Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Luxury developments boom in southern Utah
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Thursday, July 10, 2025
Kanab, Utah; P199/Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
Luxury developers have taken an interest in the small desert town of Kanab, Utah, according to reporting by the Land Desk ([link removed]) . Located on the Arizona-Utah state line, southeast of Zion National Park, Kanab has around 5,000 residents.
A slew of luxury housing developments and resorts are set for construction in and around Kanab in the coming years and months, including Catori Canyon, “a premium housing development & luxury gated community;” Ventana Resort ([link removed]) , an “ambitious project that includes townhomes, affordable housing, nightly rentals, single-family homes, and even a hotel” built on former state trust land a huge subdivision called Willow Reserve Estates ([link removed]) , which incorporated as its own municipality against the will of Kane county ([link removed]) ; and Kaia ([link removed]) , a “new ultra-luxury RURAL EB-5 investment opportunity” that will allow foreigners to obtain permanent U.S. residency
([link removed]) in exchange for purchasing one of Kaia's million-dollar homes.
Kanab currently supplies its 5,000 residents with several groundwater wells and springs. These developers plan to rely on groundwater ([link removed]) as well, indirectly removing water from the overtaxed Colorado River system, since groundwater and surface water are connected.
National park staffing crisis
A new report ([link removed]) by the National Parks Conservation Association and its partners finds that park service staffing is down 24 percent since January. NPS has lost 4,000 staff due to terminations, pressured buyouts, deferred resignations, and early retirement buyouts. An ongoing hiring freeze, just extended to October, has severely limited the agency’s ability to fill vacant positions, including more than 100 open superintendent positions. Meanwhile, parks are already experiencing record-breaking visitation ([link removed]) this summer, and the Supreme Court just gave Interior Secretary Doug Burgum permission to move ahead ([link removed]) with mass firings across the agency.
** Quick hits
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Yellowstone National Park visitation up 4 percent from 2024
NBC Montana ([link removed])
Mass layoffs can move forward, with devastating impacts for conservation and science
High Country News ([link removed])
How conservatives beat back a plan to sell off public lands
Washington Post ([link removed])
Wyoming hunters, outdoor enthusiasts ponder Trump order to 'Make America Beautiful Again'
Jackson Hole News & Guide ([link removed])
Opinion: A win-win solution for public land and housing affordability in the West
Deseret News ([link removed])
Feds close the door on a ‘national wolf conversation’
E&E News ([link removed])
Trump’s budget would clip bird banding. Hunters are not happy
New York Times ([link removed])
Extension denial leaves Wyoming ranch owner a week to convince SCOTUS to hear corner crossing case
WyoFile ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” The Trump administration is pushing fast forward on the extinction crisis... If we get rid of the science that shows (environmental) problems, we won’t have to think about it, but that won’t make them go away.”
—Noah Greenwald ([link removed]) , the Center for Biological Diversity’s endangered species director
** Picture This
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@BLMNational ([link removed])
Camp under the stars, stay in an RV, or throw a sleeping bag on the ground in the backcountry. No matter what type of experience you are looking for, you can find it on our public lands.
1. Plan ahead
2. Leave no trace
3. Respect wildlife
4. Be considerate of other visitors
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