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Read our newsletters and explore media coverage of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism’s research, Extension programs, and work with communities.
IORT Newsletters
Updates from IORT’s programs, including new research, practical resources, and events.
Earlier newsletters & updates
Choose a year to browse past issues and event announcements.
IORT Extension and Research In the News
Reporting on outdoor recreation, gateway communities, and the research and Extension work behind them.
2026
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Stats show how visits sank at Lake Powell, Utah’s national parks
KUTV ·
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Graveyard shift: Travelers pay big for dark experiences, according to new research
Utah State Today ·
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Standing room only: New platform uses machine learning to tackle recreation crowding
Utah State Today ·
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Rising temperatures are threatening some of America’s best fishing destinations
Bloomberg ·
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The fish eye: Anglers at Utah Lake spot algae blooms more than most recreationists
Utah State Today ·
Earlier coverage
Choose a year to explore previous stories.
2025 (3 stories)
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U.S. national parks entry fee increase sends a “message” that experts say is problematic
The Travel ·
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Expert explains potential repercussions of fee increases for non-residents
National Parks Traveler ·
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National perks? Higher fees at national park for non-U.S. residents in new year
Utah State Today ·
2024 (11 stories)
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This is a big fish story
Deseret News ·
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How can stargazing Southern Utahns find the state’s darkest places?
St. George News ·
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USU Extension program helps residents explore Utah’s night skies
Utah State Today ·
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How is climate change affecting Utah ski resorts?
Powder.com ·
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Yellowstone National Park tourism generates billions of pounds of CO2 emissions
National Parks Traveler ·
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Study highlights need for tourism industry to curb emissions: Yellowstone case shows travel’s big footprint
Downtoearth.org ·
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Out of the park: New research tallies total carbon impact of tourism at Yellowstone
Utah State Today ·
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Could building on public land address the housing crisis?
High Country News ·
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Blazing trails: New outdoor recreation plan built with USU support
Utah State Today ·
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Speed baiting: New report offers strategy for increasingly crowded Utah fishing
Utah State Today ·
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State offers plan to help towns grow outdoor recreation – without turning into Moab
Salt Lake Tribune ·
2023 (11 stories)
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Strong visitor support for steps to limit light pollution
Park Science, 37(2) ·
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Community survey finds pessimism, but opportunity
Livingston Enterprise ·
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Trouble in paradise: Tackling the challenges of living in Utah’s outdoor recreation communities
Utah State Magazine ·
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Highlights and photos from WGA’s 2023 annual meeting
Western Governors’ Association ·
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Utah is working on a recreation plan to ease crowding, climate and other pressures
KUER.org ·
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Earth Notes: Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative
KNAU Arizona Public Radio ·
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It pays for small towns to invest in trail systems
UtahBusiness ·
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How to enjoy nature responsibly
Salt Lake Tribune ·
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Defending the dark: Utah’s dark sky advocates protect Utah’s shining natural resource
KSL.com ·
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Uncharted waters: Mapping real complexity on the Kenai River fishery
Utah State Today ·
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Outdoor recreation is a hot topic in the 2023 legislative session
Salt Lake Tribune ·
2022 (11 stories)
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Utah’s tourism industry strives to reduce its environmental impact on communities
St. George News ·
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USU researchers use local perspective to build Utah’s outdoor recreation strategic plan
Utah State Today ·
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Outdoor Adventure Commission hosts Wasatch Front recreation workshop
TownLift ·
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Fire impacts on Kenai River salmon fishing
AK Fire Science Highlights ·
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How growing Western rec towns might hold onto their futures
High Country News ·
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Outdoor recreation in Utah with Jordan Smith on Wednesday’s Access Utah
Utah Public Radio ·
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What will happen to Utah’s ‘greatest snow’ when there’s no more snow?
