Big news coming out of Washington today! This week, 14 senators, led by Senator Dick Durbin, sent a letter to President Obama encouraging him to use the Antiquities Act to designate Greater Canyonlands a National Monument. These senators recognize that Greater Canyonlands is a national treasure that remains unprotected.

“Although Canyonlands National Park is the heart of the area, we support the opportunity to protect Greater Canyonlands, a 1.8 million acre area of land that encompasses the Park,” the senators wrote. “Greater Canyonlands is one of our nation’s most stunning, wild, and unique landscapes. It should be protected permanently for the benefit and education of future generations.”

This hasn’t happened before in this administration. Fourteen senators, representing 13 states and more than 100 million Americans, asked President Obama to create a new national monument. Those senators are Sen. Durbin (IL), Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT), Sen. Brian Schatz (HI), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT), Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH), Sen. Patty Murray (WA), Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Sen. Ed Markey (MA), Sen. Tom Harkin (IA), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI) and Sen. Robert Menendez (NJ).

If you live in one of these states, please thank your senator!

The senators wrote, “The promise of Greater Canyonlands remains unfulfilled. As Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has noted, ‘there are some places that are too special to develop.’ Greater Canyonlands is certainly one of those. We urge you to consider using your authority under the Antiquities Act to write the final chapter for this national treasure and declare Greater Canyonlands a national monument.”



We’re so grateful to these senators. Add your voice here by asking President Obama to protect Greater Canyonlands!

Read the senators’ letter:

