COTTONWOOD WASH ACQUISITION
A DREAM REALIZED
The Wildlands Conservancy closed escrow on this invaluable 320-acre property, protecting it as our 24th preserve and our first in Utah.
We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter and remain dedicated to upholding our responsibilities as custodians of this extraordinary landscape.
After 16 months of effort, the magnificent Cottonwood Wash property in Bears Ears National Monument is protected! We are humbled by the support of over 250 individuals and foundations, as well as numerous partners who promoted this effort.
Our next steps will be to secure the property, provide pedestrian access, plan ecological restoration, and engage with local partners. Working with the five tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, a conservation easement will be dedicated on the property to return various tribal interests including access, gathering, and co-management.
We are deeply grateful for the incredible support of the foundations and individuals whose strong belief in our mission and commitment to conservation made this acquisition possible.
A spring-fed pond near the existing trail on the Cottonwood Wash Property. Photo by Frazier Haney / The Wildlands Conservancy.
The dramatic view of Cottonwood Wash from atop the towering cliffs that form Cottonwood Canyon with the Bears Ears and Abajo Mountains in the distance. Photo by Frazier Haney / The Wildlands Conservancy.
A birds eye view of the Cottonwood Wash property and the tens of thousands of acres of public land that surround it. Photo by Tim Peterson / Grand Canyon Trust.
In its many shaded alcoves, Cottonwood Wash hosts hanging gardens with endemic plants unique to the Bears Ears region. Photo by Lawrence Guymon.
Vibrant Cottonwood Canyon. Photo by Lawrence Guymon.
A sandstone arch, high on the southwest wall, marks the entrance to Cottonwood Wash. A landmark fitting for the Colorado Plateaus great sandstone desert. Photo by Lawrence Guymon.
