President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We are writing to encourage you to protect Greater Canyonlands – the magnificent 1.4 million-acre region of publicly-owned wildlands surrounding Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah – by proclaiming it a national monument.
Greater Canyonlands is without question a world class landscape deserving of the highest levels of protection. It is a place of unparalleled beauty, a geologic wonderland and a treasure trove of ancient cultural and archeological artifacts. Greater Canyonlands also offers superlative recreational opportunities that draw people from around the globe.
Many of us know and love the Greater Canyonlands area firsthand, and would like to see the area preserved because it is a premier part of our nation’s natural heritage. But as people who make their living in the outdoor industry, we also want to stress that preserving landscapes like Greater Canyonlands makes good economic sense. Wildlands are the foundational infrastructure for our industry.
A study recently released by the Outdoor Industry Association notes that outdoor recreation is “an overlooked economic giant,” generating $646 billion in national sales and services in 2011 and supporting 6.1 million jobs, powering the economy in a manner comparable to the financial services and insurance industries or outpatient health care. As highlighted by the Western Governors Association, in western states alone outdoor recreation spending equaled almost $256 billion (nearly 40% of the national total) and supported 2.3 million jobs.
The future of our outdoor recreation economy depends on protecting iconic landscapes – such as Greater Canyonlands – where people go to recreate. And monument proclamation is an important and effective way to provide the protection that is needed.
We also turn to you for action because unfortunately, Greater Canyonlands is endangered. Federal land use plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land to drilling and mining and fail to address exploding off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude. Now, the state of Utah is demanding that the federal government turn over 30 million acres of federal land for potential development and/or privatization and is asserting the right to expand and pave 40,000 miles of dirt routes and trails that criss- cross Utah’s federally-owned wildlands. Both actions would result in the despoiling of Greater Canyonlands.
We hope you will act to protect Greater Canyonlands. Thank you for your vision and leadership. Outdoor Industry Association Black Diamond Equipment Backcountry.com Boulder, CO Salt Lake City, UT Park City, UT Frank Hugelmeyer Peter Metcalf Jill Layfield President and CEO CEO and Lead Founder CEO
Eastern Mountain Sports Petzl Western Spirit Cycling Peterborough, NH Clearfield, UT Moab, UT Will Manzer CEO Roody Rasmussen Ashley Korenblat Senior Vice President CEO
Patagonia PROBAR LLC Gregory Mountain Products Ventura, CA Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City, UT Casey Sheahan Jules Lambert Billy Kulczycki President President President
Mountain Hardwear Canyon Voyages Adventure Rim Tours Richmond, CA Company Moab, UT Moab, UT Kirstin Peterson Topher Gaylord Don and Denise Oblak Owner President Owners
Teva Moki Mac Moab Cliffs and Canyons Goleta, CA Green River, UT Moab, UT Bob Quist Brett Sutteer Joel Heath Owner Owner President
Jansport Lost River Clothing Skinny Tire Events -- Morland, KS Company Road Cycling in Moab Moab, UT Moab, UT Skip Yowell Dave Knowles Beth Logan Co-Founder President Owner
Red Wing Shoes Canyonlands Field Institute Miguel’s Baja Grill Red Wing, MN Moab, UT Moab, UT Karla VanderZanden Dave Bodner Bill Sweasy Director Owner Chairman/CEO
Camelbak Magpie Adventures Ekletica Cafe Petaluma, CA Moab, UT Moab, UT Maggie Wilson Julie Fox Sally McCoy Owner Owner President and CEO
Prana Moab Destination Moab Coffee Roasters Carlsbad, CA Management Moab, UT Moab, UT Jana Wilson Theodosakis Beaver, Founder Fiona Raison Owner Scott Kerslake, CEO President Osprey Packs Horny Toad Activewear With Gaia Design Mill Valley, CA Santa Barbara, CA Moab, UT Kalen Jones Michael Pfotenhauer Kate Larramendy Owner Owner and Founder Design Director
Marmot Mountain, LLC North Face Nichols Expeditions Rohnert Park, CA San Leandro, CA Moab, UT Chuck and Judy Nichols Mark Martin Ann Krcik Owners President Director Outdoor Participation
