Defend Your Ground

In this installment of the "Last Known Position series" we are joined by Mike Fogg, who has served as a volunteer for Search and Rescue teams in Weber County. With extensive experience on a variety of rescues in the Wasatch Mountains, Mike shares his insights on how to recreate safely and responsibly. We are grateful to all Search and Rescue volunteers, and we encourage everyone to support Weber C...

The Manti-La Sal forest plan revision will impact snowmobile use on three major mountain ranges in Utah. After attending a US Forest Service meeting on the plan revision process with Mike Davis from the Utah Snowmobile Association, we connected to produce this episode to share additional information about this plan. This plan will affect recreation access to millions more acres in Utah, and we nee...

In this installment of the "Last Known Position series" we are joined by Casey Lofthouse, who has a long history as a volunteer for Search and Rescue teams across the state of Utah. With extensive experience in southwest Utah - and specifically Sand Hollow - Casey shares his stories of rescuing those in need. We also discuss safety and preparation best practices to ensure that your adventures alwa...

This episode was recorded at the Stop 30x30 Conference hosted by American Stewards for Liberty. BRC Board Member, Mark Maynard joins us to discuss BRC's efforts to oppose 30x30. We also discuss a new Resource Management Plan proposed by the Bureau of Land Management that will affect 3 million acres of land in Rock Springs, Wyoming. You can leave your comment on the Rock Springs plan here: https://...

The Manti-La Sal National Forest is requesting public feedback on the latest draft of their new forest plan. This will affect all forms of recreation use in over 1 million acres of central and eastern Utah.  We appreciate the International Snowmobile Manufacturer's Association who has provided us with a grant to educate users about land management plans that will affect snowmobiling. This plan wil...

In the latest episode of the Defend Your Ground Podcast, Will Harris was our special guest. Will has been one of the key players in correcting the scientific record about the dust emissions - or lack thereof - at Oceano Dunes. Agencies often rely on limited scientific findings to pass sweeping policy changes, and this results in false narratives that become very difficult to uproot. We encourage e...

Congress needs to defund the monument planners for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. You can notify your member of Congress here: https://www.sharetrails.org/defund-the-bureau-of-land-management-national-monument-planners/ Everyone needs to add their voice to the Kootenai Forest snowmobile plan: https://www.sharetrails.org/action-alert-kootenai-over-snow-vehicle-plan/  

Today President Biden is abusing his Antiquities Act authority to create 1.1 million acre national monument in Arizona called the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. This 30x30 land grab will lock the American people out from enjoying the benefits of these public lands. In this episode we discuss the problems with this monument, we discuss our legal challenge to the continue...

The National Park Service is re-evaluating their rule to allow e-bikes in national parks. After listening to the show, you can add your voice to the process here: Make a Public Comment on the Plan  

Western Idaho is undergoing t ravel management , which designates routes in the area of Canyonlands East in Owyhee County. This is the Fossil Butte and Grandview areas. The project area is 815, 677 acres. Known for off roading, single track, camping and access to rivers and lakes, the BLM is analyzing the majority of the routes in this area. Add your voice here: https://www.sharetrails.org/canyonl...

We reviewed the public records for comments that have been submitted for the BLM conservation rule that will sell our public lands to the highest bidder, and we found some hidden gems among the 150,000 comments already submitted. In this episode we read and discuss what advocates for the rule are saying. If you don't add your voice to the process, these are the comments the Bureau of Land Manageme...

Former Secretary of the Department of the Interior Joins the Defend Your Ground Podcast to discuss his new book: You Report to Me. Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/You-Report-Me-Accountability-Administrative/dp/1641773308/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HUMH3R0CUYEQ&keywords=you+report+to+me&qid=1685050820&sprefix=%2Caps%2C307&sr=8-1 In the podcast we discuss ways the public can hold the administrative...

