Trump cuts Bears Ears, Grand Staircase, while Dolores County recovers
Trump’s monument cuts landed as Ferris Fire evacuations eased in Dolores County, where Glade Ranch returned to SET and re-entry cards were issued in Dove Creek.
President Donald Trump signed proclamations on July 13 cutting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, affecting access, grazing and tourism decisions for Dolores County just as Ferris Fire evacuations eased. The White House said the action was “restoring sensible land management,” while local fire status updates kept residents focused on where they could drive, return and work.
The new boundaries shrink Bears Ears to about 121,100 acres from 1.36 million acres and Grand Staircase-Escalante to about 181,500 acres from 1.87 million acres, a combined loss of nearly 3 million acres. Bears Ears was created in 2016 and Grand Staircase-Escalante in 1996. Trump reduced both monuments in 2017, Biden restored their boundaries in 2021, and a 10th Circuit decision this year sent the boundary dispute back to court.
The Bureau of Land Management approved Grand Staircase-Escalante’s resource management plan on Jan. 13, 2025, and Bears Ears’ plan in January 2025 after public review and protest periods. Those plans govern how the land will be managed on the ground.
The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition said the five Tribal Nations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the sacred landscape after the rollbacks. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance called the reductions unlawful and said it was prepared to fight in court or Congress. Utah Sen. Mike Lee backed the action and said the process had been underway for more than a year.
In Dolores County, the Ferris Fire still affected daily life. Zone 1, also known as Glade Ranch, moved back to SET status, meaning residents can return with caution if they have a re-entry card from the Dove Creek Public Service Center on Road 7.7. Zones 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 moved to READY status, while access remained limited to Dolores-Norwood Road and Salter Y. The Bureau of Land Management posted a Ferris Fire emergency land-closure map dated July 2.
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