Public Lands

The Peavine Canyon Fire and new Poison Canyon Fire continue to grow

A new fire joined the Peavine Canyon Fire burning west of Monticello and Blanding in the Dark Canyon Wilderness last week. The lightning-sparked Poison Canyon Fire has grown to almost 200 acres since it was discovered on July 26. According to U.S. Forest Service officials in the Manti-La Sal...

Nearly 240-acre fire is still burning west of Monticello

A fire sparked by a lightning strike 45 miles west of Monticello has grown from 15 acres to almost 240 acres since it was first spotted on July 16. The “Peavine Canyon Fire” in the Dark Canyon Wilderness of the Manti-La Sal National Forest became more active due to drying conditions, according to...

Second printing for 101 Visitor Guide

For the first time ever, a generous grant from San Juan County Visitor Services will enable a second printing of 101 Ways to Experience San Juan County. A new wave of the popular visitor guides will be available at local visitor centers, motels, restaurants and businesses in coming days. 101 Ways...

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum to host lecture and book signing

The Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum in Blanding will present a lecture and book signing with geologist and author Gene Stevenson on Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Stevenson’s book, “Canyon Country Explorations & River Lore: The Remarkable...

Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee tackles sticky issues at first meetings

The Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC) met for two days on June 5-6 at the Hideout Community Center in Monticello. It was the first meeting of the group, which consists of 15 people appointed by the Department of the Interior. The group members were selected to represent a...

Bears Ears Advisory Committee set to meet

The Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee will meet for the first time this week in public meetings in Monticello on June 5 and 6. The 15 members of the advisory committee will meet Wednesday, June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursday, June 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hideout Community Center...

“New to the Edge” exhibit opens at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum

A new exhibit features two pottery vessels found by two groups of San Juan County residents. The Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum is inaugurating the “New to the Edge” exhibit with artifacts that are new or recent additions to the museum’s collections. On Easter 2014, Steve and Donna Jensen...

Uproar over appointment of initial Bears Ears NM Advisory Committee

An uproar erupted in the past week after names were released for the initial Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee. Utah Diné Bikéyah, an advocacy group that fought for the original 1.35 million acre national monument, expressed concern that the committee is dominated by local residents...

Representatives appointed to Bears Ears Nt’l Monument Advisory Committee

Fifteen individuals are now officially part of the initial Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee (BENMAC). The April 11 appointments are the culmination of a nomination process that began in September 2018. The BENMAC was established as part of the...

New BLM field manager has a familiar face

There is something new and something old at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Gary Torres, our favorite emeritus columnist and former Cave Guy, was hired as the new manager for the Monticello Field office in February. Although, looking at the picture it is hard to tell which is old and which is...