National Monument Reductions
President Donald Trump signed executive proclamations under the Antiquities Act to drastically reduce the boundaries of two major national monuments in southern Utah: Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Bears Ears National Monument was reduced from 1.36 million acres down to about 121,000 acres and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was reduced from 1.87 million acres down to about 181,500 acres. The creation of these and other national monuments as well as their recent reductions was done by United States presidents under the Antiquities Act. These monuments were made by President Clinton and Obama, then greatly reduced by President Trump in his first term, both were restored by President Biden and just now reduced by Trump again.

Proponents of the reduction say that it allows resource extraction like mining, grazing, oil production and route construction. Opponents say monuments are required to protect sacred spiritual, cultural, and ancestral sites. Within the Antiquities Act is an important phrase “smallest area compatible.” It is hard to argue that 1.87 million acres are required to protect valuable and sensitive resources.

What is important to us who love the trail is how does this affect routes? The proclamation does not specify that routes are to be closed, however, it does say that management plans must be created. At that point, these plans can easily call for routes to be closed. In addition to that, routes may require extensive environmental review to remain open, which agencies may not have the money or willpower to do. These designations also do not allow for new routes to be made.

To support the reductions, any resource extracting projects that are proposed for this land must pass pretty strict environmental reviews. Also, interested parties that actually find sensitive resources on this land can tell the BLM, who will then note the resources and protect them should any proposed project come to that area.

There is a lawsuit running as we speak challenging the president’s ability to designate these giant monuments. The lawsuit was filed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Mountain States Legal Foundation on behalf of two primary plaintiffs: Daniel Torongo, a Michigan resident whose family holds long-standing mineral and mining claims in the Chuckwalla Mountains, and the Blue Ribbon Coalition. The plaintiffs argue that President Biden exceeded his statutory authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act when he designated the monument (spanning roughly 624,000 acres in Riverside and Imperial Counties in California). The suit is still in early stages, and the court has allowed five tribal nations and nine environmental groups to file for intervener status. We hope this lawsuit can put an end to these expansive monument designations, including several that are in the pipeline awaiting the right (or wrong) president.

Thorn Fire
I received a call from Matt Lohr from the BLM El Centro office saying that the Lark Canyon OHV area will be closed for the weekend (July 19-20) because of a nearby wildfire. We are pleased to report that the fire has been 100% contained and did not make it to the OHV area. Lark Canyon has reopened for all you singletrack motorcycle riders (like me).

Lost Lizard Fun Run
Plans are shaping up for another great Lost Lizard Fun Run. We expect the route to cross Wheeler road again this year and are looking forward to having seven checkpoints around the 20-mile course. Pre-entry should be open as you read this, so signup early, and reserve your shirts for one of the most anticipated events of the year. In the coming months we will highlight our checkpoint hosts and raffle prize donations. I look forward to seeing all of you at the event on November 7 2026 at The Dip right off Huff Road just north of Wheeler. We are having meetings to plan the details of the event (the meetings are a lot of fun and you are invited). To sign up and see what it is all about go to https://sdorc.org/fun-run-2026/

Public Lands Rule
The Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule—commonly known as the Public Lands Rule—was finalized in May 2024 to place conservation on an equal statutory footing with traditional resource development (such as grazing, mining, oil/gas extraction, and motorized recreation). This was harshly criticized by recreation and extraction communities. The 2024 rule allowed conservation to be formally designated as a standalone “use” of public lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). The rescission removes this framework, returning to traditional definitions of multiple-use that prioritize active utilization, such as grazing, mineral extraction, and recreation. We would like to thank president Trump for rescinding this overreaching rule and restoring management of the land to the BLM as it was designed by FLPMA.

Ed Stovin, Director of Land Use
San Diego Off-Road Coalition