Feds own 64.4% of Utah’s land, second-highest in the nation
The federal government owns almost two-thirds of Utah, according to a new study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. That’s second only to Nevada in the percentage of federal ownership.
The report found that 64.4 percent of Utah lands are in federal control, while just over one-fifth (21.1 percent) of land in Utah is privately owned, with the rest owned by the state (10 percent) or governed by Native American tribal nations (4.5 percent).
“Utah’s land ownership patterns are inextricably linked to federal public lands policy,” said Eric Albers, senior natural resources analyst at the Gardner Institute and lead author of the report. “This report offers historical context on federal land policy and provides an inventory of state and county-level ownership, illustrating how past policies shape the current ownership landscape.”
The report includes the following key findings:
Federal land ownership. Utah is one of five states with greater than 50 percent federal land ownership and is second to Nevada, which contains 80.1 percent federal land. In Utah, 18 of 29 counties have more than 50 percent federal land ownership.
Private land ownership. Private ownership varies significantly by county, ranging from 3.7 percent in Wayne County to 93.2 percent in Morgan County.
State land ownership. Davis County is the only county with a majority of land owned by the state. The state owns 64.3 percent of Davis County, driven by Great Salt Lake's sovereign lands.
Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense manages over one-third of Tooele County. The combination of the Dugway Proving Ground, Utah Test and Training Range and Tooele Army Depot results in 33.8 percent Department of Defense ownership.
Tribal governed lands. Tribal government lands exist throughout the state and comprise over 10 percent of the land in San Juan, Duchesne and Uintah counties. San Juan County has the highest percentage, with one-quarter of the total land area governed by tribal entities.
The full report can be accessed through the Gardner Institute website at gardner.utah.edu.