Senate vote public lands sale

[Macintosh]

For any policy wonk type folks this is a breakdown of what is actually in the senate version of this bill.

3 Million Acres of Public Lands for Sale in 11 States

Podcast Episode · Your Mountain · 06/13/2025 · 1h 16m

podcasts.apple.com

 

[RockAndSage]

I am absolutely opposed to the land sale but we shouldn't pretend the west is tapped out on population growth due to water.

Everyone going on about water acts like they haven't heard of wells, aquifers, pipelines, or desalination. The Stone Age didn't end because of a lack of stone - and we only have a lack of water in certain places because we're unwilling to apply the tech to do desalination and transport.

I guarantee you, if Los Angeles didn't have access to NorCal's water, not only would Central Valley food be vastly cheaper and more abundant because of being able to use their own water instead of shipping it to LA, LA would also be the world's leader in desalination tech. Because it's a desert. Israel is the currently the world's leader in desalination tech. Because it's a desert.

The idea we can only live where nature gave us enough water is as absurd as saying we should only live in caves, or that we shouldn't fly because God didn't give us wings. Endless abundance of water is only an issue of tech, will, and market demand.

Getting back to this legislation though, it's patently disgusting. Call your senators.

 

[Idaboy]

Saw this posted.

https://wilderness.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=821970f0212d46d7aa854718aac42310&fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK6OFBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp90BP2m-KxZ6mQlCJh49QwkmI8ns6eAXpumV-BqPnkXBAU8prO_849wYtPNr_aem_gNtnXThPssZQb2hImokv8g

This is insane...goodbye like 4-5 major elk zones in Idaho (Pioneer, Boise River, McCall, Salmon River)....good bye OTC in Idaho....if Lee and Utah want to to this is Utah that's up to them, but why are they dragging the rest of us in this mess?! And good for MT, but they've been negotiated exempt? This is terrible

 

[Idaboy]

Does anyone know the source of this map or can someone vouch for its authenticity? Asking because I know Nevada well and the vast majority of the land identified would have nothing to do with affordable housing and would severely impact wildlife. Examples would be:

1) Nearly the entire dry playa lake bed of the Smoke Creek desert which is worthless for anything other than an alternative site for Burning Man. Not sure why that’s highlighted.

2) The upper elevations of Peavine Mountain and Mount Rose around Reno. Could build some really nice houses but nothing affordable and would pretty much eliminate what’s left of the mule deer population around Reno.

3) The extremely steep eastern slopes of the Ruby Mountains. Not sure what this could be used for other than mining or water rights and mining companies don’t usually buy federal lands.


What I don’t see highlighted are trapped suburban parcels of BLM around Reno, Fernley, etc that barely support feral horses and jack rabbits but would be perfect for industrial or affordable housing.

Edit from some online research: “The proposal would require the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to identify and sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of public lands across 11 Western states to build housing.”

So, the maps being posted are likely meaningless at this point in time.

Also, Zinke from MT opposed the original bill that left the house which “only” included 500,000 acres. So the Senate republicans stripped MT out of the bill and increased the acreage to between 2.2 and 3.3 million. Zinke said he’d oppose any sale of public lands but that’s likely meaningless unless he can get one or both of his state’s Republican senators to oppose it and with MT not included that would seem unlikely.

Fortunately NV’s two democratic senators (never thought I’d write that) are on record stating they oppose the sale while our Republican congressman was one of the key member of the House supporting the original 500,000 acres.

I assume all democrat and independent senators are against it so we need at least three more republican senators to stand up against this proposal. It’s important to write your senators, and especially Republican senators since that party holds the cards. I’m going to research if I can write a few out of state senators expressing my concerns. If so I’ll research and find out which Republican senators may come out against the proposal.

Same map sited outside magazine article

More Details Emerge Around the Public Land Sale Bill — and It’s Worse Than You Think

Opponents say that the plan to sell public lands isn't about fixing the affordable housing crisis. It's about reshaping land ownership in the West.

www.outdoorlife.com

 

[Buglebrush]

This must be stopped!!!!

 

[Gila]

Many Elk herds in New Mexico up for sale

1.4 million acres of NFS and BLM!

