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Show . Whirling Disease Back CONTINUED FROM A1 At Governor’s Hatchery SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The trout- crippling malady known as whirling disease, first reported in Utah at a hatchery owned by Gov. Mike Leavitt's family, has reappeared at the facility. The Dry Valley hatchery in Loa was site of the first reported outbreak his land, we would not have a very dense valley,” says Berg. of the disease, in 1991. Since then, the disease, caused by a parasite, has spread to many of Utah’s prime trout waters. The quarantine placed on the Dry Valley hatchery was eventually lifted, but a report released Friday shows the hatchery has been contaminated In both recent cases, the fish tested were rainbow trout. And in both cases, the hatcheries had previously been certified clean by the Utah free to sell live fish. are now under Rickenbach said all of the fish from his facility were sent to a fish-processing plant in Koosharem. But trout with whirling disease that have made it into the wild have created problems throughout the state. Last year, millions of fish had to be destroyed after whirling disease was again. discovered Samples taken in April showed five of 10 fish were infected. The report, from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab, also showed a second infested hatchery in Wildlife Resources’ Midway Hatchery. Whirling disease is caused by a parasite that attacks fish skeletons, causing deformities, among them a curving of the spine that makes the fish swim in circles. The fish most suscep- nearby Koosharem, in Sevier County. Dean Rickenbach, owner of the Koosharem hatchery, said he bought fish from the Leavitts in March. Transferring infected fish in 1991 resulted in a $25,000 fine for the Leavitt’s. The facility's owner is listed as Dixie Leavitt, Mike Leavitt. the father of Gov. in the Department tible are trout and salmon. fully theyll do the right thing.” The third golf course is in a flood plan and will likely wipe out several . beaver ponds, which are considered ideal spotted frog habitat, says Trater. “I can’t imagine beavers and golfers — getting along too well,” says Trater. And that’s brought out a vocal group of critics — most of them Summit County residents. One of them is Woodland resident Christa Smith. She says Victory Ranch could dramatically alter the rural feel of the area with full-time residents having to accept the impacts from part-time residents. “Who is this going to benefit? The community certainly isn’t going to benefit,” says Smith. one herself. But she calls the Woodland other watersheds or taken off by ani-. mals to new locations. Humans are not affected by handling or consuming . Estates gate “a mistake.” -. “| think it’s very unfortunate that Woodland Estates set that precedent.” Smith, who co-authored a long passionate letter that ran last week in The Park Record and Wasatch Wave about the pitfalls of continued growth says she does not think all development is bad. There are some development plans she could support as long as they stay with- in current zoning and land-use plans. . She calls the Jordanelle Basin Land Use Plan and Title 16 of the Land Use HD. J | i j per 160 acres, to Recreational Forestry, which allows much denser develop- to the area’s long-term water supply and elk and moose populations from the fence surrounding the gated community. She admits her opposition to a gated community is ironic since she lives in cle, carried off in contaminated fish to the diseased fish. Trater, a Kamas She says she worries about impacts The parasite can be picked up in mud on boots or the fender of a vehi- a0 and Development plans.” .& Put your classified in the newspaper with the code “excellent “They have an excellent guide and I ‘wish they would stick with it.” LARGEST CIRCULATION IN WASATCH COUNTY! when the Planning Commission first Od Wasatch County’s Source for News CALL 654-2661 TO PLACE YOUR AD! UL One tractor does it all! The new sub-compact BX in 18 or 22 hp model, diesel engine, 4WD will operate all varieties of imple- Kybhora. ments from mowers to loaders, snowblowers, box scrapers, etc. We'd love to show it to you. 345 North Main Street, Heber City ° 654-1561 8AM - 5PM Monday - Friday _At this point, Berg says the developer has spent thousands of dollars monitoring the frogs and is evaluating his options. But Berg downplays the impacts of the golf course to the frogs. Nine frogs were counted at the site in 1999. Last year, there were 99, he says. According to DWR, the spotted frog is found in wet areas of the West Desert and all along the Wasatch Front and Back. Populations are stable in the West Desert, but have been in steady decline along the Wasatch Front mainly due to impacts from growth. This isn’t Larsen’s first brush with a controversial development. During last summer’s drought, dozens of residents of the Silver Springs subdivision in the Snyderville Basin outside of Park City sharply criticized Larsen for not providing when an adequate water system, the subdivision’s wells started coming up dry. Larsen, who avoids the media, let Berg do all the talking then as well. Berg placed much of the blame on Summit County’s Mountain Regional Water District at the time, which was operating the system. In a deal that many county officials now admit at least privately was a mistake, Larsen also developed the Silver Creek Business Park on U.S. 40 outside move. : “You cannot get a feel for the propopment that’s going to be on it by looking on amap. You've got to get out and The feel it,” says Berg. email: tim@wasatchcountycourier.com Leavitt Declares Agricultural Emergency As Crickets, Grasshoppers Threaten Crops SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Gov. Mike has declared an agricultural Leavitt said this year’s infestation is tnd of “But hope- erty and the minimal amount of devel emergency as Mormon crickets and grasshoppers threatened crops in 18 Utah counties. The declaration will make it easier for farmers to get financial help to combat the infestation. in Division fook up the zoning change was due Leavitt nf the Wildlife Resources (DWR). mainly to Smith’s organizing efforts. “I think most of the people that were there were because of her efforts,” says Berg. — And then there is the frog. WASATCH COUNTY resident and former field biologist with “Obviously, from my point of view, I disagree strongly,” says Berg. He of Park City after getting incentives believes the zoning change and develfrom Summit County. | | opment comply with the Jordanelle plan | After a strong public showing at the and Title 16. last Wasatch County Planning At the very least, he credits Smith’s Commission, commissioners put off. ability to get the community involved making a decision until they visit the even if it creates a negative buzz. He site. All sides agree that was a smart says the high public turnout on May 31 Ih LET of : pan | — of the development’s three golf courses could wipe out crucial habitat. “I know not that many people care about frogs as much as I do,” says Paula But first, Larsen must get county officials to approve zoning change from Water Conservation, which allows 1 unit ment. Department of Agriculture and were Both hatcheries quarantine. state lists the spotted frog as a “sensitive species” and some are worried that one VICTORY RANCH Md : Ly JUNE 13, 2001 WASATCH COUNTY COURIER Li aa A8 the worst Utah has seen since the 1940s. State agricultural officials predict farmers could lose more than $25 million in damaged crops. Wheat, barley, alfalfa, safflower and rangeland grasses are particularly threatened. “IT would hope that his declaration of emergency will help get the needed funds to Utah farmers and help us rid the state of these pests,” Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Cary Peterson said in a news release. | Peterson and Leavitt are seeking a formal declaration from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. About.$3 million in federal funding is being sought to help combat the current problem. State estimates place some of the worst infestations of either crickets or grasshoppers at 350,000 acres in Tooele County, 160,000 acres in Sanpete County and 116,000 acres in Juab County. » | : In Millard County nearly 190,000 acres are infested. In a field near hard-hit Oak City, just east of Fishlake National Forest, a state inspector reported seeing crickets on every strand of wheat, said Larry Lewis, a Utah Department of Agriculture and Food public informa tion officer. 3 Most of the infestation is coming from land controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, Lewis said. The $3 million would be used to purchase more poisoned bait and for aerial spraying at the front lines where pub_ lic land meets private property. _ — |