New book on Dugout

by Bill Boyle
San Juan Record Editor
Finally, a definitive book to tell the remarkable story of the Dugout Ranch!
The Dugout Ranch, A Land Use Perspective, by local author Lee Bennett, traces the development of the massive ranch from a 320-acre homestead to the headquarters of a ranching operation that covered more than 3,100 square miles of landscapes.
The book includes the pre-history, Native American history, and the early ranching efforts in Indian Creek Canyon, but it is Al Scorup who dominates the story, much like he dominated ranching in San Juan County during the time frame.
Over time, Scorup consolidated the operations of earlier ranchers and built the Scorup Somerville Cattle Company. At one point in time, the operation held the biggest Forest Service cattle permit ever issued and the largest BLM grazing lease in southeast Utah.
While other operations on private lands may have been larger, the Dugout Ranch was possibly the largest public land grazing operation in the nation.
The time frame of the book runs from 1875 through 1965, when the Dugout Ranch was purchased by Charlie Redd.
It includes brief information on the early ranchers who settled in the canyon. I am intrigued by these early efforts and wonder about the Kirk, Green, Kelley, Goudelock and Somerville operations.
It was interesting to read brief biographies of these mostly forgotten settlers before they were swallowed up by the force of nature that was Al Scorup.
The book represents 30 years of work for Bennett, who arrived in the area as a forest service archaeologist in the 1980s and became the forest supervisor.
The chapter describing public land issues is particularly informative. Bennett understands the inherent conflict between ranchers and land managers and clearly explains the history behind those complicated issues.
Other chapters dive into the challenges of isolation, drought, boom and bust, the development of natural resources, including uranium and petroleum, and the growth of national parks and monuments.
The Dugout Ranch is entirely within Bears Ears National Monument and is the largest private land holding in the monument. In addition, the ranch held grazing leases in Canyonlands National Park when the park was designated in the 1960s.
Bennett’s work is extremely thorough, with detailed supporting documentation including 40 tables, lists of ranch workers and federal employees, more than 30 pages of notes, 62 pages of references cites, and an index.
The book is available online and at local bookstores, including the San Juan Record Bookstore in Monticello. As an intriguing read and a reference book, it would make an excellent addition to your personal library.