The Hill News

We westerners take great pride in and have great appreciation for a life that affords us access to the mountains, forests and deserts that make up our beautiful home states. True, most of us reside or work in towns and cities where we all embrace a way of life that benefits from the development of our natural resources. But many of us choose to live in these states largely because doing so enables us to easily enjoy the great outdoors â€" the wide open spaces and endless vistas we see beyond our towns or just past the edge of the interstate, as we rush through our daily lives.

Every westerner knows that the management of our federal lands -- the public lands quite literally owned by all Americans - can be quite contentious.  For example, years ago, some believed there was a case to be made for damming the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Others felt just the opposite, controversy flared, and ultimately, no dams were built. 

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