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Show Volume Ninety Tooele, Utah Thursday, April 18, 198S w" " 4FW I Cost: X ' $ Editors Note: This is the last of a series on the completed feasibility study concerning the proposed ski resort for Middle Canyon. The first article appeared in Tuesdays Bulletin. rt by David Bern A $30 million ski resort for Middle Canyon could have both negative and positive impacts on existing wildlife, says a completed feasibility study. That study says the proposed ski resort for the Butterfield Peak White Pine Basin area, along with potential residential and lodging developments at or near the mouth of Middle Canyon, would effect four "high interest species. Those high interest species include: elk, mule deer, blue grouse and cougar. The $22,000 fatal-flaanalysis was compiled by J. J. Johnson and Associates, a Park City-base- d and engineering planning conglomerate. s The page document includes eight major areas of analysis involving the resort. The areas ana 60-plu- Bouquets of vivid red tulips have graced the home of Ray and Annie Bevan, 30 West and Third South in Tooele. The unusual early warm weather for April has brought most plants and trees up for the sun. But a drastic weather change is poised to strike Utah this weekend and gardeners should beware. (Photo by David Bern) Weather "Nightmare Will Kill Dance With Spring Weather forecaster Steve Hatch says the dance with early summer is finished. A major weather change for the intermountain west is in the pipeline sliding fast towards Utah. That weather change includes cold air and lots of rain or snow possibly over the next two weeks. "The weather weve been experiencing has been just excellent for controlled runoff, said Mr. Hatch. "But now Im worried. The whole situation is going to drastically change because of a dramatic change in upper air movement. "Weve been way above normal in temperatures for the past several weeks. Now were going to go the opposite way, he added. Mr. Hatch says weather computers are saying a strong storm will strike the state both Friday and on Monday. Those same computers are showing a low pressure system hanging over Utah possibly for the next two weeks. To Mr. Hatch, that weather scenario could result in a very serious outcome for this springs potential heavy runoff. "The flood index since March has dropped to a five on a scale of one to 10, said Mr. Hatch. "But the next two weeks could put it right back up again. "The storm systems setting up to go over Utah could replace everything that has melted off in the mountains, he added. "In fact, just two storms with lots of wet snow can more than exceed what has been melted off so far. If that becomes reality, Mr. Hatch warns flooding and landslide potential will literally skyrocket. "Since were going later into spring, well be going back into warmer temperatures once this period of storminess is through," he said. "If we receive a lot of new, wet snowpack and then get hit with 80s and 90s, it could be very serious. As for the weekend forecast, Mr. Hatch says tonight expect fair to partly cloudy conditions. Tomorrow increasing south winds will carry in clouds and by nightfall rain and snow will develop. Saturday a cold northwest flow will continue rain and snow showers. Sunday, the rain and snow will decrease but the cold will remain. Tonights Forty-fiv- e Resort Will Impact Wildlife, Says Study two-pa- The worst possible nightmare is setting up to blow away all those dreamy days of sunny skies and summer climes. Number Cents 9 r 4, Twenty-fiv- e low should reach the mid-40- s and Fridays high will top out at 65 degrees. Saturday mornings low will be in the upper 30s, with the days high around 52. Sundays low will again see the mercury hitting into the 30s. Sundays high will be a chilly lyzed are skiable terrain, terrain and lifts, snow cover, wildlife, sup- port facilities, infrastructure, hydrology and water rights re- quirements. (Tuesdays article in The Bulletin covered skiable terrain, terrain and lifts, and snow cover). Wildlife Inventory The study says of the four high interest species, preliminary research indicates only the elk and deer have any major significance to the project. The first species of interest is the elk, says the study. The elk have high priority over the entire project during the summer (May 16 to October 31). Their habitat consists of rugged, thick conifer forests as well as open grass and browse areas. The study says both of these habitats are important for seclusion cover as well as foraging purposes. If the conifer forests are presently limited in size and distribution, then the cutting of ski runs in these stands could prove But the study counters that if the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) surveys the area and determines that the area is lacking in forage areas, then ski run of clearing and native grasses could prove advantageous to the elk. The second species of concern to the resort is the mule deer, says the study. Mule deer occupy much of the ski area during the summer, but are driven down to lower elevations as the snow accumulates. One of the UDWRs concerns in regards to deer in Middle Canyon is the spring and early summer when fawning occurs. A range map in the study shows fawning areas for deer are located on the canyons valley floor nearly the length of the canyon. That fawning area is classified as critical and occurs from May 16 to June 30 of each year, the study adds. This fawning area will likely not be affected if the resort and access is closed after the ski season is over. (Continued on page eight) Aquifers, Rain And Snow Behind Erdas Water Woes Water moving underground from the Oquirrh Mountains and above normal precipitation is mostly to blame for Erdas high ground water problems, says a hydrology study. And the influence of Tooele Citys wastewater treatment plant to the problem is relatively insignificant compared to other sources around Tooele Valley. Those conclusions are offered in a recently finished study compiled by Bill Lund from the states Geological Survey Office in Salt Lake City. The study, requested by the county health department, deter- mines probable causes behind groundwater that has filled several basements in Erda. The study also offers some shortterm solutions to the problems but warns it may take several normal precipitation years before the groundwater drops in Erda. Geologist Lunds study says recharge to artesian aquifers below Erda is principally by subsurface flow from the Oquirrh Mountains and from adjoining water-tabl- e aquifers near the mountains. Other sources include infiltration of precipitation that falls on the shallow aquifer, seepage of water discharging from springs, and infiltration of excess irrigation and runoff water. In the study, Mr. Lund