Managing State Trust Lands Fiduciary Duty in the Changing West

Publications

Trust Lands in the American West: A Legal Overview and Policy Assessment

Trust Lands in the American West pdf Western state trust land managers face many challenges. Unprecedented growth is increasing demands on public education funding, including revenues generated by state trust lands. The regional economy also is changing, relying less on farming, ranching and logging and more on service and professional industries, as well as retirement and investment income, requiring a more diverse approach to generate revenue for trust beneficiaries.

This report explores the historical and legal framework of state trust lands and provides an in-depth exploration of trust land management in nine western states – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.