Environmental Perceptions of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1961-1971
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Environmental Perceptions of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1961-1971 A thesis presented to the faculty of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Tate Pashibin May 2019 © 2019 Tate Pashibin. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Environmental Perceptions of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1961-1971 by TATE PASHIBIN has been approved for the Program of Environmental Studies and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs by Geoffrey Buckley Professor of Geography Mark Weinberg Dean, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs 3 Abstract PASHIBIN, TATE, M.S., May 2019, Environmental Studies Environmental Perceptions of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1961-1971 Director of Thesis: Geoffrey Buckley Canyonlands National Park was established in 1964 during a time of change in American recreation and for the National Park Service. The area proposed for inclusion in the park provided economic benefits to local Utahns via mineral extraction, hunting, and livestock grazing. Traditionally, national park designation would prohibit such uses, but the Canyonlands bills presented by Utah congressional delegates provided for continued multiple uses in the park. Supporters of the multiple-use concept cited increasing material and recreational needs for Americans and urged allowance of commercial development on protected lands. Preservationists refuted that all national parks would be jeopardized if Canyonlands National Park was established with provisions for multiple commercial uses. I analyzed 359 newspaper articles and nine congressional hearing testimonies, which revealed important themes including conflict between preservation and utilitarian values, state and local desires for autonomous land management and economic development, and the need for diversifying recreational opportunities offered by federal land management agencies. The story of establishing Canyonlands is illustrative of the pervasive challenges confronting many National Park Service units, especially those in the desert Southwest. 4 Dedication To Mady, with whom I developed a passion for wildlife, nature, and the environment. Your resilience and dedication inspired me to pursue this degree, and I hope in turn to inspire you to achieve your dreams. 5 Acknowledgments This work would not be possible without the assistance from my advisors, academic support team, and my family. Geoff Buckley, thank you for the guidance and for challenging me in the most respectful and supportive ways. Geoff Dabelko, thank you for providing me with the tools to overcome adversity and to focus on my education and career goals. Steve Scanlan, thank you for enlightening me to new perspectives and for providing numerous resources to complete this project. Don Miles, thank you for allowing me to explore my interests in ornithology and for treating me like one of your own students. Yolonda Youngs, thank you for providing outside guidance and support for this project. I thank Cheryl, Loraine, and Joe for their personal and professional support and encouragement; Natalie for sharing this journey with me; Gabe for helpful discussions and edits; Rita for being a role model and mentor; the Pashibins, the Martellos, and Vinny for being my support system; and my Athens family: Brette, Vicky, Anna, Julia, Laura, Luisa, Sophie, Keaton, Erik, Eileen, Kari, Wren, Carlisle, and especially Holly and Kelly, for their loyalty, friendship, and facilitation of personal growth. Finally, I want to acknowledge the advocates of Canyonlands National Park: Bates Wilson, Frank Moss, Stewart Udall, Kent and Fern Frost, Lin Ottinger, Joette Langianese, Bruce Hucko, the Friends of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Camille DenDooven. Camille, thank you for everything to help complete this project, for the life lessons, and for the friendship. 6 Table of Contents Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 5 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ 6 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 8 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 16 America’s Best Idea .................................................................................................... 16 History of National Park Service Perceptions and Management Priorities ................ 18 Establishing New National Parks ................................................................................ 24 The Social, Political, and Economic Context of the 1960s and 1970s ....................... 26 Southeastern Utah. ................................................................................................ 27 Canyonlands National Park......................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3: Data and Methodology .................................................................................... 38 Study Area .................................................................................................................. 38 Archival Research ....................................................................................................... 40 Newspaper data sources and analysis ................................................................... 40 Legislative sources and analysis ........................................................................... 43 Chapter 4: Perceptions of the Establishment of Canyonlands National Park ................... 44 Compromising Scenery with Utilitarian Values for a Sizeable Park .......................... 47 Mineral, Gas, and Oil Perspectives: The Hope to Redefine National Parks............... 53 Other Multiple Uses: Grazing and Hunting ................................................................ 63 Lands and Development in Canyonlands ................................................................... 69 The Role of Politics and Land Ideology ..................................................................... 75 Chapter 5: Perceptions Regarding the Expansion of Canyonlands National Park ........... 82 The Resurgence of the Multiple Use Controversy ...................................................... 84 Wilderness Values in the Desert ................................................................................. 89 State Rights to Road Development Implored ............................................................. 93 7 Chapter 6: Significance and Conclusions ......................................................................... 97 References ....................................................................................................................... 104 Appendix: Timeline of Significant Events ..................................................................... 115 8 List of Tables Page Table 1. Archival newspaper sources ............................................................................... 42 9 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Example of Canyonlands Scenery ..................................................................... 12 Figure 2. Map of Utah public lands .................................................................................. 30 Figure 3. Oil rig near Canyonlands ................................................................................... 32 Figure 4. Potash settling ponds ......................................................................................... 33 Figure 5. Photo of Needles area geology .......................................................................... 34 Figure 6. Map of Canyonlands National Park .................................................................. 39 Figure 7. Major themes discussed during Canyonlands’ establishment ........................... 44 Figure 8. Proportion of article and testimonial support for the Canyonlands National Park concept over time. ............................................................................................................. 46 Figure 9. Maps of different Canyonlands proposals ......................................................... 51 Figure 10. Preferences of park size ................................................................................... 52 Figure 11. Map of Canyonlands area minerals ................................................................. 58 Figure 12. Proportion of preference for mineral development in Canyonlands ............... 61 Figure 13. Typical vegetation in the Island in the Sky ..................................................... 64 Figure 14. Map of general deer habitat in Canyonlands ................................................... 67 Figure 15. Preference to develop infrastructure