The federal government is awarding Utah $3 million to purchase conservation easements in southern Utah near Zion National Park. The funding — awarded to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — was announced Monday and will go toward ongoing forest preservation efforts outside of the national park. Called the Zion Connectivity Project, the state will direct the funding at two properties totalling 766 acres near the north section of the national park. A conservation easement — a legally binding agreement between a landowner and government that places restrictions on the land for environmental purposes — will prevent the land from being fragmented or developed. … The region contains a number of springs and streams, including the La Verkin Creek, which feeds into the Virgin River and eventually the Colorado River. The creek supports six native species of fish, like the Virgin River chub and Woundfin, both federally endangered. 

Other Utah public land news:

• KSL (Salt Lake City, Utah): Zion National Park receives funding to help preserve land​
• Utah News Dispatch: Public lands sale may return to ‘big, beautiful’ bill with Mike Lee amendment
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City, Utah): Back on the block? Proposal to sell off southern Utah land may be revived