Spring is on the horizon, and there’s plenty to be excited about across canyon country!

In this edition, you’ll hear from Executive Director Sam Wainer, celebrate our newest Discovery Pool research grant recipients, and discover meaningful ways to connect with the landscapes that inspire us — from a geology outing with a ranger to important permit updates from our federal partners. Whether you’re looking to learn, explore, or simply stay connected to the work happening on your public lands, there’s something here for you.

I can’t believe it’s already February. The year is off to a fast start, and so is CNHA!

Our 2026 budget is in place with over $2 million allocated to support our federal agency partners, and we look forward to sharing updates on these aid projects throughout the year. Just last week, the CNHA board of trustees approved 6 Discovery Pool projects for this year spanning the fields of biology, paleontology, climatology and archaeology.

We’re excited to offer several membership events this year so be on the lookout for those. Last but not least, we’re building a nice lineup of presentations for the MIC Free Lecture Series.

As always, thank you for your generosity in championing our mission. We are still in trying times of uncertainty when it comes to public lands. Our federal partners need us now, more than ever. Here’s to what we can accomplish together in the new year. We couldn’t do it without you. CNHA supports the lands you love!

Photo: Sam Wainer

CNHA’s Discovery Pool research grant program exists to do one thing really well: fuel meaningful research partnerships between scientists and our federal partners right here on the Colorado Plateau!

This year, we’re thrilled to announce six new Discovery Pool–funded projects, with $132,751 awarded to support research that deepens our understanding of the landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural histories that make this region so extraordinary.

2026 Discovery Pool Grant Recipients

Bears Ears Digital Cultural Heritage Initiative Phase III

Principal Investigator: Benjamin A. Bellorado, PhD, Arizona State Museum

Co-Principal Investigators: Eric J. Heller, PhD, University of Southern California

Noah Pleshet, PhD, University of New Brunswick, Canada

Agency Affiliation: US Forest Service

From Age to Action: Developing Assessment and Communication tools for Pinyon-Juniper Management in Southeastern Utah

Principal Investigator: Tara Bishop, PhD, Utah Valley University

Agency Affiliation: Bureau of Land Management

Refining the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary in Central and Eastern Utah

Principal Investigator: Evelyn Gannaway Dalton, PhD, Utah State University,

Joshua Lively, PhD, Utah State University Eastern

Agency Affiliation: U.S. Forest Service

GLORIA in the La Sal Mountains

Principal Investigator: Colin Tucker, PhD, Mountain Studies Institute

Agency Affiliation: U.S. Forest Service

Connecting Waters: Monitoring Hydrological Connectivity at Spring Rehabilitation Sites in the Manti-La Sal National Forest

Principal Investigator: Juli Scamardo, PhD, Utah State University

Agency Affiliation: U.S. Forest Service

Experimental Survey of Potential Ancestral Pueblo Farming Areas

Principal Investigator: Sean Field, PhD, University of Wyoming

Agency Affiliation: Bureau of Land Management

Huge congratulations to the principal investigators and their teams. We can’t wait to see what they discover.

Since 2007, CNHA’s Discovery Pool has awarded more than $1 million to research projects across southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado—support made possible by our members, donors, and community supporters.

Support Discovery Pool Research

Discovery Pool projects are made possible through direct donations and CNHA members at the Discovery level and above. If you’re excited about the work happening across the Colorado Plateau, you can help keep it going.

Gather with fellow public lands enthusiasts for a shared day of discovery in Canyonlands Island in the Sky! Join CNHA and Ranger Rhodes on Tuesday, May 12 for a geologic adventure exploring the landscapes that make canyon country so remarkable.

We’ll begin with a 2.5-mile round-trip hike on the Wilhite Trail, uncovering how these dramatic canyons formed and what continues to shape them today. From there, we’ll visit Upheaval Dome for a short 1-mile walk to one of southeast Utah’s greatest geologic mysteries. Along the way, connect with fellow hikers, learn from a knowledgeable ranger, and enjoy meaningful time outdoors together. We’ll wrap up with lunch at the trailhead and an informal Q&A.

Keep an eye on your inbox! Members will be notified by email when early registration opens and will have priority access through March 16. Afterwards, remaining spots will be released to the public.

Photo: Rhodes Smartt, NPS

The Moab Field Office is announcing the 2026 applications dates for special recreation permits. The issuance and administration of SRPs promotes responsible recreation, mitigates resource impacts, provides economic opportunities in neighboring communities, and minimizes potential user conflicts. 

The new application deadlines are: 

• February 15  
• June 15  
• September 15
• December 15

The Moab Field Office manages the BLM’s most diverse SRPs, with nearly 500 administered each year. “Local outfitters, guides, event hosts and other businesses play a significant role in helping the BLM serve local communities and visitors, contributing to an important revenue stream and boosting the region’s economy,” said Moab Field Office Manager Dave Pals.

