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Show Nephi, Utah Dje Page 10 More than 160,000 acres of big game winter range in southeastern Utah damaged or destroyed by drought Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in southeastern Utah. This conta'gious disease is 100 percent fatal to deer and elk. If a single animal at a feeding site were infected with CWD heavy utilization by big game, or any other communicable continuing drought has had has severely affected many disease, transmission to other catastrophic impacts on deer sagebrush communities. The animals using the site could and elk winter range. To date, consequences are alarming. occur. Even, without more than 27,000 acres of If southeastern Utah incurs easily in their weakened CWD, critical sagebrush-grasslana heavy, prolonged snowfall condition big game animals areas have suffered severe this winter, lower elevation would quickly fall victim to mortality, 126,000 acres have ranges wont be able to susa variety of diseases. been damaged significantly tain the number of animals If southeastern Utah and another 16,000 acres they could have otherwise. continues to have mild, dry have been lightly damaged. The loss of big game animals winters, range conditions will substantial. be could is of one the Sagebrush steadily decline. As years go Land and wildlife managmost important browse spethese may become by, cies for deer, elk and prongers face a limited number incapable ranges of sustaining even horn antelope during winter of choices when it comes to small numbers of animals, months. Sagebrush retains a averting a potential crisis. causing gradually increasing higher protein content and Restoring these habitats rates of winter mortality. nutritional value than many through seeding projects is Some groups have sugother browse species. When obviously a top priority, but gested that the Division heavy snow drives animals it will take years to make of Wildlife Resources cut from higher elevations, the a notable difference. Large presence and abundance scale feeding of big game of sagebrush can make the is extremely expensive and difference between life and could be detrimental to the herd. Artificial feeding death, particularly for deer. brings animals into close Prolonged drought, compounded by an invasion of association, which facilitates The deadline for annual army cutworms in some ar- the transmission of parasites filing with the Bureau of eas of southeastern Utah and and infectious diseases. Land Management (BLM) of mining claim and mill sites fees is Sept. 1, 2003. The law C requires that maintenance fees be paid on or before CdRQUEST Sept. 1, of each year. Unless the appropriate forms and fees are filed with BLM by the deadline, miners risk the AUTO PARTS loss of their claims. Owners of unpatented mining claims and mill sites are required to submit their annual $100 maintenance fee on or before this due date. Since Sept. 1 falls on Labor Day this year, filing will be ! In southeastern Utah, the d wildlife herds by as much as 50 percent by significantly increasing the number of deer and elk hunting permits available. Biologists contend that elk herds have already been cut dramatically by antlerless hunts. Years of drought have slashed deer fawn reproduction and re- cruitment. Deer herds are already on a downhill slide. The DWR is monitoring the situation closely. Restoration of critical sagebrush areas is a top priority. Habitat managers and biologists will continue to mechanically treat and seed critical big game winter ranges to assure an abundance of seed and seedlings when the drought ends. Ultimately, it will be up to Mother Nature to provide the water to accomplish the job of rangeland rehabilitation. Mining claim filings due on or before September 1st 1 Nephi Carquest 385 N Main Nephi, UT NEWISWREIHOURS s mm mUIBEiWERl Mill accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003. If a claimant(s) qualifies, waiver certification may be submitted in lieu of Coming Soon 1st Annual Customer Appreciation Event! Friday, August 22nd Special prices all day Drawings and Fun HIP paid. Forms and information are available by calling the Information Access Center at (801) or accessing BLM website at www.ut.blm.gov MineralsAdjudication. 539-400- 1 Dove, early this year band-taile- d pigeon and sandhill crane hunters are reminded that they must register in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Summer Clearance & Back Lake City 84145. BLM office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except National Holidays. Each payment must be accompanied by a written list of the claim name and BLM serial numbers for which the maintenance fee is being Dove and waterfowl hunters are encouraged to register in Program (HIP) before hunt- - -To- the 2004 maintenance fee prior to the due date. All filings and fees must be made to the BLM, Utah State Office, 324 South State Street, P.O. Box 45155, Salt -School Wednesday, August 13, 2003 Biologists concerned with sagebrush die-onortheastern Utah More than 197,000 acres of sagebrush in the Uinta Basin is dead, dying or severely stressed. These startling results are from a helicopter (UDWR). con- cerned with the increasing documentation of sagebrush mortality associated with long-terdrought in eastern Utah, said Walt Donaldson, UDWR regional supervisor. The majority of the mortality seems to be located in the lower elevations of critical deer winter range, roughly 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Biologists and range specialists from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Forest Service (FS), Ute Tribe and the UDWR have documented and mapped over 197,000 acres of sage- brush that is either dead, dying or severely stressed. About 27,000 acres has over 90 percent mortality in six areas: Rabbit Gulch (UDWR and private lands), Clay Basin (Tribal land), Red Fleet (BLM), Island Park (BLM and Dinosaur National Monument), Browns Park (UDWR and BLM) and Lucerne (FS). The agencies have assembled a statewide assessment team of plant, range, fire and wildlife experts to review the mortality and stressed sagebrush areas, the majority of which are found in northeastern, southeastern and southern Utah. The team began its review in the Uinta Basin the week of July 21. It is expected that some or by visiting the Internet at www.uthip.com. Hunters need their 2003 small game or combination license to register. When registering, youll be asked to provide your 2003 hunting license number and license type, name, address, date of birth and the approximate number of doves, ducks and geese you harvested in 2002. Youll then be given a HIP registration number that you must write in the space pro882-474- ing this season. The dove and band-taile- d pigeon hunt will be held in September. Sandhill crane hunts will be held in Sep- tember and October. Utahs 2003 - 2004 water-fow- l season follows in October and right now is a great time for duck, goose, swan, coot and snipe hunters to also register in the HIP. All dove, band-taile- d pigeon, duck, goose, swan, coot, snipe and sandhill crane hunters, throughout the United States, are required to register in the HIP each year. Hunters who registered in 2002 are reminded that they must register again if they want to hunt migratory game birds this year. Hunters who dont register risk a fine of up to $299. There is no charge to register and registration takes about 5 minutes to complete. Utah migratory game bird hunters can register by calling recommendations will be forthcoming from this team on how best to approach this restoration process, Donaldson said. After discussions with the other agencies, we feel strongly the high mortality sites are priorities for targeting cooperative restoration, preferably starting some this fall and others as quickly as we can get National Environmental Policy Act clearance. This project will be unique. According to range experts, this type and scale of sagef brush has never been recorded before. Add in the size of the ranges, sagebrush ecology, the length of time to grow the plant, invasive species like cheatgrass, critical importance to wintering survey recently completed by biologists from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Were definitely vided on your 2003 license. Lifetime license holders are provided a sticker to attach to the back of their license card for entry of the current seasons HIP number. If contacted by a wildlife law enforcement officer in the field, migratory game bird hunters must prove theyve registered in the HIP by presenting their hunting license with their HIP number written on it. The purpose of the HIP is to improve management of the nations migratory game in ff die-of- herds and animals petitioned to join the threatened and endangered list, and the project becomes monumental. As restoration projects start on these sites, management will probably have to change, Donaldson said. For example, population objectives for deer on these sites may have to be reduced to avoid high deer mortality during heavy winters. Decisions involving restoration requires an informed public, as this is becoming a very serious problem for both livestock and wildlife. The agencies commitment to this restoration will be long-terand will require monitoring to improve resto- ration techniques over time. It is hoped that by tackling this large problem together, resources can be combined and a more effective product will result. bird populations by collecting better information on hunter participation and harvest. The Division of Wildlife Resources is cooperating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in administering the program in Utah. Utah became involved in the HIP in 1998. Some of the hunters who register will receive a followup diary in the mail to keep track of their effort and harvest during the year. Theyll be asked to return it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after the season. The HIP registration number is much like a duck stamp, in that its valid for the entire waterfowl hunting season, even though you need a new hunting license each 2003-200- 4 January. For exam ple, if you are hunting ducks in January 2004 you will need a new 2004 hunting license, but your HIP number from the fall of 2003 is still valid. A space will be provided on your 2004 license to write your 2003 HIP number. Hunters must register Twenty X Jeans The new 20X Extreme Fit jean for men has a lower rise and looser overall fit with new fabrics and washes in 100 cotton. Stepping Stone Day Care Center is now enrollina for fall! again in the fall of 2004 for the 2004 - 2005 season and must write their new HIP registration number on their 2004 license. Junior volleyball set sign-up- s Juab Junior Volleyball will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, a.m. Aug. 23 from at the Old Gym in Nephi. Entry fee for girls in grades is $25. Adults interested in coaching or officiating, please call sign-up- s 8:00-10:0- 0 5-- 8 Kurt or Tina at Games will be played on Saturday mornings. 623-402- 6 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday Birth and up Juab County meals provides CRP and First Aid trained staff Transportation to and from school welcome State paid and drop-in- s Womens Play Area Closed to Nephi Elementary School The Juab County Womens Volleyball League will begin All Greenline Equipment 795 South Main, Nephi Sale Starts today - Ends 82303 Fenced-i- n Call Melanie today at or 623-440- 8 623-491- 9 or drop by at 445 East 200 North, Nephi Volleyball to begin their season soon. Games will be played on Wednesday nights during September through November. Cost for each team is $ 50.00. To sign up your team, call Linetie at Kelly at or Tara at Sign up deadline is 1 623-146- 0, 660-900- 9 Monday, Aug. 25. 623-025- |