Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan seeking input on 7,000-acre desert reserve

ST. GEORGE — The Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan is seeking public input on a recreation plan for a 7,000-acre reserve.

The reserve, known as Zone 6, is part of a newly reestablished conservation area that stemmed from a deal made as part of the Northern Corridor Highway connecting Washington and Red Hills Parkway. The four-lane highway that has received pushback from environmental and conservation groups was approved by the Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service, and Zone 6 was reestablished as part of the deal. The zone is part of Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, which is overseen by the Habitat Conservation Plan.

As part of its ongoing effort to make plans for current and future plans for recreation, the organization will hold a booth at the Dixie Regional Transportation Expo on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the goal of engaging with the public. The convention takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dixie Convention Center, 1835 S. Convention Center in St. George.

"At the Transportation Expo, we will have a booth with Greater Zion to allow the public to contribute to our trails and recreation plan in Zone 6," Habitat Conservation Plan spokesperson Cameron Rognan told KSL. "Our goal is to generate a comprehensive recreation plan, with community input, which will provide for the best recreational experience for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and rock climbers. The plan will support up to 65 miles of nonmotorized trails and up to 5 miles of motorized routes."

Zone 6 encompasses land east of Bloomington, is home to many popular recreation spots and serves as a vital habitat for more than 900 threatened desert tortoises and 17,000 endangered dwarf bearclaw-poppies. Rognan said it is an "honor to be able to help manage and protect this amazing place in southern Utah."

Zone 6 was first added to the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in 2021 when the Bureau of Land Management authorized the Northern Corridor right of way. Due to the road going through a portion of the reserve, the approval of the corridor triggered additional conservation actions by the Habitat Conservation Plan in Washington County. Zone 6 was eliminated in 2024 and reauthorized on state and private lands, meaning that it was no longer part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve at that time.

"Fortunately, the Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service did issue a new decision regarding re-approval of the right of way and reestablishment of Zone 6 earlier this year," Rognan said. "Since that decision, Washington County has been actively managing Zone 6 as a part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve again, and (State Trust Lands Administration's) development proposal will not be carried forward as long as the right of way remains available."

The BLM's decision added 6,650 acres in habitat protection, replacing the 150 acres within the reserve that would be used for the roadway. Rognan said that he and members of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve "take great pride in being able to manage the land for protective species" while "providing the public with an opportunity to stay healthy while connecting with nature."

"The reserve and Zone 6 have some of the most unique collections of plants and animals in the world because we are at an intergrade zone where the Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert and Colorado Plateau all collide. Beyond the magnificent plants and animals, the geology is also spectacular. It's no wonder Zone 6 is one of the most heavily recreated areas in the county."

Rognan went on to name Moe's Valley, which is a world-renowned destination for rock climbing and bouldering. He made note of mountain bike trails like Zen and Bear Claw Poppy that offer "amazing outdoor experiences for all skill levels."

Rognan acknowledged the possibility of development in that area in years to come but says that he wants to focus on what can be done now to preserve the area.

"I try to focus on the now more than the long term, because it's what we can control," Rognan said. "I feel it's important to do everything we can right now to protect it and manage it and care for it. Hopefully over time, we can acquire that land with the federal government's assistance and with land exchanges, and it won't be an issue that we ever have to be concerned about, but I'm really more focused on protecting it right now. If we do that, and if we can get through all of the legal challenges that we have right now, then Zone 6 will be able to stay protected long term."

With the booth at the Dixie Regional Transportation Expo Tuesday, Rognan said that the primary goal is to educate and engage with the public.

"We want to help the public better understand that Zone 6 is a part of the reserve again, and that we will be managing it and protecting it," Rognan said. "With that, we want (the public's) involvement in looking at the trails and coming up with a trail plan that works for the various different user groups."

Related topics