28th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 21-23, 2003
Abstracts

The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in Utah: Accomplishments and Thoughts

Bill Mader
Administrator Washington County, 197 E. Tabernacle, St. George, UT 84774

The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in Utah has made significant strides in establishing a 62,000 acre Desert Wildlife Management Area that meets the goals of the tortoise recovery plan while also gaining the support of local communities. The foremost reason for this success has been the establishment of an effective partnership between Washington County, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Department of Natural Resources, School Trust Lands and seven participating cities. This partnership has emphasized "on the ground results" achieved via an open public process that stresses accountability and reduced bureaucracy. Notable partnership achievements include: over 7,900 acres of land trades and purchases, an education outreach program, improved reserve design, systematic monitoring of tortoises, 43 miles of fencing, ordinances, an extensive Public Use Plan and user map, trail-heads to control recreational access, and Congressional support in Washington D.C. A tortoise recovery review meeting, specific to the reserve, was held in December of 2002 to ascertain accomplishments and appropriate next steps. Human impact monitoring and a new education center will be underway in 2003.