This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Trib's article on the Spruces campground was telling ("Spruces: Campground that saved the Wasatch," Tribune, July 20).

How many of you knew that our glorious, beloved Cottonwood canyons were virtually decimated by the pioneers' unsustainable logging, mining and grazing? And what saved the canyons? Two agencies of the dreaded federal government — the Forest Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Keep that in mind when you hear our esteemed leaders bloviating about "taking back" our precious public lands.

If that happens, here's what we the public will get: The best of the land will be given away through our corrupt, good old boy network. No-trespassing signs will follow. Incidentally, have you ever wondered why there are no sections of state land left on the Wasatch Front? Where do you think all that prime land went?

The rest will be exploited, polluted and ruined without oversight or regulation.

Is that really what we want?

Steve Russell

Moab