OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYR JUNE 1990 PAGE 22 the public lands watchdog CJ of Gs Outdoor Theatre new questions more chaining to come... Jack Campbell The original concept of a simple, open air dance theater near the Sllckrock Bike Trail has expounded In ways that now potentially threaten the quality of both the Sllckrock acres near the beginning Trail and the general Sandflats area. Three hundred sixty-eig- ht of the Sllckrock Trail are being reclassified by BUM for possible use In this project The original plan Involved the University of Utah Fine Arts dance program using one of the natural sllckrock amphitheaters Just to the southwest of the Sllckrock Trail parking lot This open air, low Impact facility would have entailed minimal construction (even the restrooms would be concealed Inside the rock), and would have encouraged maximum Involvement of people with the Incredible beauty of the natural area around them. Also proposed was a Theater of the Stars located atop a sandstone fin complex Immediately across the Sandflats road from the Bike Trail parking lot These uses did not seem Incompatible with the area and In some ways could even have yielded some protection. dollar, hard shell, However, plans have changed, and now Involve a If enclosed theater providing protection from the weather. wind, sound, and sun are die would be more appropriately a this as such must blocked then be out that project "enemy located on commercial property In down town Moab. Of course, the project promoters would then have to actually buy or lease the land. The greatest threat posed by this project Is that It will lead to Increased land speculation and development on the nearby State land sections. A leasesale application has Just been announced for 165 acres of State land adjacent to and east of the Sllckrock Bike Trail. Unless land exchanges are arranged between BLM and State Division of Lands, this project should not proceed, regardless of Its magnitude. Those of us who value the Sandflats area as It Is now, need to watch this project more carefully. Plans are not finalized and continue to fluctuate substantially. Even If this proposal were to be dropped by the U of U, the area will still be In Jeopardy until the Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP) land reclassification status Is dropped. Several more "bureaucratic hoops must still be Jumped through for the project to proceed, and hopefully the public will be given more opportunity for Input than has been the case so far. To date, the BLM seems to be concerned about protecting the Sllckrock Bike Trail area from the adverse Impacts of too large a development However, the BLM Is affected by political and other pressures, and If the only user groups they hear from are those favoring commercial development, then those Interests will likely prevail. Here Is where we are In the bureaucratic process. One EA has been completed BLM approving the change In land status for 368 acres from regular BLM public land to by R&PP land. The R&PP status allows an entity such as the U of U to apply for lease andor purchase of the land. Stipulations attached to the R&PP status Include: the Intended use of the land must be stated In the application and be for either recreation or public purposes (i.e. as a golf course or theater), no change of use may occur without BLM approval, and unapproved uses or changes could result In the land lease to title reverting to BLM. (In practice, however, once a project such as this Is begun, change or Increase In use would be very difficult to control.) The R&PP land status change was advertised last month In the Moab public notice section. If adverse comments received are dismissed, then the R&PP status will become effective In mid-Juand the U of U may then submit a formal application Including design plans. Once a formal application has been received, BLM will prepare another EA evaluating the Impacts of the specific proposal. It Is at this stage that BLM has promised to actively solicit public Input about the project Whenever this occurs may well be the last chance for the current use groups (mountain bikers, hikers, and ORV users) to have a chance to Influence the outcome. This situation presents the classic dilemma of how the Interests of the large numbers of current users (most of them don't live In Moab can be fairly represented and balanced with the local Interests that can wield a disproportionately large amount of Influence. Hopefully some mechanism will be found to achieve representational equity. Again, this project should proceed only If It can be done In harmony with the existing Sandflats area and If the natural environment will be an ally. If the project has grown to require enclosed spaces to ward off the natural occurrence of wind, sound and sun, then lets build these structures In the Moab valley where such buildings already exist multi-milli- on Tlmes-Independ- The Moab Elk Plan, a management plan developed by a local Interagency committee composed of representatives from the Utah Division of Wlkfllfe Resources, BLM, U.S. Forest Service and the Utah State Division of Lands and Forestry, targets more than 5000 acres of public lands for "habitat Improvement The first priority project controversial chaining of over 300 acres on Amasa's Back In San Juan County was completed last month (Zephyr. May DO). By 1993, the number of treated acres will grow dramatically. "Treatment Includes chaining, burning, rollerchopping, cutting, and spraying of target areas with herbicides. According to the report, these projects have been proposed to meet two major objectives envisioned by the Interagency group. 1. Allow the herd to continue to expand and Increase until a harvest of 200 bull elk Is reached, providing elk use Is not causing a downward trend In the range. harvest success rates and the percent of mature bulls In the harvest while continuing to provide open bull hunting. What are the reasons for expanding the harvest other than Increasing revenues? What was the historical size of the herd? How have other Impacts decreased the size of Its historical range? Are there ways to Improve that range without destroying additional forest areas by chaining, cutting and burning to produce new range? These are questions that the Interagency group should attempt to answer before proceeding with additional prelects. A public meeting on this plan will be held May 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Forest Service office In Moab. (Unfortunately this Issue goes on the newsstands on May 30, giving 1) and Joe Cresto of the BLM Grand very little advance notice.) Unda Seibert 3) to will also be available discuss the plan. Resource Area Below Is a proposed schedule for "habitat Improvement projects and the 2. Maintain or Improve (259-611- (250-819- Implementation schedule: Priority list for habitat Improvement projects and Implementation schedule. ent ne ARCHES REALTY 690 So. Main 259-569- 3 out of state toll-fr- ee UNIQUE Source: Moab District, BLM Major Changes for the River Corridor According to members of Grand County's Blue Ribbon Commission, charged with tourist studying Impacts along the River Corridor and Sand Flats area, major changes are In the works. Open camping by the Colorado River may be a thing of the past If funding Is provided by Congress to construct new camping facilities. Representative Howard Nielson recently requested $700,000 In funding and Senator Jake Gam Is expected to follow suit with a Senate bill. The plan calls for a major campground possibly to be established at Big Bend, eight miles upriver from U.S. 191 on S.R. 128. The campground would have designated sites, running water, restrooms, and a nightly camping fee. The campground would Include several group campsites as well. Some allowances will be made for "overflow camping during the peak tourist season. OPPORTUNITY - ONLY ONE AVAILABLE!!! Lot 440 in Castle Valley. This land is 53A acres with a commercial grade well, three phase power, paved road and commercial potential. Owner financing and will consider joint venture proposal. Priced at $45,000.00. Will discount for CASH. line Looking for an Income Property? You must see this x for sale close to park, property to appreciate. school and town. Commercial zoning, owner financing available. Call Ludean for details. Tri-Ple- Lots 384 & 399 in Castle Valley, 1 acres with well, septic, power, includes garage and pump house. This area is perfect to build the home of your dreams. The land is in a very secluded area with a fantastic view of the LaSal Mountains and Castle Valley. This is the largest remaining acreage in this area. Excellent owner financing with small down payment. Owner asking $30,000.00. This property will not last long. ACT NOW! I! Call Joe or Dan for more information. 1 2-c- ar BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR SALE!!! Small, business for sale. Low price means it last Call Joe for more information. wont long. well-establish- ed 4184 Lot bedroom, 2 bath house. 5X acres, 1 0O fruit trees, 2 car garage with workshop, many other features. Ex- cellent owner financing with low down. Call Joe today. $75,000 FAX (801) 259-593- 0 |