On September 18, 1996, 1.7 million acres of spectacular red rock mesas and canyons in southern Utah were protected when President Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. With the Monument's designation came the daunting task of how best to manage the area.
In 1997, The Wilderness Society marshalled its economic and ecologic analytical skills, along with its expertise in geographic information systems (GIS) and mapping, to put together the only atlas of the region. Our team identified a unique ecosystem which we call the Crown of the Canyons. At its heart is a remarkable wild area that is the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. But it also includes portions of two national parks, one national recreation area, two wilderness areas and two state parks.
Our atlas is the basis for our recommendations for the ecologic and economic future, not just of the Monument, but of the ecosystem itself.
Download the Atlas in PDF format:
Executive Summary
Full Atlas
Maps
Overview
Biophysical Environment
Socio-Economic Environment
The Wild Environment
Selected Figures
