Could beloved federal recreation spots become Utah state parks?

SALT LAKE CITY — There’s lots to love about the Antelope Flat Campground.

Nestled by the southeast shore of Flaming Gorge, it has a boat ramp to a revered fishing spot and access to several trails within the scenic Ashley National Forest. However, a state lawmaker argues that it’s not living up to its full potential.

Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, points to the negative things he’s seen and heard about it. Parts of it are often closed for various reasons, and people have complained about the state of its facilities. He believes U.S. Forest Service employees are trying their best to manage it, but they’re not getting the federal funding the land needs to meet the state’s high outdoor recreation demands.

“Flaming Gorge is just a fabulous recreation opportunity in this state, but its access is being limited because of the lack of funding,” he said.

His proposal? Perhaps turn the campground — and areas around it — into a state park.

Eliason is behind a resolution that could create Flaming Gorge State Park. HCR12, which sailed through the House Public Utilities and Energy Committee on Tuesday, is a wide-ranging resolution that could carve out at least three new state parks through federal agreements.

It would request a petition to negotiate with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service that could also create Little Sahara and Skyline state parks in Juab and Davis counties, respectively. It would also look into options to partner with the National Park Service over ways the state could help pay for deferred maintenance costs at national parks in the state, something the resolution initially focused on.

“While we don’t know what the ultimate price tag is … we’re not expending any resources to do this — using our existing staff to have conversations and investigate what might be possible,” he said. “If we don’t ask, we’ll never know.”

 

Adding to state parks?

 

Antelope Flat isn’t the only specific land singled out in HCR12. It also points to the popular Little Sahara Recreation Area, which the state has already expressed a desire to make a state park. Eliason said state and local entities are already paying for resources in the area, it just hasn’t finalized a federal transfer either through purchase, lease or other methods via the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.

The resolution would nudge those conversations further.

It also points to a section of Forest Service land by Farmington Canyon and Skyline Drive. Bountiful, Centerville and Farmington already help maintain the motorized road, and they’ve suggested ways to maintain its hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding abilities only to receive pushback, said Bountiful City Councilwoman Kate Bradshaw.

“We have a little bit of a struggle in finding ways to partner with the Forest Service — not because of the local people we deal with,” she said. “The bureaucracy of dealing with the Forest Service sometimes stems our ability to properly engage with them.”

She said communities would like to restore the now-shuttered Sunset Campground, as well, if the state can secure an agreement with the Forest Service. That’s why she supports the measure.

Places like Monte Cristo and San Rafael Swell could also be looked at as future state parks, monuments or campgrounds.

Eliason clarified that the state would not pry its national parks away from the National Park Service under the financial provision. Instead, it would enter a partnership to help fund deferred maintenance projects in Utah, which exceeded $387 million in 2023.

Redge Johnson, director of the Utah Public Lands Coordinating Office, said it would not be a new concept. He pointed to a co-management agreement that the Biden administration reached with tribal nations over Bears Ears National Monument as a recent example, adding he believes Utah could reach a similar agreement under the Trump administration.

 

Is it worth it?

 

The proposal comes at an interesting time in federal land management. Many federal layoffs and budget cuts have taken place since the bill was introduced earlier this month, creating questions about how those will impact Zion National Park and other federal outdoor gems in the state.

“If there were some ‘cooperative arrangement’ made, that we could help mitigate those job losses and those lost recreation opportunities,” Eliason argued. “I don’t see the federal government addressing it anytime in the near future.”

Committee members warmed up to the idea as they discussed it. Rep. Rex Shipp, R-Cedar City, said he believes the state should do all it can to maintain lands that haven’t lost interest since the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, they also warned about the potential impacts ahead. Utah leaders already sighed with relief after the White House backed off from a funding freeze last month that could have significantly impacted state funds. With state and federal finances still being sorted out, they believe the state should approach this concept carefully.

The committee ultimately voted 8-1 in favor of the measure because it would only open up conversations, while reviewing potential financial and operational challenges should options be available. Updates would be presented to the Utah Legislature over the next three years.

“It doesn’t hurt to talk. … I just hope we can do this thing sensibly, responsibly and fiscally right,” said Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield.

HCR12 now heads to the House for a full vote. It must be approved by the House and Senate by March 7 to move forward.