The Lolo National Forest in Montana is recommending more wilderness designations in their upcoming forest plan. We talk about why you should oppose this.  The Bureau of Land Management recently proposed a new rule to prioritize conservation on BLM lands. The United States Forest Service released a companion rule that raises questions about what exactly the forest should be prioritizing as the fore...

The deeper we dive into the Bureau of Land Management's Public Land Rule to sell "conservation leases" on public land, the more problems we are finding. They don't have authority to create this rule The rule won't work The rule is unnecessary The rule could lead to foreign interference in public land management. All public land stakeholders should unite to oppose this plan. You can add your voice...

Lawsuits have been filed to challenge the USFS use of fire retardant dropped from aircraft to fight wildfires. In this episode we discuss the merits of this challenge and what BRC is doing to advocate for better forest management. In the second half of the episode we discuss the Upper Snake River Travel Plan that is open for public comment in Eastern Idaho. You can add your voice to the comment pe...

Ben and Simone discuss the Moab dispersed camping plan that is currently open for public comment. New regulations are in the works to manage some of the impacts. A broad restriction in the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Area is in the works to limit open, free, dispersed camping to designated sites. Take Action Here: https://www.sharetrails.org/the-fight-for-dispersed-camping-near-moab-continues/#/...

In this episode of the Defend Your Ground Podcast, the BRC team discussed the Lava Ridge Wind Farm proposal in southern Idaho with Dean Diamond - a local farmer from the area. This is one of the largest wind farm proposals ever considered for public land, and it is receiving substantial scrutiny from a wide range of stakeholders. BRC is concerned that recreation access will be lost in the area. De...

In this interview we interview Marcus Trusty from Colorado Offroad Enterprise (CORE) and Stay the Trail to discuss a lawsuit recently filed by his organization against the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado. The lawsuit challenges closures of popular off-road trails in the Pike/San Isabel National Forest. We also discuss the recently released dispersed camping plans in the Leadville and Salida Ranger...

The Biden Administration's Center for Environmental Quality recently released guidance for federal agencies to account for greenhouse gas emissions on all federal planning processes and contracts. This will have widespread impact to outdoor recreation on federally managed land. We discuss those impacts on this episode. You can also add your voice to the development/implementation of this guidance...

n this installment of the "Last Known Position series" we are joined by Bill Weppner, who is a veteran of the Garfield County Search and Rescue Team. In this episode we discuss the challenges that come with managing a sustainable search and rescue team in a rural counties where most land is federal public land. Mr. Weppner also shares many of his experiences performing rescues on the Grand Stairca...

We are joined by Paul Loutzenhiser from the North Idaho Trailblazers to discuss the fight to keep the Rollercoaster trail near Couer D'Alene, Idaho open for adventure.   To support the legal fight to keep this trail open, click here: https://secure.anedot.com/blueribbon-coalition/idaho-trails-legal-fund

National Monument designations are one of the primary vehicles that will be used to implement the 30x30 agenda to lock up public lands and waters from public use. Over 2.5 million acres of new national monuments have been proposed recently for the state of California. We discuss these proposals in this episode.  If you want to add your voice in opposition to these monuments, you can review our act...

We are working closely with the marina owners, boat dealers, and recreation community around Lake Mead to influence the Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service to adopt plans that will allow for continued recreation access to the largest reservoir in America. We need everyone to add their voice to this fight: https://www.sharetrails.org/bureau-of-reclamation-to-review-colorado-river-interi...

We are working closely with the marina owners, boat dealers, and recreation community around Lake Mead to influence the Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service to adopt plans that will allow for continued recreation access to the largest reservoir in America. We need everyone to add their voice to this fight: https://www.sharetrails.org/bureau-of-reclamation-to-review-colorado-river-interi...

Outdoor recreation enthusiasts who enjoy exploring Nevada's Logandale trail system adjacent to Valley of Fire State Park have until November 14 to share feedback with the BLM on a Travel Plan for the area. This plan could result in a closure of 36 of over 150 miles of routes in the area. BLM has worked closely with the off-road community to keep the most important trails open, but we need everyone...