Federal Agencies Reconsider Northern Corridor & Zone 6
PRESS RELEASE: Washington County Celebrates Federal Approval of Northern Corridor and Expansion of Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
SAINT GEORGE, UTAH – Today, Washington County Leaders expressed excitement for the approval of the Northern Corridor highway right-of-way and the inclusion of Zone 6 into the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. “Washington County is so pleased with the Trump Administration and its work that led to the federal decision announced today,” Washington County Commissioner Adam Snow said. “This plan is the only feasible way to balance conservation and provide for our county’s transportation and recreation needs.”
Benefits of BLM Decision:
The Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) Record of Decision, issued today, approved the Utah Department of Transportation’s (“UDOT”) application for a right-of-way. This approval allows UDOT to begin construction of the Northern Corridor, a transportation route that will connect Washington Parkway to Red Hills Parkway by traversing a small portion of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.
The Reserve is a large, protected area in Washington County that stretches from the Shivwits Indian Reservation to LaVerkin. The Northern Corridor will have minimal impact on the Reserve while allowing vehicles to bypass an increasingly congested downtown St. George when traveling between the Ivins/Santa Clara areas and the Washington/Hurricane areas. Traffic engineers and wildlife biologists have studied the area extensively to find the most beneficial route to address traffic congestion while minimizing environmental impact.
BLM’s decision also triggered protections for the nearly 7,000 acres of land east of Bloomington known as Zone 6. This area includes the Bear Claw Poppy and Zen mountain bike trail systems as well as the Moe’s Valley Climbing Area.
Transportation Infrastructure can Finally Move Forward:
In 2020, Washington County, St. George City, and Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands jointly committed, as conditions for BLM’s approval of the Northern Corridor right-of-way, to maintain Zone 6 as permanent open space to benefit Washington County’s threatened and endangered species.
UDOT obtained a Northern Corridor right-of-way permit in 2021, but the Biden administration revoked that right-of-way in December 2024. BLM, under the current Trump Administration, reviewed the 2024 revocation and decided to re-issue the right-of-way.
“Washington County has diligently worked on this issue for decades, while unelected bureaucrats played political football with our infrastructure needs,” Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson said. “While the Biden Administration unilaterally undid the protections put in place, I am excited that wrong has been corrected with the help of President Trump and BLM.”
Commissioner Adam Snow added, “We are grateful to our many partners who helped make this right. This is a win for the years of dedication and work our community, tribal, state, and federal partners have put into achieving balanced policy solutions. The Biden Administration unnecessarily and selfishly caused years of delay and wasted taxpayer dollars. Anyone who truly cares about habitat conservation and protecting our open space should applaud this decision.”
Local Solutions Restored to Preserve Access to Recreation and Protect Habitat:
“The Zone 6 protections went away when the prior Administration decided to revoke the Northern Corridor right-of-way,” explained Washington County Commissioner Gil Almquist. “The political back and forth left Zone 6 open for development. Yet, Washington County leaders remained focused on finding a balanced solution.”
Commissioner Almquist continued, “Today we are immediately reinstating our management plan. As long as the Northern Corridor remains approved, development in Zone 6 will not happen and responsible, non-motorized recreation will continue.”
For decades, Washington County has implemented a successful habitat conservation plan that will continue forward. Administrator of the County’s tortoise Habitat Conservation Plan, Cameron Rognan, added, “While the corridor will require us to relocate 30-40 desert tortoises, the addition of Zone 6 to the Reserve protects more than 900 tortoises, making this a remarkable win for the tortoise and wildlife conservation overall.”
Northern Corridor Anticipated and Authorized by Congress:
“We want to thank the Utah Congressional Delegation for their continued efforts to support local leaders in holding the BLM accountable to the law Congress passed in 2009,” Commissioner Snow said.
BLM’s decision to issue the right-of-way has sparked some controversy because the federal land within the Reserve includes the congressionally designated Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
Generally, new roads are not built in national conservation areas, but when local leaders advocated for the protection of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in the mid 2000’s, they also requested that the Northern Corridor be included as part of the legislation. In 2009 Congress passed, and President Obama signed, a bill that accomplished this by creating the national conservation area and requiring BLM to study and approve a location for the Northern Corridor.
This federal decision advances the local infrastructure needs of Washington County while enhancing habitat protection and maintaining open lands and access for recreation. We once again thank the Trump Administration, BLM, Utah’s Congressional Delegation, and our many other partners in this important effort. [source]
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