State of the Rockies – Conservation in the West Poll

The 12th annual State of the Rockies – Conservation in the West poll was released on February 18, 2022. It is made possible by Colorado College. As in past years it is a bi-partisan poll conduced by Lori Weigel of  New Bridge Strategy and Dave Metz of FM3 (Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates).

Overall results in the western states included in the survey [CO, AZ, NM, WY, UT, ID, MT, NV] for detail see  Poll results – combined western states

“Western voters are increasingly pessimistic in their assessment of the future of nature. They are more than twice as likely to say they are ‘worried’ (69%) about ‘the future of nature meaning our land, water, air, and wildlife’ than say they are ‘hopeful’ (28%). That 41-point margin has increased from a 25-point margin in just the last year alone.” There are “double-digit increases in those ‘worried’ in Arizona, Colorado and Montana, which each increased in negative views by 10 points.”

The range of conservation issues the pollsters identified from voters as serious problems in the eight western states that have dramatically increased over the last 12 years, in order of seriousness, are: “inadequate water supplies, poorly-planned growth and development; pollution of rivers, lakes and streams; loss of family farms and ranches; loss of habitat for fish and wildlife; loss of natural areas; climate change; air pollution and smog; and impact of oil and gas drilling on our land, air and water.”

Public lands in the West findings: for details go to:  Public Lands – combined results in the 8 western states

“67% of westerners want Congress to focus on ensuring we protect sources of clean water, our air quality and wildlife habitat, while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on our national public lands….”

Colorado findings  for detail see Colorado summary results

“89% of Coloradans say that issues involving clean water, wildlife, and public lands are important in deciding whether to support an elected public official.”

“83% support a national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030.”