An overwhelming majority of Arizona voters across the political spectrum strongly support maintaining current protections for the state’s national public lands and national monuments, according to a new statewide poll.

The survey, fielded by Echelon Insights on behalf of The Wilderness Society, reveals that 83% of Arizona voters oppose eliminating national monument lands in Arizona, including 71% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. Furthermore, 93% of all voters (and 88% of Republicans) agree that protecting Arizona’s public lands should not be a partisan issue.

“Arizonans understand that our public lands are tied directly to our state’s economic future and water security,” said Matt Salmon, former U.S. Representative. “Protecting iconic places like Ironwood Forest and the Grand Canyon footprint isn’t a partisan matter—it’s a conservative value rooted in stewardship, economic strength, and preserving clean water for future generations.”

The release comes as public land advocates, outdoor recreation groups, and former elected officials join together to protect Ironwood Forest National Monument near Tucson and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Northern Arizona from potential size reductions or rollbacks.

Key Survey Highlights:

• Grand Canyon & Ironwood Protections Enjoy Broad Support: 84% of voters (and 74% of Republicans) say Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument deserves to be protected as it currently is. 72% of voters (and 56% of Republicans) say the same for Ironwood Forest National Monument.
• Water Protection is Paramount: 89% of Arizonans rank protecting clean drinking water sources—such as the watersheds guarded by Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—as an extremely or very important reason to protect public lands.
• Economic Value Over Extraction: 73% of voters (and 54% of Republicans) believe protecting public lands and outdoor access is better for Arizona’s economy than reducing protections for drilling and resource extraction.
• Opposition to Land Sales & Mining Near the Grand Canyon: 82% oppose selling off public lands to private developers for housing, and 68% oppose allowing uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.

“Outdoor recreation is a foundational part of Arizona’s way of life,” said Matthew Nelson, Arizona Trail Association Executive Director. “Whether hiking the Arizona Trail, hunting, or camping, Arizonans rely on open public lands. Shrinking these monuments would harm gateway communities and undermine our vibrant outdoor economy.”

“This poll confirms what hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts across the state already know,” said Michael Cravens, Arizona Wildlife Federation Advocacy and Conservation Director. “Public lands safeguard critical wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and hunting access. Eliminating or shrinking national monuments runs directly counter to what Arizona families want.”

“Arizona voters across every corner of our state are sending a clear message: our national monuments safeguard clean drinking water, honor Tribal heritage, and sustain regional economies,” said Mike Quigley, The Wilderness Society Arizona State Director. “Attempting to shrink or eliminate protections for places like Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni or Ironwood Forest runs completely counter to the values and priorities of the people who call Arizona home.”

About the Survey

The survey was fielded August 18–22, 2026, by Echelon Insights among N=918 likely voters in Arizona, with a base sample of 500 voters statewide and oversamples achieving 520 Republican/Republican-leaning voters. The margin of sampling error is ±4.3 percentage points for the full sample and ±5.5 percentage points for Republican/Republican-leaning voters.