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- Zion National Park will receive $2.75 million for conservation projects.
- Funding aims to protect wildlife habitats and improve public access near Zion.
- Utah's recreation economy, boosted by national parks, generated $9.5 billion in 2023.
SALT LAKE CITY — Zion National Park outside of Springdale is one of Utah's most popular parks, as well as one of the nation's jewels.
In 2023, it received more than 4.6 million visitors who came to see the iconic rock formations, explore slot canyons and even try the daring hike at Angel's Landing.
But for one of Utah's "Mighty Five" national parks to stay healthy, the areas around it have to do so as well.
To that end, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that two projects near the park will receive $2.75 million in funding.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced nearly $335 million to support private forest landowners and strengthen conservation efforts across the nation as part of the Biden-Harris administration's Inflation Reduction Act.
Two projects near Zion National Park will receive the money to conserve critical wildlife habitats.
The Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program has awarded $1.5 million for the Zion Clear Creek Canyon project and $1.25 million for Zion Cave Canyon project. Both project areas are located on the eastern border of Zion National Park in Kane County.
"Funding these awards reflect our commitment to preserving and managing the natural beauty and environmental resources of the Intermountain Region," said Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth. "The Zion Clear Creek and Cave Canyon conservation easements will help protect water resources, wildlife habitat, and migration corridors while ensuring public access to some of Utah's most iconic landscapes."
More about the projects:
- Zion Clear Creek Canyon will get money to acquire a conservation easement on a 202-acre piece of property to safeguard critical water resources and habitat for threatened and endangered species.
- Zion Cave Canyon will use money to do a similar easement on 177 acres to protect the scenic canyon and its rims. In addition, it will not only protect wildlife but improve public access.
In addition to the specific funding for the Intermountain Region, the Forest Service's broader Forest Legacy Program has allocated nearly $125 million to conserve 105,000 acres of private forestlands across 10 states, including Utah. These projects are a part of the USDA's strategy to improve forest management, reduce wildfire risks, and contribute to environmental conservation.
The money is important in the sense that the park is often described as being "loved to death," as it struggles with the onslaught of annual visitors who travel both from the United States and internationally to take in its scenic wonders.
The park also enjoys a partnership with the Zion Forever Project, a stewardship model launched in 2017. At that time, the organization said Zion was the first national park in the state of Utah and was in a dead heat with historic Temple Square in Salt Lake City as the state's most visited tourist destination. The health of the state's economy is interconnected with tourism.
A recent report noted that Utah's recreation economy generated $9.5 billion in 2023, up 18% from the year before.
National parks in Utah play a big role in that and support surrounding communities with the tourism that is generated.
