Public lands council hears about water legislation

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Marc Stilson from the State Division of Water Rights told the Emery County Public Lands Council that HB-43, Rep. Kay McIff’s bill will be introduced again at the legislature. The bill deals with change orders for water and how they are handled. Chairman Ed Geary asked the council if they would like to take a position on the bill. The council agreed a separate meeting with Rep. McIff and the water companies should be set up to discuss the legislation.
Randy Johnson, the county lobbyist to the legislature asked for instructions on the county’s position on the bill. “The last thing you want is the courts to decide. Judges who know nothing about it making policy. Should we be concerned about it, should it be altered, or killed,” said Johnson. Ray Petersen, public lands director said they will confer with the two new commissioners and recommend a stance on the bill for the county.
Former commissioner James Nelson said Emery County should keep an eye on where the water goes when the Carbon Power Plant is closed. Stilson said the water for the Carbon Plant is a portfolio of water sources including private rights. Sherrel Ward, council member said if the plants in Emery County should ever close the water would return to the Emery Water Conservancy District.
Newly elected county attorney Mike Olsen was instructed to meet with Craig Johansen and Jay Mark Humphrey to become more acquainted with the water issues and upcoming legislation dealing with water. Stilson said there are state grants available to help with smaller water projects. Any projects done would need to benefit the Colorado River drainage.
Robby Edgel from the Division of Wildlife Resources said much work has been done to improve habitats for wildlife. A pond will be excavated at Fuller’s Bottom and become a hatchery for the sensitive species, the roundtail chub. Tamarisk removal is also being done in that area. Work is being done to increase upland game bird hunting. Winter range patrols are on now to stop poaching. There have been some issues with trappers not checking their traps frequently enough. A mountain lion fell through the ice at the power plant and was relocated to Nine Mile. Measures are being taken to increase youth hunters for birds and hunting in general. Guzzlers for chukkars are being installed and more birds for hunting being released. A grey wolf was shot by a coyote hunter. Collared wolves have been tracked into Utah. The hunts saw 28 percent success for the muzzleloader hunt and 17 percent for the archery hunt, up from 13 percent. The numbers for the rifle hunt aren’t in yet, but hunters said they saw a lot more bucks. Edgel said the light winters have helped out the deer population and there are now 18 bucks per 100 does in our area.
Darren Olsen from the forest service said the Greens Hollow EIS is final and will be out in the next couple of weeks. This is to decide whether or not to lease that tract to SUFCO mine for coal development. Christmas tree sales went well, the Ephraim side was very busy and sold 2,000 permits, the Ferron side normally sells 300-400 each year.
Aaron Farmer, park ranger from Goblin Valley/Green River State Park said the golf course at Green River has been closed off and on for snow. But, is now reopened. Call the course for updates on the phone message. A tour bus slid off the road at Goblin Valley and a tow truck had to be called to get them back on the road. The employees are doing maintenance work at Goblin and Green River parks. The go ahead has been given for the bike trail at Goblin Valley and work on that will begin in the spring. The disc golf baskets have arrived for Green River Golf Course and the course will be laid out and installed in the spring. There have been some fee increases at the parks.
Kelsey Berg from Rep. Jason Chaffetz office was the only Washington delegation representative present. She said the Nevada lands bill passed. PILT was fully funded. Four billion was put into wildland fire fighting and fuels reduction. More money was given to the BLM to get caught up on back logs within the BLM, one of which is grazing reviews. There was also money in the bill for quagga mussels and money for livestock lost to wolves; also they were able to stop action on the sage grouse for now. Also, $15 million was appropriated to the BLM for more work on sage grouse habitat to prevent listing.
Berg said Chaffetz was questioned as to why he supported the omnibus bill, and he said they didn’t get everything they wanted, but they did get some useful things accomplished with the bill. Berg said Rep. Bishop’s land use bill is still moving forward.
Ward from the council asked for support for the Healthy Forest Initiative if its reintroduced. Berg said she would pass that along to Rep. Chaffetz. Berg also said on the clean water act they were able to avoid it pertaining to farm ponds and irrigation ditches.
In the Bureau of Land Management report, Ahmed Mohsen said the BLM is excited about the Molen Reef area. The BLM is involved with EA for oil and gas leases. The BLM works to mitigate impacts where possible. The Resource Management plan also offers more protection to the area. They appreciate the rock art enthusiasts who want the area protected and have brought much information forward that is useful.
With the abandoned mine project on the Swell, 107 mines have been closed of the 173 sites. Work will continue there in the spring. This work has been done to make the mines safer. The project is 65 percent complete and they coordinate the work to cause the least disturbance with bats and big horn sheep in the area. The BLM is working on the Joe’s Valley Recreation Area. They are working with the forest service on this too. Mountain bike trails are being planned at the Wedge and one in Carbon County.
Mohsen introduced Josh Winkler who is working on the route management plan for the San Rafael Desert. There will be two open houses to gather information one in Green River on Jan. 21 and one in Castle Dale on Jan. 22. Both open houses are from 4-8 p.m. The one in Green River is at the John Wesley Powell Museum and the one in Castle Dale is at the county building. You can ask questions, fill out papers and give information on routes in the area south of I-70 to SR-24. This is phase one of the project and phase two is west Emery; there will be five phases all together. This is an inventory of all existing routes and whether or not there is a purpose or need for every route. They will be looking at everything in their BLM office area. Both motorized and non-motorized routes will be looked at. The meetings are to gather data and to educate the public on what’s taking place. The BLM is still gathering data and working on maps.
Mohsen said travel management is so important. Access is what makes other rights possible. Mohsen said the Moab field office is working on the Gray Canyon pipeline which could be used for the refinery in Green River.
Mistie Christiansen, council member brought up a dangerous road near Emery. There have been two accidents there recently. She suggested taking the road back away from the edge and run it through the cedar trees, where it used to go. This is the road up Link Canyon. Emery County Road Department maintains the road. Mohsen said they should go out and look at the road and see what can be done.
Rod Player, council member said the trails map is ready to print. The map will have codes so smart phone users can download the map onto their phone and have their own copy.
Ward reported snow totals look good for now. The basin average is 124 percent, with Dirty Devil at 163 percent, Mammoth/Cottonwood-118 percent; Red Pine-131 percent and Seely 119 percent of average. White River is 124 percent and Dill Camp 146 percent. “We’ve had some excellent storms,” said Ward.
Christiansen asked where the fencing project is for the road into Goblin Valley. This fence is needed to keep the cows off the road. Funding is needed for the project. Johnson said he would get with Sen. David Hinkins and see where the funding for the fencing can come from.