicate balance between development and conservation. It's not always easy to serve the interests of local stakeholders, which include oil and gas companies, recreationists and outdoor recreation business owners. But when the lands local businesses like mine rely on are under threat, we need to make sure these places are safeguarded, not destroyed.
The BLM can and must protect Zion National Park by canceling this misguided proposal. It poses a grave threat to our communities' critical revenue. In 2015 alone, the park generated $274.6 million in economic output and supported almost 3,000 jobs.
Many of our local officials and small businesses are concerned about the oil and gas lease sale and oppose it because they know what this means for our community. If these lease sales are finalized, our local tourism economy will face terrible repercussions, and one of our national treasures will be put in great danger. That's why we've seen tens of thousands of nearby residents make their voices heard and submit comments to BLM asking them to stop the lease sale.
Zion National Park has been protected for nearly 100 years, and it's a place I hold close to my heart. Millions of people visit the park each year, which makes it a centerpiece of Utah's outdoor recreation economy and a significant contributor to job creation in the state.
The BLM cannot ignore how devastating the poorly planned lease proposal will be for visitors, businesses and communities across the state.
That's why I'm asking — alongside nearly 40,000 other Americans — the BLM to protect our public lands and cancel the oil and gas lease sale looming on the doorstep of one our most beloved public places in Utah.
Maggie Wilson is the owner of Magpie Cycling.