Western politicians determined to transfer federal lands to the states are out of step with their constituents, who value conservation and see economic returns from national parks, national forests, and national monuments in their states, according to a survey released Monday.

The polling involved 2,800 people across Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana. The release of the results comes against the backdrop of a militant stand at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge in Oregon by men who want federal lands turned over to other interests. That end-goal runs counter to nearly 60 percent of the survey's respondents, who opposed such a transfer when asked whether state governments should be given "control over national public lands, such as national forests, national monuments, and national wildlife refuges in its borders."

Yet while the Conservation in the West survey by Colorado College seems to indicate widespread support for maintaining the status quo of land ownership in the West, and support for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and preserving the ability of U.S. presidents to use the Antiquities Act to create national monuments, there are politicians who seem deadset against such initiatives. Utah legislator Ken Ivory has been making the rounds of Western states to build support for a lands transfer, and U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, a Utah Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, also has voiced support for turning federal lands back to the states, worked to overhaul the Land and Water Conservation Fund in a way that drew criticisms from conservation groups, and opposes how President Obama has wielded the Antiquities Act.

But how will they respond to polling that shows that 58 percent of Westerners oppose efforts to transfer public lands to state governments, that 60 percent oppose selling off public lands to pay down the federal budget deficit, and that 75 percent support renewal of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in its current form?

“I think the goal of the survey is to provide that perspective of what the voters want," said Lori Weigel, a partner of Public Opinion Strategies that participated in conducting the survey. "....for the most part voters, especially on public lands, were fairly clear and decisive in terms of what they’re staying that they would support, or not."

While she wouldn't say that the survey results would sway politicians such as Mr. Ivory or Mr. Bishop, Ms. Weigel said she was hopeful that the results would "be something that elected officials would want to keep in mind in terms of what their voters are saying.”

Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who participated in a conference call to discuss the survey, said it was clear from the polling that a majority of Westerners do not support the takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon by Ammon Bundy and a handful of followers.

“These findings show us that the Bundy family, their militant supporters, and the politicians who sympathize with them are far out of touch with most folks living in the West. By and large, Westerners do not agree with the policies or sentiments being advocated in Oregon. Bundy and his ilk are just squeaky wheels getting the grease. 

“What Westerners are actually concerned about are drought and water scarcity, our dependence on foreign oil, climate change, and the outdoor recreation economy," said Mr. Salazar. "Westerners want our public lands to stay public. We may not all agree precisely on how to strike the right balance between conservation and development, but anyone who tells us that we should hand our American lands over to private owners and to the states are telling us a story that will not stand the test of time."

The polling, conducted in December by a bipartisan team of pollsters, generated some interesting results:

* With 2016 being an election year, 75 percent of respondents said issues involving public lands, waters, and wildlife were important factors in deciding whether to support an elected public official, compared to other issues like health care and education. 

* Eighty-three percent of respondents said they consider drought is a serious issue and in Colorado River Basin states (CO, NV, NM & UT) strong majorities favor using the current water supply more wisely over diverting more water from rivers in less populated areas.

* Seventy-two percent of respondents said national public lands, such as national forests, national monuments, or wildlife refuges, help their state economy.

* Eighty percent support the use of the Antiquities Act by presidents to create national monuments.

* Eighty percent of the respondents said oil and gas companies on public lands should be required to use updated equipment and technology to prevent leaks of methane gas during the extraction process and reduce the need to burn off excess natural gas into the air.

* Fifty-two percent supported continuing energy exploration on public lands at current levels, but with greater safeguards for land and water.

* Seventy-five percent said how a politician stands on conservation issues is very important when it comes to deciding whom to support.

“Public lands don’t just form the backbone of our Western way of life, they are very important to our economies. Our region is attracting some of the very best businesses and the most talented employees precisely because of the access afforded to our public lands. These are our crown jewels that make the American West so attractive to people from around the nation and to businesses that choose to locate their businesses within our communities,” said Mr. Salazar. “As more people realize the West’s secret and our cities and towns continue to grow, it is important that we continue to make sure that there are enough places for everyone to visit and to enjoy the great outdoors. We want them to enjoy places like Zion National Park, and our BLM lands across the West, as well as so many of our public lands, including our wildlife refuges and national parks. I think that’s why this survey found that people in the West are supportive of the protection of public lands and waters for future generations."

The former Interior secretary said that despite the efforts by some to reduce the federal domain in the West, he believes the United States will hold to its conservation heritage.

"I’ve been in office and can tell you there is huge support for the public lands and for the values that come with the public lands. And so I think that some of the politicians that are taking these anti-public lands views are simply wrong and over a period of time that truth will be born out," he said.  “I think when one looks at how the United States is viewed with a respect to conservation on public lands, we are the icon of the world, and that reality has been a reality that we have lived with now for over a century and I’m certain that in the time ahead we’ll continue to build on that legacy.”

To see the methodology of the survey, and the specific questions, click here.