MISSOULA, Mont. — A key swath of wildlife habitat under imminent threat of development a mere 15 miles east of Salt Lake City is now protected and in public hands thanks to a joint effort by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
As a result, the East Canyon Wildlife Management Area (WMA), located about 10 miles south of Morgan and Henefer, expands by 2,200 acres while East Canyon State Park grows by 400 acres, with plans to include a future campground and fishing access point.
“An RMEF staffer connected with a DWR partner on a routine phone call this past spring and learned about a funding shortfall on this project. We are in a unique position to fill this kind of timely need, so we did,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “Understanding the importance of this project to elk and mule deer, our board of directors called a special meeting where it approved the project within just days of learning about it. We’re grateful to our DWR partners and the private landowner for making this happen.”
The project site lies within a critical mule deer migration corridor identified in the Utah Action Plan for implementation of Secretarial Order 3362. The region is home to more than 20,000 mule deer and 2,900 elk as well as moose, Greater sage-grouse, wild turkey, mountain lions and many other wildlife species.
The original landowner’s plan was to rezone and market the acreage for high-end residential development. The subsequent project conserves the wildlife values of the land and enhances hunting, fishing, camping and other recreational activities.
“We’re very appreciative to the state’s hunters and all of the partners who helped provide the funding that made it possible to purchase this property,” said DWR Director J Shirley. “Most of Morgan County is private property so obtaining this property will be a great benefit to wildlife in the area and will provide additional access for hunters in northern Utah.”
The East Canyon WMA is approximately 35 miles south of a November 2021 DWR project, supported by RMEF and others, that created the 8,107-acre Cinnamon Creek Wildlife Management Area. It is also 70 miles north of a June 2021 RMEF project that protected nearly 4,900 acres of wildlife habitat.
Dating back to 1987, RMEF worked with partners to complete 859 RMEF conservation and hunting heritage projects in Utah with a combined value of more than $184.2 million that conserved or enhanced more than 1.4 million acres of habitat for elk, mule deer and other wildlife, and opened or improved public access to 34,736 acres statewide.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Founded in 1984 and fueled by hunters, RMEF has conserved more than 8.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation” ® at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.