Cibola, Lincoln, Gila and Carson National Forests are hit hard with large areas to be sold off!

 

[WRO]

Many Elk herds in New Mexico up for sale

1.4 million acres of NFS and BLM!

Cibola, Lincoln, Gila and Carson National Forests are hit hard with large areas to be sold off!

Oh for fuks sake, have you even read the details. It’s between .5 and .75% across 11 states.

None of it’s even been identified yet, the bill simply instructs the doi to do it.

Not a fan, but at least have the audacity to attempt to tell the truth.

 

[satchamo]

Oh for fuks sake, have you even read the details. It’s between .5 and .75% across 11 states.

None of it’s even been identified yet, the bill simply instructs the doi to do it.

Not a fan, but at least have the audacity to attempt to tell the truth.

Yes but for our sake it’s far more beneficial for everyone to think their favorite piece is on the public land. Trying to down talk it helps nothing or no one in our crowd. Overreacting is good. More people should be overreacting.

 

[WRO]

Yes but for our sake it’s far more beneficial for everyone to think their favorite piece is on the public land. Trying to down talk it helps nothing or no one in our crowd. Overreacting is good. More people should be overreacting.

That’s worked so well the last 8 years .

I’d rather make a decision based on facts rather than hyperbole.

Letters have been written, but I’m not as concerned as I was this morning when someone sent me a map saying they were going to sell all of Idaho, nv, and the tongass nf.

What I find interesting is that there’s not the blow back on the millions of acres transferred back to the tribes in Alaska and other states.

 

[Gila]

I am not overacting! I have seen two maps…both overlap and are credible! 1.4 million acres in New Mexico. This is no joke! Go out and find some maps! Let’s compare!

 

[Gila]

That’s worked so well the last 8 years .

I’d rather make a decision based on facts rather than hyperbole.

Letters have been written, but I’m not as concerned as I was this morning when someone sent me a map saying they were going to sell all of Idaho, nv, and the tongass nf.

What I find interesting is that there’s not the blow back on the millions of acres transferred back to the tribes in Alaska and other states.

Go out and look at some maps before you blow it off.

 

[WRO]

Go out and look at some maps before you blow it off.

The maps aren’t from the government, the lands haven’t even been chosen yet.

FFS. It’s not good, making shit up is worse.

Here’s the details pages 30-42

https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096 https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096

 

[Gila]

It is more like 120 million acres! Montana is not on the list because rumor has it that Sen Daines may have cut a deal with Sen. Lee. T

 

[CorbLand]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think this one is being done in the name of affordable housing. Auctioned off to the highest bidder usually doesn’t equate to affordable housing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Go watch the video on Mikes instagram page. It talks about this opening up land for affordable housing among other things.

 

[CorbLand]

FFS. It’s not good, making shit up is worse.

I am still waiting for the scientific studies that say you can replace a doe with a buck and it doesn’t affect herd growth…

 

[Gila]

Same map sited outside magazine article

More Details Emerge Around the Public Land Sale Bill — and It’s Worse Than You Think

Opponents say that the plan to sell public lands isn't about fixing the affordable housing crisis. It's about reshaping land ownership in the West.

www.outdoorlife.com

There it is!

 

[fatlander]

Some of my family’s favorite high country fishing and hiking spots are on the block. There’s no way on Earth anyone is putting affordable housing at 10,000 feet in the Wasatch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pattimusprime22]

I've sent out my emails. Hopefully people stop arguing about this because it seems crazy to want to sell off any amount of public land. Our public lands are part of what make America so wonderful to live in and they are a finite resource that will not be replaced once sold

 

[Poser]

The published map includes. the entirety several of my elk hunting and bear hunting areas as well as extremely popular areas around Durango and Silverton including Hermosa Creek drainage, all of Junction creek, Molas Pass, Andrews Lake, Cinnamon, Stony and Ophir Passes and would cut access to the highest section of the Colorado Trail.

 

[WRO]

I am still waiting for the scientific studies that say you can replace a doe with a buck and it doesn’t affect herd growth…

Never said that, good deflection though.