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Committee urges fixes, not reservation systems, for Zion; asks longer Lake Powell concession terms
Summary
At a Ground Resource Development Committee meeting, members pushed for mitigation measures—trail repairs, shuttles and local coordination—rather than time‑entry reservations at Zion National Park and urged longer concession contracts at Lake Powell to incentivize private investment.
At a meeting of the Kane County Ground Resource Development Committee, members pressed federal partners to prioritize on‑the‑ground fixes over visitor‑management reservations at Zion National Park and called for multi‑year concession contracts at Lake Powell.
Liz, chair of the Kane and Garfield County special community task force for Sen. John Curtis, told the committee the county is coordinating with state and federal partners to find alternatives to strict time‑entry or reservation systems. "If you ask a hundred people if they would rather have a crowded park experience or no park experience, a hundred people will say that they'd rather have a crowded park experience," Liz said, arguing the county should focus on reducing user conflicts and repairing damaged trails rather than moving immediately to limiting access.
The committee singled out two priorities: better investment in trail maintenance and services, and avoiding sudden prohibitions that lack supporting infrastructure. Liz asked the committee to request a 12‑month extension on an oversized‑vehicle prohibition currently scheduled to begin in June 2026, saying the restriction would be difficult to implement without shuttle service and other access options in place.
Members also discussed Lake Powell, where Liz recommended concessionaires be offered minimum 10‑year contracts to justify private investment in fueling stations, docks and staffing. "Concessionaires need multi‑year certainty so they can invest in infrastructure and staffing," she said, referencing examples such as Aramark.
Why it matters: County officials said abrupt restrictions, when infrastructure is not ready, would displace access and economic activity for residents and visitors. Committee members urged that county leaders press federal agencies and legislators to coordinate funding and timelines.
Next steps: Committee members discussed elevating the county's requests to state and federal partners and coordinating with the county's congressional delegation. No formal county policy or vote on the visitor‑use plan was recorded at the meeting.