stresses that both Erda and Tooele have received five years of normal precipitation in only three years. The result has been a dramatic increase in both the hydrostatic head of the artesian aquifer and the level of the shallow water table below Erda. Also, increased hydrostatic pressure from the artesian system has produced a corresponding increase in upward leakage to the shallow aquifers in Erda, the study adds. The study also says that discharge from septic tanks, soil absorption systems, irrigation water and discharge from Tooele Citys wastewater treatment plant are thought to be small when compared to the increased recharge from excess precipitation. A more detailed and costly study would be required to determine the amount of water contributed to the shallow aquifer in Erda from all potential sources of recharge, says Mr. Lund in the study. To reduce basement flooding in Erda, the study suggests that all runoff from canyons be diverted from the community. Also, waste-wate- r from the treatment plant should be routed as far from Erda as possible. The study also directs that surface drainage should be improved in Erda to prevent ponding and to carry surface runoff away from town as quickly as possible. Also, sources of water in Erda that may be contributing to recharge (flowing artesian wells, springs, leaking irrigation systems, etc.) should be identified and controlled. The study emphasizes the listed solutions will help control shallow ground water, but will not affect upward leakage from artesian aquifers. For that reason, consideration should be given to installing subsurface drains or a series of shallow e pump wells to remove ground water from areas subject to basement flooding, the study adds. high-volum- 50 degrees. Mr. Hatch warns the above temperatures may be conservative and much coolei temperatures may exist over the weekend. He added that stockmen should pay special attention to developing weather details over the next few days. 50,000 Acre Feet Of Underground Water Makes Life Wet For Erda Erda residents frustrated over high groundwater got the message Tuesday that a finger of blame pointed at Tooele may be presumptuous. Joe Gates from the U.S. Geological Survey office in Salt Lake City, offered a probable explanation behind Erdas high groundwater trouble at Tuesday night's county commission meeting. The hydrology expert said the excess groundwater filling many basements In the rural community Is "really an unusual situation" caused by a "cumulative effect from consecutive years of above normal precipitation." He emphasized that Erda's groundwater recharge area lies directly southeast. By way of graphs and charts, Mr. Gates showed where the water may be coming from, both underground and on the surface. In a normal precipitation year, Mr. Gates said the valley fioor receives around 30,000 acre feet of recharge Into the underground water system. But consecutive years of immense snow and rainfall has drasti cally increased the recharge amount. Mr. Gates said he guesses more than 50,000 acre feet of water has entered the underground water system in the past two years. That amount of water is like getting five years of normal water recharge in just three years, he says. And in result, immense artesian pressure is bleeding water into shallower water levels, causing water to enter many Erda basements. The hydrologist also said that canyon discharge from the southeast combined with regular precipitation adds to the sum. But Mr. Gates admitted he had no answers behind why Erda's high groundwater troubles started last November, months after the runoff season. As to why not all of Erdas home-owner- s are suffering from flooded basements, Mr. Gates said dispersed clay layers between more porous materials may be the cause. He said a home lying on a clay layer would be more protected from rising groundwater than one resting on porous material. The hydoioglst stressed that in the past year, the underground water table around Erda has drastically increased. He cited one observation well in Erda that has risen 46 feet in the past 12 months. He added that measurement may be a new state record. In conclusion, Mr. Gates said that water influences from canyons, the Carr Fork Mine, regular precipitation and water moving underground, all contributes to Erda's groundwater trouble. As for solutions to the problem, Mr. Gates said the states Geological Survey office has produced a study that analyzes Erda's high groundwater and offers possible solutions. He advised that group to read the document which was requested by the county commission a few weeks ago. County Commissioner Charles Stromberg admitted to the group attending the meeting that the county does not know what to do about Erda's high groundwater. He said the best experts have been asked to produce any solutions available and that the county is committed to to help In any way possible. Smiths Food King has signed a letter of Intent to build a superstore at the newly announced Tooele Shopping the overall plaza will maintain. (Drawing provided by Plaza. The above artist conception is the architecture-typ- e Smiths Food King) Food King Has Signed Letter To Construct Store At Plaza A will Smith's Food King superstore be the anchor tenant for the newly announced Tooele Shopping Plaza, says a Salt Lake City real estate agent. Michael Allen of First Security Commercial Real Estate, says the major food chain grocer hat signed letter of Intent for the plaza project. In an interview with Transcript-Bulletin- , the the vice-preside- of Food King verified the tetter of intent that states the grocer plans on building in Tooele at the plaza. The shopping plaza's location runs 800 feet northward from 650 North along Main Street. The total site encompasses 17 acres and will feature a variety of stores and services when completed. "The Smiths Food King Store will contain 49,000 square feet and offer a pharmacy, nutrition center, bakery and dell," said Mr. Allen. "A consistent architecture will be used throughout the shopping center." Mr. Allen says construction for the new grocer is set for early 1986. Construction on the overall plaza Is slated to start later this year. He also said Smith's could have their store in place nine months after breaking ground. A tentative opening date for the shopping plaza is late 1986 or early 1987. "With the anchor store now set, everything should be moving right along with the plaza, said Mr. Allen, who is the project's coordinator. Mr. Allen said other tenants for the shopping plaza are lining up and information about those commitments will be released later. The commercial realtor added that since the announcement of the shopping plaza last week, several Tooele merchants have called indi- cating interest In the project and possibly relocating there. |