John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area

“We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not…” –John Wesley Powell,  August 3, 1875

Did you know that the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area (NCA) will help us preserve our frontier heritage?

Located in the heart of dinosaur land, the NCA will protect and enhance significant historic, cultural, natural, scientific, scenic, recreational, archaeological, educational, and wildlife resources on 29,868 acres. The use of motorized vehicles and grazing within the NCA is permitted in accordance with the Vernal Field Office Resource Management Plan (2008) and applicable laws.

On March 12, 2019, Public Law 116-9, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act was enacted. The Act will conserve, protect and enhance significant historic, cultural, natural, scientific, scenic, recreational, archaeological, educational, and wildlife resources on 29,868 acres of the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area. Prior to the completion of the management plan, the use of motorized vehicles within the National Conservation Area shall be permitted in accordance with the applicable BLM resource management plan.