Utah Public Radio ·
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Study details vulnerability of outdoor recreation to climate change
AZOcleantech.com ·
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Utah ski resorts see declining snow quality and shorter seasons
Yale Climate Connections ·
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The small cities and towns booming from remote work
BBC Worklife ·
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A delicate balance: The search for sustainable tourism and resource preservation in the American West
University of Utah Magazine · 2022, Summer
2021 (18 stories)
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Personal photos can benefit Utah’s popular tourist sites
FOX13 ·
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National parks can use social media to aid in park surveys
Utah Public Radio ·
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Report warns of long-term drought, air quality issues
FOX13 ·
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Utah State University report dives into the state of Utah’s land, water and air
KUER.org ·
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Gov. Cox says ‘evidence’ should guide policy as Utah’s growth challenges the environment
KSL.com ·
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Drought, wildfires, pollution: How should Utah tackle its biggest problems? Using ‘evidence,’ Gov. Cox says
Deseret News ·
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A picture worth a thousand words: Identifying landscape preferences using social media algorithms
Utah State Today ·
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Saving California condors by understanding Utah hunters
Utah State Magazine ·
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Where are all the workers? Part V
Sandpoint Reader ·
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Hunters helping condors offers coupons and prizes to hunters using non-lead ammunition
Utah Public Radio ·
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USU researchers explore impacts of climate change on Utah’s ski resorts
KUER.org ·
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KUNR Today: Climate change could mean shorter ski seasons, Nevada rural hospital ICUs at capacity
KUNR.org ·
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Climate change impacting Utah ski resorts, research finds how they’re adapting
ABC4.com ·
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Study: Climate change poses an existential threat to outdoor recreation
Outside Business Journal ·
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Study: Climate change could reduce outdoor recreation on public lands
KUNR.org ·
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Newsletter: Love the national parks? Get ready for them to heat up
Los Angeles Times ·
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Warming Trends: Shakespeare, dogs and climate change on British TV; less crowded hiking trails; and toilet paper flunks out
Inside Climate News ·
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Rising temperatures reshape when and how much people get outdoors on public lands
Utah State Today ·
2020 (8 stories)
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‘Triple whammy from COVID’: How pandemic put vacation spots through the grinder
KSL.com ·
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Fees drive away low-income families from outdoor places like Bridal Veil Falls, researchers say
Salt Lake Tribune ·
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‘Zoom town’ trend finding a home in Grand Marais, the North Shore of Lake Superior
WTIP – North Shore Community Radio ·
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‘Zoom towns’ are exploding in the West
Fast Company ·
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The story behind that Patagonia tag, and how the Trump era changed outdoor recreation
Los Angeles Times ·
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The recreation economy isn’t as resilient as we thought: Riding out the boom-and-bust tourism economy
Outside Online ·
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National monuments like Grand Staircase boost rural economies, study shows, and shrinking them could cost hundreds of jobs
Salt Lake Tribune ·
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National monuments help local economies
Popular Science ·
2019 (7 stories)
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Ready to rumble: Recreationists rate acceptability of noise in natural areas
Utah State Today ·
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State parks could be 10 times more expensive to operate by 2050
Popular Science ·
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State park attendance trends suggest parks will be overburdened by mid-century
Phys.org ·
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Nation’s system of state parks stressed by rising temperatures, more visitors
Missoula Current ·
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Costs to maintain state parks could skyrocket by billions
KUTV.com ·
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Maintaining state parks in a warming world could cost billions
Gizmodo – Earther ·
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Coldwater fishing in a warming climate
Utah State Today ·
2018 (11 stories)
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New study on recreation in the Sheeprock Mountains shows unusual use
Utah Public Radio ·
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Enjoying Utah’s backcountry with snowmobiles
Utah Public Radio ·
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The nanotechnologist and the environmental social scientist
Utah Public Radio ·
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A finger on the pulse of U.S. state parks
Utah State Today ·
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States: Want an outdoor rec economy? Pay up
Outside Online ·
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Loving our lands: Who foots the bill for increasing maintenance backlog?
Utah Public Radio ·
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Spatial development and design drive water use, according to new study
Utah Public Radio ·
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13 huge wins for outdoor recreation
Outdoor Industry Association News ·
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Some Utah national parks get fewer visitors when it gets too hot, USU study says
KSL.com ·
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USU study: Some Utah national parks see higher visitors despite increased heat
Herald Journal ·
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When hot is too hot
Utah State Today ·
2017 (11 stories)
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Report: Snowmobilers decline despite rising Utah population
KSL.com ·
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As snowmobiles lose popularity in Utah, retrofitted UTVs and motorcycles gain more traction
Salt Lake Tribune ·
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Snowmobiling on the decline in Utah, but still moves millions through Weber Co
Standard-Examiner ·
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Report: Snowmobilers decline despite rising Utah population
U.S. News and World Report ·
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USU report: Utah snowmobilers decline despite increasing population
Idaho Press-Tribune ·
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Asking for a fee – even a small one – changes the way people use the outdoors
London School of Economics USAPP – American Politics and Policy Blog ·
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Researchers get SALT-y over climate change
NC State University College of Natural Resources News ·
NC State republication
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Study shows public land user fees leave low-income citizens feeling priced out
Standard-Examiner ·
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Small fees for access to public lands changes how some use the outdoors
Utah State Today ·
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USU researchers study carbon sequestration incentive for land owners
Cache Valley Daily ·
Article link unavailable.
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Forests can temper effects of urban growth say USU researchers
Utah State Today ·
2016 (5 stories)
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Worth their weight in likes: Instagram posts can show the value of Utah landscapes, researchers say
Salt Lake Tribune ·
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How your vacation photo posts help scientists
Travel + Leisure ·
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USU prof. examines social media photos to help land managers
Herald Journal ·
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Your vacay photo social media posts help science says USU researcher
Utah State Today ·
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Survey shows locals love American Fork Canyon just the way it is
Daily Herald ·