Results from Colorado College’s 16th annual State of the Rockies Conservation in the West Poll released today show widespread concern among Western voters about rollbacks of protections for land, water, and wildlife and cuts to funding for public land management.
The poll, which surveyed voters in eight Mountain West states—Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—found that Western voters across party lines are prioritizing conservation, recreation, and renewables over fossil fuel development heading into this year’s midterm elections.
Highlights from the Poll
- 84% of voters say the rollback of laws that protect our land, water, and wildlife is a serious problem, a sharp increase from previous years.
- 85% of respondents say issues involving public land, water, and wildlife are important in deciding whether to support a public official.
- 86% of Western voters deem funding cuts to public lands a serious problem, including 76% of Republicans.
- 70% of respondents oppose fast-tracking oil, gas, and mining projects on national public lands by reducing environmental reviews and local public input.
- 72% of Westerners prefer expanding renewable energy over drilling and mining for more fossil fuels.
- 76% of Westen voters—more than ever before—say they would prefer their member of Congress place more emphasis on conservation and recreation on public lands over maximizing energy production.
- 74% of Western voters oppose selling some national public lands for oil and gas development.
- 91% of Western voters say existing national monument designations should be kept in place.
As policymakers look ahead to the upcoming midterm elections, 85% of voters in Mountain West states say issues involving public land, water, and wildlife are important in deciding whether to support a candidate.
“At a time of growing pressure on land and water in the West, the call to action from voters is clear and bipartisan: Westerners want funding and stewardship for public lands and natural resources,” said Ian Johnson, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Sustainability.
Voters want to prioritize renewable energy sources. When asked to prioritize energy sources, voters across party lines selected solar as their top choice, while coal was the least desired, with only 7% of respondents listing coal as a first or second priority.
Funding cuts to public land management have proven unpopular with Western voters. Recent funding cuts have reduced the number of firefighters, park rangers, scientists, and other employees working to protect public lands, water, and wildlife over the last year. These cuts to public land management have 86% of voters across party lines concerned, including 75% MAGA supporters.
Western voters also oppose the sale of public lands and the elimination of public land protections. Even with rising housing costs, 76% of Western voters oppose selling public lands for housing. Additionally, 74% of Western voters oppose selling public lands to private companies for oil, gas, and mining development.
Scarce water resources continue to be a concern for Westerners, particularly in states that have experienced droughts. Westerners consider scarce water resources a serious problem, with 87% of Western voters concerned about inadequate water supplies. Accordingly, 83% of voters in states along the Colorado River or its tributaries would support an agreement requiring all states to reduce their use of the Colorado River to preserve its health. This emphasis on water protection is particularly salient, as 80% of Westerners say data centers are a threat to water quality and supply in the West.
This is the sixteenth consecutive year CC has gauged the public’s sentiment on public lands and conservation issues. The 2026 Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll is a bipartisan survey conducted by Republican pollster Lori Weigel of New Bridge Strategy and Democratic pollster Miranda Everitt of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates. The survey is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
The poll surveyed at least 400 registered voters in each of eight Western states (CO, AZ, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, & WY) for a total of 3,419-voter sample, which included an over-sample of Black and Native American voters. The survey was conducted between January 2-18, 2026, and the effective margin of error is +/- 2.4% at the 95% confidence interval for the total sample; and at most +/- 4.9% for each state. The full survey and individual state surveys are available on the State of the Rockies Project website.
