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Show A3 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Wednesday, March 15, 2006 Watershed (Continued from Al) it could affect the very livelihood of many Sanpete residents. ; According to a section of the ; recently published management ; plan, high salinity is a significant problem and can ''impair crop . land and reduce crop produc: lion." '. Because of the high salinity '. of soil in the area of the water' shed, Johnson said, sediment that finds its way into the waterway contributes to the problem. Sediment and pollution finds its way into the stream, according to the plan, through eroding stream banks; erosion from rangelands, croplands and pastures; and runoff from confined animal feeding operations and irrigation systems. In 1999, the Sanpete Soil Conservation District and the national Natural Resources Conservation Service established the San Pitch Watershed Stewardship Group to deal with the problem. During the last seven years of looking at the issue and how to solve it, the stewardship group created the plan recently presented. The main purpose of the plan is to recommend a "series of specific actions and management strategies to improve ... conditions in the watershed," Johnson said. The plan lists and describes 12 such actions (see table), most of which the stewardship group cannot do by itself, but can help Sanpete landowners and farmers do themselves. In addition to fisting recommendations for improving the watershed, the plan will also be helpful in getting funding for those recommendations. "The group has already brought in about $1 million in grant funding and money matched by landowners themselves," she says, but that was without a management plan. Now that a plan is in place, other funding doors should open. "When I apply for grants, some of the requirements are that you have a ... management plan written, and the EPA requires it to get more grant funding, so it will hopefully bring in more funding for more projects." Then the plan itself will help focus the money in areas that need the most help, she says. For example, Johnson talked about a project the stewardship group helped Scott Mower and Ross Terry with in the Fairview area. To prevent streambed erosion on their land. Mower and Terry put in jetties to slow the flow of water and planted appropriate trees and grasses to hold soil in place. The project was successful. "With the high flows last year, the Objectives of the Water Quality Management Plan for the San Pitch River Watershed Reduce total dissolved solids by 11 percent, or about 4000 Ions per yoor. Reduce 'nonpolnt source nutrlenl pollution* by working with livestock and landowners lo manogo nutrients. Collect and map soil samples lo determine nutrient lovels in order to locale priority areas and gauge success of nutrient-management adivitios. Increase control of noxious weeds by 70 percani by reseeding pastures and using olhor wood-control measures. Improve stability of the slream's banks by planting appropriate vegetation; the goal is to decrease streombnnh erosion by 40 tons per year. Educalo landowners and a teens about organic pollution sources and bos I management practice; annually nducate 4lh-gradn schoolchildren Track efforts, progress and contributions, and generate data and reports lo better coordinate the activities of watershed partners. Gat funding in implwnwnl be»l management practices and maximize eU available resources Help communities lo develop and implement waler-proleclion and slorm-waler plans. Improve and conserve wildlife habitat In the watershed. Expand cloud seeding in Ihe area lo increase annual water yield from precipitation by about 1 15 Inches. R&duco scdlmont from 12-Milo Canyon landslides stream project we did helped quite a bit. It didn't down cut the banks al all," Johnson said. Other projects have also had success. One resource available to landowners and farmers is soil testing. At the request ot a kindowner or farmer, soil can be tested to find ihe content levels of various nutrients. "We've had landowners come in and say they didn't realize thai they were over-applying their fertilizer and ii's saved ihem a lot of money," Johnson said. Not only does ii save money, it also prevents excess fertilizer The reason lor that is befrom eventually finding its way cause it's impossible to point to into the San Pilch, and thus pola single source of pollution as the luting it. Oilier projects have included culprit, say a factory or pipeline rc-secding 600-700 acres of land that empties directly into the river with grasses to hold the soil and (called "point-source" pollution). Non-poinl-source pollution crowd out noxious weeds, workis harder to curb because there's ing with high school Future no single place where pollutants Farmers of America students to take soil samples, and estahlish- enter the stream; it comes collecing a counlywide fourth grade tively from wherever there is erosion or runoff, for example. watershed education program. The only thing lhat will imBut with all the success so far. prove the situation is time and the it may take a long lime before (he San Pitch is declared safe enough cooperation of anyone who owns to come off the environmentally- land in ihe watershed. Johnson said that cooperation naughty 1 ist—"years and years and is happening, though. Asked if