American Recreation Nikwax Waterproofing White Horse Residential Products Seattle, WA Homes Moab, UT Boulder, CO Chas Fisher Mark Griffith Brett Jordan President Managing Partner CEO Bergans USA, LLC The Conservation Alliance Desert Bistro Longmont, CO Bend, OR Moab, UT Karl and Michelle Kelley Patry Loomis John Sterling Owners President Executive Director
Aspen Skiing Company Backbone Media LLC High and Wild Aspen, CO Carbondale, CO Castle Valley, UT Mike Kaplan Nate Simmons Jay Smith President/CEO Partner and Founder Owner
Adventure Bound River Ute Mountaineer Far Out Expeditions Expeditions Aspen, CO Bluff, UT Grand Junction, CO Bob and Ruth Wade Vaughn Hadenfeldt Tom Kleinschnitz Owners Owner/Guide President
Loki Outerwear Whitewater West Bryce Valley KOA Grand Junction, CO Grand Junction, CO Kampground Pete and Monica Atkinson Seth Anderson Owners Cannonville, UT Co-Owner John Holland Owner 4 Corners Riversports Pine Needle Imlay Canyon Gear Durango, CO Mountaineering Mt. Carmel Junction, UT Andy Corra Durango, CO Nolan Jones President Jeremy Dakan President Owner Mountain Waters Rafting Deer Hill Expeditions Red Desert Adventures and Adventure Co. Mancos, CO Springdale, UT Durango, CO Douglas and Beverly Capelin Eric Draper James Wilkes & Dan Bechtel Owners and Founders Owner Owners Kling Mountain Guides Open Sky Wilderness Wasatch Touring Durango, CO Therapy Salt Lake City, UT Josh Kling Durango, CO Owner Aaron Fernandes Charlie and Dwight Butler CEO Owners and Founders
Verde PR and Consulting Venture Snowboards The Family Outing Durango, CO Silverton, CO Murray, UT Kristin Carpenter-Ogden Klemens and Lisa Branner Richard Luke CEO and Founder Owners Owner
New Belgium Brewing Neptune Mountaineering International Mountain Ft. Collins, CO Boulder, CO Equipment Jenn Vervier Gary Neptune Salt Lake City, UT Director, Strategic Develop- Owner and Founder Scott Carson ment and Sustainability Owner
La Sportiva Scarpa Trio Restaurant Group Boulder, CO Boulder, CO Salt Lake City, UT Mikel Trapp Jonathan Lantz Kim Miller Owner President CEO
GTHI The Access Fund SOAR Communications Boulder, CO Boulder, CO Salt Lake City, UT Chip Smith Malcolm Daly Brady Robinson President Founder Executive Director
Stohlquist WaterWare Outside Adventure Film Outdoor Utah Adventure Alamosa, CO School Guide Salt Lake City, UT Jim Stolhquist Boulder, CO Red Oelerich President Michael Brown Editor-in-Chief Founder
Veterans Expeditions Fishpond Inc. Excalibur Distribution/ Boulder, CO Denver, CO DMM Inc. Nick Watson John Land Le Coq Sandy, UT Army Ranger CEO and Founder Steve Petro CEO
American Alpine Club Stonewear Designs SNOCRU Golden, CO Louisville, CO Sundance, UT Phil Powers Kitty Bradley Ed Lewis Executive Director President Founder
NRS Chalk Bag Specialist Quality Bicycle Products Moscow, Idaho Pocatello, ID Ogden, UT Bill Parks San Krieg Steve Flagg Founder Owner President
Asana Climbing Wild Iris Mountain Sports Alpine Sports Boise, ID Lander, WY Ogden, UT Jamey Sproul Jennifer Barrett Peggie Chambers Ambrey Founder Owner Owner
Oceanmedix.com, LLC The Base Camp Thompson Manufacturing Inc. Wilson, WY Billings, MT Clearfield, UT Dennis Emory Scott Brown Rock Thompson Co-Founder Owner President
Outdoor Research International Mountain Logan Outdoor Products/ Seattle, WA Guides Camp Chef Dan Nordstrom Ashford, WA Logan, UT President Phil Ershler Ty Measom President
Far Bank Enterprises Mountain Gear Ultralight Adventure Bainbridge Island, WA Spokane Valley, WA Equipment Logan, UT Travis Campbell Paul Fish Chris McMaster CEO President Owner
Peak Sports Montrail Treasure Mountain Inn Corvalis, OR Richmond, CA Park City, UT Topher Gaylord Andy Beerman Jeff Katz President Owner Owner
Mountain Tools Mammoth Mountaineering Christoph & Company Carmel, CA Supply Park City, UT Larry Arthur Mammoth Lakes, CA Lesley Christoph CEO and Lead Founder Dave Talsky President President
Wilson’s Eastside Sports Desert Rock Sports Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Bishop, CA Las Vegas, NV Park City, UT James Wilson Steve Mallory Roanne Miller Owner Owner President
Midwest Mountaineering River Sports Outfitters Burton Snowboards Minneapolis, MN Knoxville, TN Burlington, VT Rod Johnson Laura Jones Jake Burton Carpenter Owner and Founder General Manager Donna Carpenter Owners Jetboil, Incorporated Mammut Sports Group Penguin Brands Manchester, NH Shelbourne, VT Greater Boston Area, MA Perry Dowst Bill Supple Donna Williams President and CEO CEO SR Sales Manager River Runner Outdoor Pack and Paddle Pack Rat Outdoor Center Center Lafayette, LA Fayettville, AR Columbia, SC Rebecca Williams Carolyn Crook Guy Jones Owner Owner President
Rabbit Mountain Equip Exped Miami, FL Derbyshire, UK Zurich, Switzerland Edward Gerety Matt Gowar Heidi Brun President CEO CEO