For a picture of what State "Management" of public lands means, here is an example from today's Salt Lake Tribune.  While this particular land is actually owned by the state, it is land that was set aside upon statehood as "school lands."  Developers have been drooling over these lands for years, and now the legislature has seen fit to grant some of their wishes.  Note the ridiculously low prices of this prime real estate.

But hey, whatever it takes to plunk money into the pockets of their good friends . . . . . .

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2562099-155/utah-to-auction-scenic-properties...

Gee - the lands are being used for exactly the purpose they were established - raising school funds.   Horrors!.  If it so ridiculously low Lee, why don't you go buy it.  It is an auction after all so you have as much right to buy it as "their good friends".  As usual, you totally mischaracterize the situation. 

This from KSL TV news in Salt Lake:

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34880651&nid=1070&fm=home_page&s_cid=toppick2

Thanks for the link, Lee. A very interesting article. Is Arches the next Yosemite Valley in terms of severe over-crowding during peak season? The story says the park staff is trying ways to encourage people to visit outside of peak hours and seasons (including higher entrance fee at peak hours, lower fee at off-peak)  and even raised the idea of a reservation system during peak season.

A local business owner has a counter-idea: "... the park should do more to accommodate crowds. He points to Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks, which provide a good visitor experience for much larger hordes of tourists. He said the National Park Service at Arches should create more parking, access roads, trails, picnic areas and other user-friendly features to encourage tourists to spread out inside the park."

A classic example of the dilemma facing a number of parks.

The article did point out that the issue wasn't crowding in the park it was a back-up at the  gate. 

Actually, regardless of what the article might have said, the park is usually crammed.  Parking lots overflow and cars park off the roads for long distances along main roads near turnoffs to parking lots.  In this case, the situation at the gate became so bad that the highway patrol actually stepped in and closed the park entrance road.  They sent people who had been waiting on the highway down the road to break up the traffic jam.

Another issue is the first few miles of access road past the entrance station.  It is a steep grade with a narrow roadway carved out of the side of a cliff.  Traffic glomps up there, too, and sometimes one slow vehicle like a megaRV backs traffic up to the entrance stations.

This article doesn't tell the full story.  This is the transcript of a short TV news spot.  TV news accuracy is often affected when they try to cram a big story into 30 to 60 seconds.  A lot gets left out of those sound bites.

I've not been there for many years, but an interesting quote from the story cited above: "The entire Moab area was experiencing what many residents say was the heaviest traffic, by far, that they have ever seen. For much of the weekend, cars headed for many destinations in the region created bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way through town, for a distance of several miles. Many residents say they were astounded by what they saw."

Sounds like, for better or worse, the area has been "discovered."

Previous stories on the Traveler have discussed the lack of parking at popular spots in the park - and the usual solution to expand parking lots is underway for at least one location. Opinions will vary about whether that is the best long-term solution. 

Actually, regardless of what the article might have said, the park is usually crammed.

Its your article Lee, if you don't believe it why did you post it?  But what is your point anyway?  People are going to the parks.  Is that a bad thing?