FEAR, DO NOT REVERE “WasAngeles” Written by Development Director Grace Tyler
we pave our way into wilderness leaving nothing behind except wider roads, gondolas, and trains? Clean air, clean water, and open spaces don’t come easy. We have to actively work to protect our open spaces and places. And as the population in Utah keeps growing – it’s critical that we adapt to lifestyle changes that focus on protecting the quality of life we all rely upon. What are you willing to do differently so we can protect the wildness of our wilderness? What will the Wasatch look like in 10 years, if we don’t act now in protecting our water source? Will there be a “WasAngeles” sign at the bottom of the Cottonwood Canyons? Now’s not the time to sit back, relax, and expect things are going to change on their own. Born and raised in the valley of the Wasatch or transplanted from another ecosystem — we need voices that help to carry our shared goal of protecting the wildness and beauty of the Wasatch Mountains. Throughout this newsletter you will find different actions from signing the Central Wasatch National Conservation & Recreation Area (NCRA) petition on p.12, becoming a member of the Save Our Canyons on p.15, and becoming a stewardship of the land on p.9.
There’s no gondola-ing our way out of this, we need to pass permanent policies that protect our public lands
14 Save Our Canyons, Summer 2021
www.saveourcanyons.org
3690 E Fort Union Blvd STE 101 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121.
Join
Save Our Canyons relies critically on the support of individual members and local businesses. Join today for only $35: https://saveourcanyons.org/join!
Renew
Renew your one-year membership today for only $35, and keep doing your part for the Wasatch: https://saveourcanyons.org/renew.
Give Monthly
Become a monthly member for as low as $5 a month: https://saveourcanyons.org/give-monthly.
• Connection to a community passionate about conservation • Discount on ALL Save Our Canyons event tickets • Direct access to our brightest conservation leaders • Ability to serve on a Save Our Canyons advisory committee • An exclusive Save Our Canyons membership event • Quarterly newsletters delivered to your door or via email (your preference) • Action Alert emails that focus on direct actions to protect the Wasatch
From cheeky Instagram accounts popping up highlighting the red snake throughout the Central Wasatch and Southern Utah. To Uinta Brewing launching a craft beer called “WasAngeles” saying, “A tribute to our hometown and the active outdoor lifestyle that is the foundation of our love for this place.” Uinta Brewing truly wants to help protect the Wasatch from redirecting people under the age of 21 away from their webpage and to the Salt Lake City Public Utilities website, to partnering with SOC during an event back in 2018. But, I begin to wonder what the impacts are when we embrace the term “WasAngeles”.
If the powers that be think Little Cottonwood Canyon is the only area experiencing pressure from visitation, they are sadly mistaken. What Utah cannot do is – gondola our way out of this. Building a train or gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon doesn’t solve the problem, it only enhances it. And as Edward Abbey said, “Congress is always willing to appropriate money for more and bigger paved roads, anywhere – particularly if they form loops.” We are at a critical turning point, do we prioritise clean water, clean air, and the flora and fauna throughout Utah? Or do
Your tax deductible donation enables us to continue protecting the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch Mountains. Becoming a member by donating online or by mailing in a check to:
Membership Benefits
The amount of growth that Utah has experienced in the last few years is undeniable. Home sales along the Wasatch Front reached historic highs in 2020 as low interest rates encouraged more buying. And sales of single-family houses, condominiums, townhomes and duplexes in Salt Lake County topped 19,125 last year, up from 18,125 in 2019 (Tony Semerad, Jan. 27, 2021, The Salt Lake Tribune). As more and more people move to Utah the term “WasAngeles’’ has begun to spread like wildfire.
If you think about the growing pains that Utah is experiencing, some could draw the connection between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Currently, Salt Lake City has some of the worst air quality in the nation. Roadways are seeing more and more pressure, as public transportation systems need more connectivity. And our public lands are being loved to death. Trying to access the Central Wasatch on a powder day, is similar to trying to access Moab during the spring to go climbing or mountain biking.
Become A Member
Other Ways To Donate
Photo Credit— Eric R. Johnson; Instagram: @e2the3
Remember, growth for the sake of growth, particularly as it wreaks havoc on the wildness and beauty of the Wasatch, is the ideology of the cancer cell. Don’t be part of the cancer, be part of the cure and take action (sign a petition, volunteer, or donate) with us today.
www.saveourcanyons.org
There are multiple ways you can support or donate to Save Our Canyons! Donate stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRA accounts, real estate, life insurance, business interests, and bequests through your will or trust! If you’re interested in leaving a legacy of support for the continued preservation of this amazing range and the communities it supports please contact Sarah Sleater at sarah@saveourcanyons.org or 801-363-7283.
Save Our Canyons, Summer 2021
15
