Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Trump's mining push threatens groundwater in southern Utah
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Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Lisbon Valley Copper Project, San Juan County, Utah; Source: Utah Geological Survey ([link removed])
Lisbon Valley Mining is seeking permission ([link removed]) to expand an open-pit copper mine and other operations on more than 1,000 acres of national public land in southeast Utah, worrying local ranchers and residents. The company has asked the Environmental Protection Agency for an exemption in order to inject chemicals ([link removed]) into the the Burro Canyon aquifer, which locals rely on for both drinking water and ranching.
“When an aquifer gets exempted, it’s sacrificed. It can no longer be used for drinking water,” a local business owner told E&E News ([link removed]) . “Mining is a very water-intensive endeavor, and there’s just not a lot of water here.”
Lisbon Valley is one of the many mining projects the Trump administration is advancing by fast-tracking permitting and pushing for copper and uranium to be added to the critical minerals list. The Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine, located just a few miles away from the Lisbon Valley copper mine, was fast-tracked ([link removed]) by the Trump administration earlier this year. It's environmental review was completed in just 11 days ([link removed]) , drawing praise from state leaders ([link removed]) and concerns from locals ([link removed]) .
Keep Parks Public tour heads to Utah!
Our Keep Parks Public tour stops in Salt Lake City tomorrow ([link removed]) for a live podcast recording at Fisher Brewing. We’ll be discussing the impacts of funding cuts, new laws, and layoffs on our beloved public lands—from the forests of the Wasatch to the parks, national monuments, and BLM lands of southern Utah.
We’ve brought together an expert panel to discuss these issues, including Erika Pollard with the National Parks Conservation Association, Davina Smith with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, Doug Tolman with Save Our Canyons, and Scott Braden with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. RSVP now ([link removed]) to secure your spot, or join us for our final stop in Grand Junction ([link removed]) on Friday!
** Quick hits
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Conservationists bring public lands podcast tour to Utah
Axios Salt Lake City ([link removed])
Court stops Oak Flat land transfer hours before exchange
Inside Climate News ([link removed]) | KJZZ ([link removed]) | Native News Online ([link removed])
Heat, rather than a lack of rain, is driving drought in Utah and the West
KUER ([link removed])
Wildfire is a growing threat to the West’s water systems
High Country News ([link removed])
Las Cruces officials and business owners highlight importance of local public land
Las Cruces Bulletin ([link removed])
Ranchers, landowners urge Supreme Court to hear Wyoming corner-crossing case
WyoFile ([link removed])
Outdoor recreation reached all-time high in 2024 as federal funding cuts threaten annual economic report
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Trump administration fires park ranger for hanging transgender pride flag in Yosemite
SFGate ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Public lands are a great equalizer—places where all Americans have the same right to hike, hunt, fish or camp... If we lose the people who manage these lands, our access will shrink under wildfire closures, roads will be gated, and campgrounds will close. We’ll lose our freedom to wander.”
—Tracy Stone-Manning ([link removed]) , president of The Wilderness Society
** Picture This
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@keepparkspublic ([link removed])
GIVEAWAY!
Make sure to RSVP for our Salt Lake City event at @fisherbrewing ([link removed]) on Thursday 8/21 to be entered to win some @patagonia ([link removed]) gear!
The event will include a live podcast taping with panelists from @protectwildutah ([link removed]) , @npcapics ([link removed]) , @bearsearscoalition ([link removed]) , and @saveourcanyons ([link removed]) .
You must be at the event to win.
Reps from @stewardshiputah ([link removed]) and @grandstaircasepartners ([link removed]) will also be there to chat about how YOU can help protect public lands.
Gear generously donated by @patagoniaslc ([link removed]) !
RSVP 🔗 in @keepparkspublic ([link removed]) bio.
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