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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VI, Issue IV Page 13 June 1, 2002 Water User’s Workshop Announced Events Scheduled for National Trails Day National Trails Day, Saturday, June 1, 2002 will mark the dedication of the Weber Pathways Rail Trail, Utah’s second rails-to-trails conversion. This trail, located north of Plain City, began its life as the Little Mountain Branch Railroad, built by the Union Pacific in 1971 to compete with the Southern Pacific hauling salt and other minerals from the Great Salt Lake. Traversing farmland and wetlands, including the Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area, the railroad corridor passes through some of the best waterfowl and shorebird habitat in the state, and offers a panoramic view of the Wasatch Range to the east. After the UP-SP merger, the branch became redundant. Most of the track was taken up, and the line was prepared for abandonment, which would have meant that the continuity of the corridor would have been lost forever. Fortunately, Federal law allows for a process called railbanking,” in which the railroad corridor is preserved as a trail corridor. Former railroads can make ideal trails, because they have gentle grades and curves and are separate from highways and automobile traffic. The Little Mountain Branch, located in a remote but fast-growing area of the county, had all these quali- ties, plus the additional value of passing through a state wildlife refuge. Weber Pathways therefore began negotiations with the County and the State Division of Wildlife Resources to create a plan for preserving the corridor. Pathways applied for railbanking rights, and began fundraising efforts to purchase the property from the Union Pacific. Through the generosity of several private foundations, who will be recognized at a dedication ceremony, Weber Pathways were finally able to purchase the 10-mile corridor in the summer of 2000, just as it was in danger of being sold for private development. A portion within the refuge was then sold to the Division of Wildlife Resources, and arrangements were made to donate the rest of the property to the County, under the protection of a permanent conservation casement. Improvements are being made this spring to smooth out the trail surface, install gates and fencing, and to create two trailheads. Weber Pathways would like to acknowledge the following organizations, which made this project possible: The Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation The Katherine W. Dumke and Ezekiel R. Dumke Jr. Foundation The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation The Diana S. Ellis Foundation The Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation The Packager The State of Utah Division of BARBARA BEALBA INTERIORS Custom Draperies Blinds, Shutters & Shades Reupholstery Design Consultation 745-2269 E-mail: barbarab@konnections.net Wildlife Resources Weber County The public is welcome at the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Rail Trail, which will be Saturday, June 1 at 9:00 a.m. at the Harold Crane Trailhead. Light refreshments will he served, and the trail east of the trailhead will be open for mountain hiking, equestrian, and pedestrian use. (West of the trailhead, the trail will be closed from March 1 to September 1 to protect bird-nesting habitat.) The easiest way to get to the Harold Crane Trailhead is to go west on 12th Street, turn right on 6700 West, and go straight north over the paved and unpaved sections of 6700 West to the trailhead located at 2700 North. Hope to see you there! Would you like to learn more about water conservation and management? A Water Users’ Worskshop has been planned and scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at Snowcrest Junior High. An openhouse will be held from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The workshop program will begin at 6:00 p.m., and will end at 9:00 p.m. Ogden Valley water users and/or members of irrigation companies are especially urged to attend this informative workshop. For more information, contact Weber Soil Conservation District Chair LaMar DeFries at 801-731-0546, Weber Soil Conservation District Supervisor Eugene Bailey at 801-745-6639, or UACD Water Planner Shanna Francis at 745-2688. SOLD ! ! Ken Turner 940-9000 2996 Shaw Dr, Liberty $199,900 4 BR Log Home w/Barn Please visit my website@: www.kenturner.org Summer Program Fun! Camp Adventure lay er yPs t a W Da Sunshine Generation Performing Group ft Crays a D Fiel d Tr ips Com put Ava er Classe ilabl s e A Trusted Name In Preschool and Childcare Serving Ogden Valley Families Since 1996 Panthers: 5 - 12 years old Tigers: 4 year olds Bears: 3 year olds Monkeys: 2 year olds Various packages to choose from: 1/2 days, full days, daily, weekly and monthly rates available. Awesome activities including weekly themes, terrific workshops, field trips, waterplay, arts and crafts, science projects, cooking experiences and much more!! FUN! FUN! FUN! Registration begins May 1st. Limited Space Available. Call Today 745-5600 |