Proposed Utah land swap clears path for water projects, habitat

• BLM approved a land exchange with Washington County on May 21.
• The Water Conservancy District will receive 929 acres for future water use.
• BLM gains 89 acres of tortoise habitat in Red Cliffs Conservation Area.
• A controversial land sale proposal was removed from a federal budget bill.
• The public has until July 7 to file formal protests over the exchange.

Monday, May 26, 2025 — Last week, on May 21, 2025, the Bureau of Land Management finalized a land exchange in Washington County, Utah, that supporters say will help meet local water infrastructure needs while preserving habitat for the Mojave desert tortoise, a threatened species.

Under the agreement, the Washington County Water Conservancy District will receive 929 acres of federally managed land in Warner Valley. In exchange, the Bureau of Land Management will acquire 89 privately held acres within the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. Those 89 acres contain critical desert tortoise habitat and will become part of a federally protected conservation corridor.

“This exchange aligns with our commitment to advance the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan by consolidating federal ownership and enhancing habitat protection for the Mojave desert tortoise,” said Bureau of Land Management St. George Field Manager Jason West.

An independent appraisal confirmed that both properties were of equal value, ensuring that the exchange complied with federal requirements. The Bureau emphasized that the deal supports both conservation and infrastructure development as Washington County grapples with one of the fastest-growing populations in the West.

The public may submit formal protests regarding the transaction until July 7. Protests can be submitted by fax to 435-688-3252 or in person at the BLM St. George Field Office at 4001 East Aviator Drive, St. George, Utah 84790.

Controversial Land Sale Proposal Dropped from Budget Bill.

Just two days later, on May 23, The Idaho Capital Sun reported that a separate proposal involving Utah public lands had been withdrawn following criticism from both sides of the aisle in Congress.

Utah Representative Celeste Maloy had proposed selling nearly 11,500 acres of federal land to local governments and agencies in Washington and Beaver counties. The parcels were slated to support transportation projects, housing development, and infrastructure expansion, including a proposed reservoir and airport improvements.

However, Maloy’s measure was removed from the federal budget package after lawmakers expressed concern over the scale and intent of the land divestiture.

Although this proposal failed, the earlier-approved Warner Valley exchange suggests that targeted public land transactions, when properly evaluated and balanced with conservation priorities, may still move forward, especially in regions where population growth is placing unprecedented pressure on resources.

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