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Show Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday December 24, 2002 3A 1 Public Lands Council. By COREY BLUEMEL Staff Writer Emery County Public Lands Council held its regular meeting in the commission chambers at the court house on Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Council members present were Kirk Johansen, Craig Johansen, Dickson Huntington, Joe Fielder, Ray Petersen, Dennis Worwood and commissioners Ira Hatch and Drew Sitterud. Chairman Worwood called the meeting to order and asked for corrections to the minutes from the last meeting. Two members of the council made corrections to the minutes and the minutes were then approved. Craig Johansen was the first subcommittee to report. He reported on water. He had been to a legislative subcommittee meeting of the national resource department and they were well received. They were given ample time to make their presentation and explain the issues they were facing. Johansen also stated there was a large contingent from San Juan, Grand and Carbon counties there to back up what they were expressing about the wild and scenic rivers designations. Johansen also reported that a letter had been sent to the governor concerning a memorandum of inviting him to meet with the WNRC department heads. This letter urged the governor to change the MOU, but since the sending of this letter, the meeting has been postponed and it is unknown w hen it will be rescheduled. The second meeting Johansen attended was about the water fund struggle. He stated he had read an article in that mornings Salt Lake Tribune about the Water Resource Board meetingwith the governor to try to get more funding through a sales tax increase. This would effect drinking water and agricultural water. The article stated Governor Leavitt wants one eighth of a cent increase to go to education. This would be about S20 million taken from the water users and the governor suggests the water people could recoup their money from other places. Johansen stated to recoup this amount, the water rates for every water user in the state would go up by $3-- 4 monthly. sions and become land managers themselves. Commissioner Hatch then reported on the coalbed methane. He stated minerals lease funds for road district 1 is in a confused state at the moment. They are having problems with the computers alongwith some legal problems that are prohibiting anyone from finding out the exact figures for the rev- Huntington, in charge of grazing, reported on the Quivira conference to be held in Moab on Dec. 13. He thanked the commission for sponsoring the permittees letter about the drought. The precipitation levels indicate a 30 percent cut in the grazing allotments for next year, but any action now would be premature. He suggested to wait and see enue. Johansen reported after having sat in on a C1B meeting, Uintah, Emery; Grand and San Juan counties are receiving the largest portion of mineral lease money. He then explained the process of distribution of those funds and the channels through which it must go in order to get into the county coffers. He stated that $10 million has just evaporated and no one seems to know where it has gone. Since these four counties get the biggest share, they are the ones w ho will lose the most. As it is, revenue to these counties is down 30 percent. He stated the purpose of that meeting was to establish better accountability of this money. The committee suggested changes in the permit process to include production figures on a monthly basis. A discussion followed as to the present permit process and whether this suggestion would be feasible. It was mentioned that some of the gas recovered in Emery County is piped to Carbon County w here it is measured on meters and counted in that county. Hatch suggested that everyone come together to find a solution to this problem. Recreation was next to re- port. It was stated the plaque for the dinosaur quarry is ready for installation and also Commissioner Randy Johnson had requested a plaque for Swaseys Cabin public lands day project. It was moved, seconded and voted to recommend a plaque also be made for that area. Heritage was next on the agenda, Kathleen Truman informed the councilthat the cowboy poetry book is finished and will be available at the Museum of the San Rafael for $16. Ray Petersen from the ac- cess management team reported they are waiting on the Commissioner Hatch added that this w'ould effect all water users in the state, not just culinary, but agricultural as well. He stated some road projects would also be downsized. Hatch said this is going to be a volatile issue and SJTLA should let go of some funds for schools as that is what that program was established to do. Hatch also reported Emery and Carbon counties had received funds to investigate the problems at Electric Lake and to develop any source of water available there. The prospectus is out and the decision to hire a consultant is being reviewed. Commissioner Sitterud reported on the wild and scenic rivers and added they have requested the board use an over Incoming streams. He also view of the entire state, not just the county itself. RS-247- decision. 7 Worwood explained the emergency closures of the Devils Racetrack and Eva Conover roads by the BLM are tied up in court. Judge Kimball ruled the BLM had followed procedure in the closings, but the Tenth Circuit Court ruled that Judge Kimball had not gone far enough in his considerations. The court claimed te hat winter brings. He then encouraged all members of the council to go to the Quivira conference if possible. The Quivira conference in New Mexico is to be held in January: Huntington also reported the elk count numbers are in, and there is some question as to the accuracy of those numbers. He stated they are proposing to the DWR that numbers of wildlife be reduced in the same proportions as the grazing numbers. Worwood referred to a letter from the forest service outlining five alternatives to damage by the drought and urged all to wait until spring to decide on a course of action. He reported that Dixie, Fish Lake as well as w the Manti-LaS- are being al re- quested the council consider giving permission to the roten-on- e treatment of Ferron Reservoir while the water levels are so low and the dam is being repaired. This treatment is required to eradicate the Brook trout, w hich overpopulate and more desireable species. Wrigley Springs Reservoir w as the next item Berg reported on. He stated the reservoir is full of weeds due to the nutrient content of the water. There is a need to fence off the springs feeding