View the full announcement here.

The Manti-La Sal National Forest is now offering year-round fuelwood permits for 2026, making it easier to gather firewood when it works best for your schedule. Permits are valid for the calendar year and can be purchased online anytime or in person at your nearest Ranger District Office.

Permit Details:

• Cost: $5 per cord (4-cord minimum)
• Maximum: 10 cords per household per year
• Online purchases: Print your permit and load tags before heading out.

Visit the Forest Service ePermits website to purchase a permit, and check the Forest Service website for maps and additional information before you go.

Photo: U.S. Forest Service

Beginning January 1, 2026, the National Park Service has implemented a $100 non-U.S. resident surcharge for visitors age 16 and older at select high-visitation parks, including Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, both part of Utah’s Mighty 5. This fee is in addition to standard entrance fees.

Non-U.S. residents may also choose the America the Beautiful Non‑Resident Annual Pass ($250), which covers the surcharge for the pass holder and qualifying travel companions.

For full details, check out Visit Utah’s fee overview.

Be part of an inspiring weekend at Celebrate Bears Ears, returning March 6–8, 2026. This signature event brings together voices from across the region for meaningful conversations about stewardship and the future of Bears Ears.

Saturday highlights include a keynote from acclaimed poet Joy Harjo and a dynamic lineup of panels and presentations centered on this year’s theme, The Land Can’t Wait.

Registration is now open, with discounted tickets available for students.

Learn more and register here.

Science on Tap

Science Moab’s Science on Tap series wraps up with its final event of the season at Woody’s Tavern this winter! Doors open at 5:30 pm, talks begin at 6:00 pm, and wrap up by 7:00 pm. Admission is free.

• February 11th, 2026: Buzzed and in Charge: How Pollinators Run the World with Dr. Emmanuel Santa-Martinez. Tiny bugs, big impact.

This year's science sponsored by: Canyonlands Natural History Association; the Moab City RAP Tax Grant; and Grand County Recreation Special Service District #1.

Backcountry 101: Avalanche Safety Fundamentals

Thinking about heading into the backcountry but not sure where to start? Join the Utah Avalanche Center in Moab on February 20–21, 2026 for Backcountry 101, a hands-on, on-snow introduction to avalanche safety designed to build confidence and essential skills for safer mountain travel.

Register and learn more here.

Moab Information Center Lecture Series

The Moab Information Center (MIC) Lecture Series returns in March with free, in-person talks exploring the science, history, and culture of canyon country. Speakers include local experts and partner organizations. Lectures are held Thursdays at 6:00 pm at the Moab Information Center.

• March 12 at 6pm | Uranium Mines to Red Rock Tourism by Robert Anderson (in Collaboration with the Moab Museum)
• March 26 at 6pm | Deer Chronic Wasting Disease by Chris Wood (Utah DNR)

View the lineup here.

Call for Indigenous Artists: 2026 Four Corners Indigenous Art Market

Indigenous artists, makers, performers, and cultural demonstrators are invited to apply for the 2026 Four Corners Indigenous Art Market, hosted by the Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management at the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum. This community-centered event celebrates Indigenous art, culture, and living traditions from across the Four Corners region.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to showcase and sell their work, connect with visitors, and share their artistic practices through demonstrations, performances, and talks. Artists working in fine, traditional, and contemporary Indigenous art forms are encouraged to apply.

Event Details

• Location: Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum, Dolores, Colorado
• Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
• Time: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Application Timeline

• Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
• Notification of Selection: By March 31, 2026

Learn more and apply here.

Bears Ears Partnership: Visit with Respect Ambassador Training

If hiking and the outdoors sounds like a great combination for volunteering, then join us for a one-day training session. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and practice the skills needed to be one of our on-the-ground Visit with Respect Ambassadors. 

You’ll serve as a friendly presence at the most frequently visited trails in the Bears Ears region, enjoying stunning scenery while you share pointers with visitors on how to visit this sensitive landscape with respect.

Help us continue conservation efforts to keep these sites protected for generations to come!

Location: Bears Ears Education Center | Bluff, UT

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Learn more and sign up here.

Bears Ears Partnership: Now Hiring CCYE Crew Leader

Bears Ears Partnership is hiring a Canyon Country Youth Corps (CCYC) Crew Leader, an AmeriCorps position leading youth crews on hands-on conservation projects across southeastern Utah, including trail work, fencing, habitat restoration, and invasive species removal. This role focuses on leadership, mentorship, and professional development in the conservation field.

Learn more and apply through Bears Ears Partnership.

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Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in their education and visitor efforts. Proceeds from sales support these agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs on the Colorado Plateau.

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