Thousands of outdoor enthusiasts set out to ‘Take Back Utah'


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SALT LAKE CITY -- Several thousand people converged on the Utah State Capitol Saturday in an effort to "Take Back Utah." The rally was organized to send a strong message to Washington, D.C.

Gov. Gary Herbert was one of several speakers who showed up to address the enthusiastic crowd.

"Now I know that there are a lot of ATV-ers out here and you understand the phrase, ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease,'" he said. "I believe we have a lot of squeaky wheels here today that are going to let their voice be heard."

As many as 5,000 people showed up to make their voices heard, telling Washington to leave Utah alone when it comes to making decisions about public land issues. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts paraded up State Street to the Capitol grounds on their ATVs, SUVs, dirt bikes, cattle trucks -- even heavy equipment.


We're here to tell the federal government to let us take care of Utah. Let Utah take care of Utah.

–Matt Westrich


The message to Washington was clear.

"We're here to tell the federal government to let us take care of Utah," said Matt Westrich, a board member with Take Back Utah. "Let Utah take care of Utah."

This is the second year of the "Take Back Utah" event, and people came from all over the state to make their feelings known, that public lands in Utah are important to them.

Fred Lewis and his wife Wilma ride their ATVs all over the state.

"She's had knee surgery and I've had two knees replaced, so it means a lot to us to get out in the country and see it," Lewis said.

Many here are concerned about recent documents that have surfaced, indicating the current administration is considering locking up 13 million acres of Utah lands and perhaps acquiring even more to protect.

"Once they close it off, it's closed off to everybody," said Brent Braegger. "A lot of people don't know that. When you make things ‘wilderness,' the only thing you can do is walk."

Many at the rally also made it clear they share the concerns of environmental groups, that it's very important to take care of Utah's public lands no matter how they are used.

E-mail: kmccord@ksl.com

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Keith McCord

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