Conservation in the West poll finds environmental concerns rising among Western voters

A bipartisan poll of 3,419 registered voters in eight Western states found 84% view rollbacks of land, water and wildlife protections as a serious concern and 86% say spending cuts to national parks and public lands are problematic.

A bipartisan poll completed in January shows rising concern about conservation across eight Western states as officials and voters discuss land, water and public-lands policy ahead of midterm elections. Respondents reported stronger worries than in prior years about rolling back protections and about reduced funding for national parks, forests and public-lands work. The poll also found high interest in conservation when choosing candidates. Colorado registered particularly high levels of concern in several categories. Key findings: - 84% of respondents said backpedaling on laws that protect land, water and wildlife is a serious concern, up from 68% in 2018. - 86% said spending cuts to national parks, forests and other public lands are problematic; this concern cuts across party lines, including 75% of MAGA-aligned voters. - 85% of voters said conservation issues are a deciding factor in who they will pick on the ballot, up from 75% in 2016. - In Colorado, 68% called conservation an extremely or very serious problem and another 21% called it a serious problem; concerns included fewer resources for wildfires, national parks and public-lands science. - 83% of Colorado respondents opposed selling national public lands for oil, gas or mining and instead expressed strong support for expanded renewable energy projects. - Majorities in Colorado River states reported support for an agreement requiring reduced water usage, including 85% in Arizona, 87% in Colorado and 84% in Nevada; the poll was completed weeks before a missed federal deadline on a new Colorado River agreement. Summary: The poll indicates broad and growing concern about protections and funding for public lands, as well as widespread interest in conservation issues among Western voters entering the midterm cycle. Undetermined at this time.