Conclusion

The reality of the Sagebrush Rebellion is that it neither began in Nevada in 1979 nor has it ended today.  Within the last five years, the Rebellion has flared up again. Ranchers claiming ownership of federal lands has taken refuge in the Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge outside Portland, Oregon.  Cliven Bundy, believing the federal government had illegally seized the land where he grazed his cattle, refused to pay grazing fees for his herd on BLM land and federal agents were brought in to enforce the law.  And, in the largest rollback of federal land protection ever, President Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments by more than 2 million acres.

So the question, then, is what is to be done? This exhibit has demonstrated that states did not and do not have the financial resources or might to effectively manage the lands.  Moreover, states have not demonstrated a willingness to work together in managing the lands for the beneficial use of residents from all states. Neither the federal nor state governments have shown a desire to create a cooperative program. Until the states can show that they have a fiscally sound, publicly supported plan in place, management of public lands should remain with the federal government.