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Show gies 4s¢es YR) DECEMBER I grew up in Vernal. Lived through two or three oil booms and busts. My family on both sides have background in oil and mineral exploration as well as livestock and hunting. I was raised with guns but choose not to own any. My first vehicle was a dirt bike. I moved to the city to find work instead of whining about lost jobs. I have a “high tech” job in software, but I live paycheck to paycheck. I’m not many paychecks away from homelessness. When I bitch about OHV’s and cattle, consider this. You may have as much right to land use as I do, but when you and I are two canyons apart, you have no 2008-JANUARY 2009 Whigs Li onc wh dias Als il ns cclaninnsod exchange for more developable land elsewhere for the state, and additionally withdraws approximately 20,000 acres of wilderness quality public land from all forms of mineral en: wy But while the bill addresses and would protect specific lands adjacent to the Colorado River, the patchwork development of SITLA lands elsewhere goes essentially unchallenged by anyone. One thing is certain, SITLA’s. goal is to develop those lands to their fullest economic potential and as long as that development is not related to mineral development or cattle grazing, environmentalists have little interest in objecting. We're all to blame and it’s all of our mess to try and figure out. I don't have the answers, but I'm trying my best to do right for myself and those I share this life with. clue that Iam present and your experience is unchanged by my presence. Yet, I hear your freaking little machine loud and clear and see the carnage of your government subsidized cattle activity with clear eyes. We're all to blame and it’s all of our mess to try and figure out. I don’t have the answers, but I’m trying my best to do right for myself and those I share this life with. (Help Stop Global Warming * _by wearing “cool” jewelry. Amulets, Rings Earrings, Toe-cuffs St. Bernard medals , Leather Bracelets and Keyrings , Bola Ties, etc. \ made for Cyclists, Boaters, Skiers, Yoginis ... www.CampfireCircle.com “Thank you Jim Stiles (and contributing writers) for publishing one awesome newspaper... See you out there in cyberspace! Hanta Yo, JC Caccia” In 2003, noted Moab conservationist Bill Love posted an email about overgrazing on those very state sections in upper Spanish Valley that are being discussed here. He wrote: “Range Net is running a contest for the most.overgrazed allotment in the western United States. The SITLA land around Ken’s Lake has been nominated.” But what's worse? I asked Bill: “I’m trying to get a feel for just where environmentalists stand on this grazing issue....If SITLA announced that it wanted to take that overgrazed allotment and build 500 affordable housing units on it---would that be an agreeable alternative for you?” Bill replied, “Your question cannot be answered because you are assuming there are only two choices for public lands and those are a cow or a house. Your question ignores the many alternatives that can include recreation, wildlife, housing, gravel mining, and grazing in the Ken's Lake area. I cannot pick a house or a cow as the solution” So...me being me, I pressed: “It’s purely hypothetical Bill...if you had only those two choices which is the lesser of two evils. Choosing the lesser of two evils is hardly a strange concept. It is the foundation of American politics. Can’t just ONCE...a Utah enviro give a straight answer? I can...if those were my only choices I'd leave it overgrazed.” I didn’t hear from him again...the unanswered question lingered. Three years later, in 2006, SITLA moved forward with plans to develop a state section just east of the city limits, the Lions Back Resort; I asked Bill Love what could be done to stop it. Love wrote, “I can’t see any way to stop Lions Back. The area will have more than 50% open space and does not contain any sensitive lands, that I know of. My goalis to try to prevent the entire valley from being 4 units per acre or even higher.” If rural Utahns have any hope of stopping further development of remote SITLA sections, they need to act now, on lands not even under current consideration. Get out your maps. Look at the locations of ALL SITLA lands adjacent to paved roads in scenic area. That is your SITLA blueprint for the future. 83 NORTH MAIN ST. MOAB, UTAH 84532 (435) 259-5154 THE CANYON COUNTRY ZEPHYR Moab, Utah st Voluene I Number} - Aprit 1989 A long time ago, ina Moab, Utah ee aes eeu: far, far away... fartevesas Ths Goratcienc ee ieee ‘Coisk Abts fe Gree oe, A tity Sey By Bees ABY Opfabia: Sicighs to Semacabrrater ‘Touts Bcrgsti Hart af Meow Tes Sha Seto Wate ase Vee ge Gaetat There are still some copies, albeit a bit yellowed, of the Zephyr’s first issue, April 1989, printed on March 14. Back of Beyond oN Bookstore We still have signed copies of TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS’ $55.00 postage paid. Checks payable to: latest book... The ZEPHYR PO Box 327 Moab, UT 84532 800-700-2859 | www.backofbeyondbooks.com backobey@citlink.net |
