Small chubs leave Joe’s Valley bound for dinner for the tiger muskie

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The October public lands meeting had the Southeastern Utah OHV club addressing the council on the plans for the ATV trail between Ferron and Emery. The trail will encompass nine new miles of trail and four miles which has been used in the past for a trail from Emery to the Hole Trail.
The Bureau of Land Management has been contacted and they said they didn’t have concerns with the project as long as all the required paperwork is completed.
The ATV club will provide the funds for the Environmental Impact Study along the trail corridor.
Wayne Ludington gave the BLM report, he said the expansion of the San Rafael campground at the Swinging Bridge is well underway and some scouts will be using work there for their Eagle Scout projects.
Currently on the Resource Management Plan the BLM is reviewing any protests received. The plan is also in the governor’s review process at this time which will last for 60 days. Any protests requiring action will be resolved at the Washington D.C. level. The BLM hopes the RMP will be final by the end of the year.
Ludington said any protests would involve regulation, law or policy and if a protest is deemed appropriate then the BLM would be obligated to say how they were going to comply with the protest by law, regulation or policy.
Mike McCandless pointed out not everyone can be involved in the protest process, they must have prior standing to make any protest comments.
Marc Stilson from the Division of Water Rights said the state engineer had a staff meeting in Emery County and toured the irrigation projects in Huntington/Cleveland and in Ferron. He also looked at the diversion project in Green River. He is impressed with the work taking place in Emery County.
The BLM is still having a hard time keeping signs up, they are being knocked down by vehicles. New placards are being slanted which help deter target shooters.
Bill Bates from the Division of Wildlife Resources said they caught 75,000 small chubs at Joe’s Valley to be transported to ponds at the LeeKay Center to feed the tiger muskie. Plans are for the tiger muskie to be planted in Joe’s Valley in 2010.
Camping opportunities may be allowed in Range Creek. Three or four campsites will be developed at the Stone Corral. You must hike into Range Creek or travel in by horseback to these sites. The sites will be limited by the number of days and people allowed at the site.
Bates reported the success for the deer hunt was expected to be down. The loss of fawns was significant at 25 percent. The elk hunt started slowly, but a few are being taken. Samples are being gathered for chronic wasting disease. Three deer in the Fountain Green area have tested positive for CWD.
Sherril Ward, council member said the coyote population is booming. Jim Gilson, council member said the predator management funds just aren’t there and efforts in predator management just isn’t there like it used to be.
Bryan Torgerson from SITLA said the lease agreement between SITLA and Emery County is close to finalization. SITLA recently had their October land sale and most parcels sold well. Right now they are looking at remnant parcels near Ferron for future land sales. The Huntington/Cleveland Irrigation Company has been in negotiations for a piece of property to aid in their salinity project. This sell is close to final also.
Torgerson reported SITLA is doing an oil and gas lease sale also and the listings are on the SITLA website.
Priscilla Burton, council member said an opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune criticized SITLA for the industrial park and the possible location of a nuclear power plant on that property.
Torgerson said SITLA is often criticized, but they are not a regulating body. They will not be the ones to determine if a nuclear power plant is constructed on the site or not. SITLA is not placing any stipulations on the uses at the site. He said they view Green River as an economically depressed area and see the industrial park as a good opportunity to move the property at a premium.
Commissioner Drew Sitterud said there hasn’t been a signing with the nuclear power company at this time.
McCandless, county economic development director said he is currently in discussions with nine companies which show an interest in the Green River site. Transition Power is one of the companies showing an interest in locating in the industrial park. They cannot apply to the county until they have all their permits in place which can take years.
McCandless said the county cannot discriminate against a company. Every use in the county is a conditional use.
Mesia Nyman from the US Forest Service gave her update. She said the hunting seasons have been busy on the forest. At Olsen Canyon ATVs are going around the barriers and some citations have been issued there. There is a timber sale slated for the Ferron summer homes area around Ferron Reservoir which will reduce fuels. The ATV trail along SR-31 in Huntington Canyon is about done. The motorized vehicle map is out and is the legal document being used to determine if motorized travel on a trail is legal or not. ATVs are getting out on Big Mountain by way of Willow Lake.
Ward said he was in the forest and the recent big winds have caused trees to come down everywhere across trails.
Ludington said the Backcountry Horsemen will be doing another trail clearing project next summer.
Nyman said their budget is 5 percent less than last year so reductions will have to be made. They must spend the money in the category for which it is allocated.
Council member Randall Stilson reminded everyone to stay on roads and trails. Under the new travel plan you cannot leave a trail to retrieve game.
Burton said the subcommittee on oil and gas has plans for a meeting with energy producers on Jan. 13, 2009. They are also working on an event in November with speakers to educate the public on the nuclear power industry.
Torgerson said SITLA is often criticized, but they are not a regulating body. They will not be the ones to determine if a nuclear power plant is constructed on the site or not. SITLA is not placing any stipulations on the uses at the site. He said they view Green River as an economically depressed area and see the industrial park as a good opportunity to move the property at a premium.
Commissioner Drew Sitterud said there hasn’t been a signing with the nuclear power company at this time.
McCandless, county economic development director said he is currently in discussions with nine companies which show an interest in the Green River site. Transition Power is one of the companies showing an interest in locating in the industrial park. They cannot apply to the county until they have all their permits in place which can take years.
McCandless said the county cannot discriminate against a company. Every use in the county is a conditional use.
Mesia Nyman from the US Forest Service gave her update. She said the hunting seasons have been busy on the forest. At Olsen Canyon ATVs are going around the barriers and some citations have been issued there. There is a timber sale slated for the Ferron summer homes area around Ferron Reservoir which will reduce fuels. The ATV trail along SR-31 in Huntington Canyon is about done. The motorized vehicle map is out and is the legal document being used to determine if motorized travel on a trail is legal or not. ATVs are getting out on Big Mountain by way of Willow Lake.
Ward said he was in the forest and the recent big winds have caused trees to come down everywhere across trails.
Ludington said the Backcountry Horsemen will be doing another trail clearing project next summer.
Nyman said their budget is 5 percent less than last year so reductions will have to be made. They must spend the money in the category for which it is allocated.
Council member Randall Stilson reminded everyone to stay on roads and trails. Under the new travel plan you cannot leave a trail to retrieve game.
Burton said the subcommittee on oil and gas has plans for a meeting with energy producers on Jan. 13, 2009.
They are also working on an event in November with speakers to educate the public on the nuclear power industry.