What a momentous occasion this is for everyone that has worked so hard to protect the remaining wildlands of the Wasatch Mountains the backdrop to Salt Lake City. This event represents over a decade of advocacy work and collaboration not only amongst past and present Save Our Canyons staff, board, volunteers, members and supporters but also by the various stakeholders who have worked tirelessly and passionately throughout. We were founded in 1972 to protect these mountains, we worked to establish the existing Wilderness areas we all enjoy today, and the founders of our organization Gale Dick and Alexis Kelner are still active and serving on our board today.

    This place is treasured by locals and used by millions of people from across the globe each year. The Wasatch Mountains are one of the most heavily utilized National Forest areas in all of the United States, not only because of their proximity to a large population who is active in the outdoors, but also because of their magnificence.  In 1918, preservationist John Muir came here and wrote about our mountains, 

I couldn't agree more with Muir, they are indeed a national treasure, but also our home.

    While the grandeur of these mountains is note worthy, the water resources they provide to us are invaluable and irreplaceable. Flowing rapidly in the spring and summer months, these canyons are a conduit by which over 500,000 Salt Lake Valley residents receive clean drinking water. With so many people doing so many things in these canyons, this resource is in jeopardy of being loved to death. This legislation provides for additional measures that will help ensure that the people in the Salt Lake Valley will have access not only to these areas, but to clean drinking water.

    So many people -- whether hiking a few miles to look at scenery or backpacking across numerous unique canyons; skiing at one of our resorts or enjoying the pristine powder in the backcountry; picnicking along a stream or taking photos of wildlife in a field of flowers; we all have one thing in common, a deep passion for the beauty of these mountains. This legislation will ensure that future generations of Utahan's and visitors to the Wasatch will be able to enjoy this area and benefit from the high quality of life that we receive from it.

    Through this process, Save Our Canyons has sought for unanimity in support for increasing protections to the Wasatch Mountains. Just this morning, I spoke with Ashely Korenblat, Public Lands Director for the Intermountain Mountain Biking Association, who is excited to support the efforts to protect the Wasatch. She said, "When mountain bike trails are accommodated, Wilderness Designations can enhance mountain biking opportunities by protecting the intact ecosystems we all enjoy. This is one of the reasons IMBA supports this bill." We are excited to take the next steps, with IMBA and the many other supporters of this legislation and lover's of the Wasatch.

    This has been an incredible journey for everyone at Save Our Canyons, but realize this is only one step forward up one of the steep trails of the Wasatch. We hope that everyone will join us, Congressman Matheson, Mayor's Becker and Dolan and all of the passionate supporters in our collective efforts to Save Our Canyons.