the reservoir to compensate for this over saturation of nutrients to the plant life in the reserv oir. The pipeline feeding Marys Lake is broken and needs attention. The DWR is continuing to look for water shares to enable the pipeline to be kept full. Kirk Johansen questioned Berg about the reports of wolves being caught in the northern part of Itah. He asked if there were any reports of wolves in this area. Berg explained about the capture of a gray wolf in the northern end of Utah and it has been relocated to Yellowstone National Dark. He told Johansen that he had never heard any reports of wolves in this area. A private citizen at the meeting addressed Berg about the issue of beavers in Huntington Canyon that are creating problems in the Huntington-Cleve-lan- d drainage. Floyd Johnson, from the BLM, reported next. He stated that he appreciates the input from Carbon and Emery counties about the wild and scenic river designations. There had been a lot of response in November and December. At the present time, the BLM is reviewingall the input and are making an inventory of all the eligible rivers. It will be January or February before the list looked at for restrictions. Huntington then referred to law suits that are now against the forest service that are concerned with grazing. Petersen mentioned that Ray Ward is an attorney to help farmers or permittees who have any problem with wilderness. Joe Fielder, land exchange, reported the bill in the congress was not acted on last time, maybe this time it will get some action. Louis Berg, Division of Wildlife Resources, was the first agency to report to the council. He stated the report he was in essence the same report he had given the Emery County Commissioners the pre- vious wreek. There has been an increase in poaching activity and elk predation is on the rise. Berg reported the Big Horn Sheep Festival in Moab was successful. Also, the native trout populations have made good progress in the past five years, in particular, the Colorado Cutthroat have 14 populations that are 99 percent pure or better. ie stated there is no set percentage of genetic purity that constitutes is complete. The next step in that process will be the general public comment phase and there are still six to eight months left in the process. Johnson also said the BLM is in the process of reviewing the Bryan Anderson explained the plan and how it works. Anderson stated that a MOU has been distributed to all the agencies with which the council works. Worwood moved to the next agenda item, the terms of three councilmembers that will be expiring on Dec. 31. It was ex- plained the current members who are leaving will serve until replacements are found. The process to fill these position needs to be startl'd soon. It was moved and voted on to start the process of receiving applications for the positions to be vacated on Dec. 31. Item five on the agenda was the scheduling of the meetings for the 2003 year. Discussion about staggering the meeting schedule and also holding some of the meetings in Green River. The motion was made to have Petersen contact all the agencies that report to the council and survey how a change like that would effect the personnel w ho come to the meeting to make the reports. It was then moved to hold the January meeting at the regular time and place. The next agenda item was other business. Tory Killian from the Castle Country Rural Alliance reported to the council about the meeting held at the Museum of the San Rafael the previous Saturday She stated the meeting was productive and the group had come up with a lot of suggestions on how the public feels about management of the Sw ell. Sho also said Sally Wisely from the BLM will make recommendations and ask for the county's support. Killian stated the Castle Country' Rural Alliance will add their recommendations to what Wisely will propose. Buckle Up Emery County VOICE OF EMERY COUNTY SINCE 1900 Editorial Administration Publisher Ken Larson Office Manager Linda Thayn Darla Lee Circulation Patsy Stoddard Sharree Jensen Editor Designer Staff Writer Corey Bluemel Advertising Shirley Stubbs Jenni Fasselin Office Director Display Classified Corey Bluemel Corey Bluemel Receptionist Subscription Rates: 50 cents per' copy; $22 per year delivered by carrier in Carbon and Emery counties; $27 in Utah; $00 out of Utah per year by mail. Office Hours: Monday 8:00 to noon.; Tuesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 190 East Main, Castle Dale, Utah. Classifieds Deadline: Monday at 10:00 a.m. for Tuesdays publication. Fax (435) Telephone: (435) editorai ecprogress.com, publisher ecprogress.com. ) issued once a week at Castle Dale, Publication No: (USPS Utah. Periodical postage paid at Castle Dale, Utah. Postmaster: Send change of address to PO. Box 589, Castle Dule, UT 84513. All right reserved by the Emery County Progress. All is property of Emery County Progress. No part herein may be reproduced without prior written consent. 381-543- 381-243- 0747-2129- public comments about the travel plan and the projection is that a decision will be issued sometime early in 2003. They have applied to the Department of the Interior for an extension of the RMP and received an extension until September of 2004. Worwood distributed copies of the master plan to all the 1 endangered classification. There are no rules and no set standard to make that judgment. Berg then reported on the treatment of Duck Pork reservoir. All went well, but they do intend to retreat a few of the Directory AGENT-WH-O TAKES CARE OF THEM? CALL ME FOR A FREE PROTECTION REVIEW. Tracy Wilcox 71 S. Center Street, 8i Service council members and asked them to become very familiar with this plan as it is the guiding document for the council. ne PEOPLE WHO DONT HAVE AN ''u,an Wiinstate JOl'lOSD i .4 illHhll;hW,l:l WILCOX LAUNDRY MAGIIUSON LUMBER & DRY CLEANING that Kimball had not attempted to determine if the BLMs actions in the closings were the proper thing to have happened. This ruling is significant because it could potentially put the court system in a position to second-gues- s the BLM deci- - is pleased to announce new management in our Castle Dale salon Large Capacity Washers For all youi BuiJding Needs Lumber Hardware Plumbing piectrical Paint J. 65 S. Center, Castle Dale 495 Main, Castle E. 381-263- 9 381-257- pale 4 ( TIRES lxx)king for the sweet j rARfE 86 East 100 South 637-550- ta Li Dec . 24y 25 & 26 Lunch again with us on Dec. 27 Mon-S- 4:00-Close- 4 A New Indispensable Internet Tool For Your Business! & legal NoUce Database Is online! Manual searches are free! 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