loyears." Johnson said. "Your vote counts the most in this setting as a very small percentage of people show up and lake part in this grassrool level of government." Johnson said. In many cases, so few people show up lhat being a delegate is almost a self-appointed job. "You just need to show up," said Democrat Laura Phelps. Then those delegates attend the county convention* where ihey will vole between two or more candidates running lor an office. A party candidate must win 70f/r of the delegate's votes lobe listed on the ballot. If that does not happen, a runoff will be held in ihe primary election June 27. "We are encouraging everyone lo participate in their local caucuses," Johnson said. "We also want to remind people that they can register at the caucus meeting." "II you are passive then you shouldn't complain about politics." says county clerk Frischknecln. "That is why everyone should become politically involved." To contact leaders of the Republican Parly call county chair Wendell A. Jacobsen. 4453504; vice chair, Joan Larsen, 835-5211; or Republican Party state office al SO I-533-9777. For the Democratic Parly call county chair Jill Hansen at 835-4200 or Democratic Parly state office at 801-328-1212. Caucuses — cal people viewed watershed management efforts as environmentalism and reacted against them, Johnson said, "I think they see it as conservau'onism. mostly. I mean, all we're doing is improving the water quality. There haven't been any problems al all." Johnson said people interested in preserving and improving the quality of the watershed can look at the plan, or request assistance in developing and funding a watershed-improvement project, by calling her at 835-4111 extension 14, or by sending email to: noil v.iohnson^nacdnet, net. SALINA (Continued from A l ) caucus meeting than on the first gest impact a person can have in Tuesday of November." the political process is by being "It is especially important active in the meetings, caucuses for the Sanpete Democrats to and conventions prior to show unity at the caucuses," said November's election. Democratic county chair Jill This year that process gets Hansen. "We need to nominate started at 7 p.m. on March 21 at candidates and know what the several local caucuses held for issues are so that we know why both the Democratic and Repubwe are Democrats." lican parties. (For a complete list Local caucuses are where of caucus locations, see box bepeople at the grassroots level low.) choose delegates to the county "If you really want to make conventions to select the candia difference politically, your lodates that will run for county ofcal caucus is where to start," said fices. The local caucuses are also Wendell A. Jacobsen, Sanpete where leaders for the grassrootsCounty Republican Party chair. level precincts are chosen. "Your vote has more power in a Sanpete County Republican Party Caucuses Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. Republican Locations: A \9 Axtell Humphrey Residence 136 West Center Centerfield Centerfield Town Hall Chester Sunderland Dairy Ephraim 1,2,3,4 Ephraim Elementary School Fairview' 1,2 Fairview Elementary School Fayette FayetteTown Hall Fountain Green Fountain Green Elementary Gunnison 1,2 GunnisonCity Hall Indianola Walker Residence, 3300 N 7000 W Manti 1,2,3 Manti City Hall Mayfield Mayfield City Hall Milburn Smith Residence, 29490 N 11090 E Moroni 1,2 Moroni Elementary Mt. Pleasant 1,2,3 Mt. Pleasant City Hall Spring City .Spring City City Hall Sterling Sterling Town Hall Wales , Fox Residence, 60 S 100 W if you think smoke CLASS AUCTION DATE: 3/7/2006 AVG PRICE COWS HEIFERETTES PAIRS CUTTING BULLS SLAUGHTER BULLS CHOICE STRS 300-4004 CHOICE STRS 400-5008 CHOICE STRS 500-600# CHOICE STRS 600-700# CHOICE STRS 700-800** CHOICE STRS 800-900S CHOICE STRS 900-1000 CHOICE HFRS 300-4004 CHOICE HFRS 40O-500G CHOICE HFRS 500-6008 .: CHOICE HFRS 600-700S CHOICE HFRS 700-800# CHOICE HFRS 800-900# CHOICE HFR 900-1300 HOL STRS 300-400* COUNT: 1207 PRICE RANGE 48.55 57.84 871.43 71.19 69.00 133.62 132.74 119.35 106.16 98.52 96.50 90.61 126.77 115.32 110.12 102.12 95.52 91.95 85.74 116.43 HOL STRS 500-600# 97.50 HOL STRS 600-700# , HOL STRS 700-800# HOL STRS 800-1000S 91.60 83.26 73.50 41.50-60.00 53.25-65.50 750.00-975.00 50.50-85.50 51.25-76.50 115.50-149.00 110.25-154.00 104.75-134.50 100.25-120.00 96.00-102.00 92.00-99.25 81.50-93.00 108.00-134.00 101.25-129.00 92.00-120.00 90.75-107.50 85.00-100.00, 80.50-95.00 74.50-91.50 105.00-126.00 97.50 83.50-93.50 79.50-84.00 73.50 ks ore a great way to you're right. 3/15MG Sanpete County Democratic Party Caucuses Tuesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. Democratic Locations: Ephraim, 1-4 Ephraim Middle School Contact Suzanne Dean, 283-8481 Fairview, Indianola and Millburn Fairview City Hall Contact Eric Faatz, 427-4748 Gunnison 1, 2 GunnisonCity Hall Contact Stella Hill, 528-3363 Manti/Sterling, 1-3 Sanpete County Courthouse Contact Jill Hansen, 835-4200 Moroni 1,2, and Fountain Green Moroni City Hall Contact Laura Phelps, 436-8473 or Donnell Blackham, 436-8286 Mt. Pleasant Senior Citizen Center, 85 E. 100 North Contact Boyd and Avrln Brotherson* 462-3116 Wales and Chester Wales Town Hall Contact Ron Lamb, 436-8367 Spring City Spring City Hall Contact Kim Christeson, 283-7480 3/15MG to quit, call: 1.888.567.TRUTH or visit utaliqiiitnet.com |