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Show PAGE 22 THE ZEPHYRAPR1L 1991 the public lands watchdog Moabs New Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve land conservation a move, The Nature Conservancy, a non-pro- fit Is the first such This Moab acres of the 690 Sloughs. organization, recently purchased M. Matheson, In Scott of honor Named purchase for TNC In southern Utah. whose policies about land Issues still ring throughout the state, the area Is the only permanent wetlands along Utahs stretch of the Colorado River. The sloughs have always been a common bond that has connected the two different land groups of Moab. Duck hunters and bird watchers, deer hunters and wildlife photographers, have wandered through the head-hibulrushes, paddled the frozen and Inner mornings listening to the honks of geese waterways spent connecting outdoor-orlentIts Is people, even though their gearing up for the day. Moab known for means of recreation differ like the sun from the moon. wildlife biologist for the Division of Wildlife Nelson Boschen, a non-gabird hours studies In the sloughs prior to their purchase. Resources, spent many conducting He saw that this area contained an avian paradise of wintering waterfowl, migrating passerines and birds of prey. Two endangered species, the Peregrine Falcon and the Bald Eagle, both use the sloughs for hunting or roosting. Within the past several years, Vermilion Flycatchers and Eastern Bluebirds, both unusual sightings, have been recorded within the sloughs. Over 150 species of birds use this area. Through Nelsons field work, some phone calls and some letter writing, the Conservancy became aware of the areas potential as a In long-await- ed nor use-orien- I Last heard maybe this theatre wasnt enough by Itself A multiple venue facility would Include not only the theatre described above, but two open air dance amphitheaters as well. On a recent site Inspection, BLM took us to look at a site behind the current countyclty dump. This would be a much more appropriate location If the theatre Is really going to be this large. This siting would provide a strong Incentive to do a thorough Job with the dump reclamation In a few years. Another major advantage of using the dump level would be to keep the large amount of continuous vehicular traffic associated with the theatre activities off the more pristine upper level. More meetings ahead...... Jack Campbell ted gh Keystone Disposal Fits ed me preserve. though the Great Basin Field Office, In Salt Lake City, expressed little Interest In the area. They had other projects going and felt that the area did not have unique public paid enough qualities to warrant purchasing. Persistence by the Moab off. Letter writing campaigns to TNC, state representatives and the DWR convinced TNC to begin some preliminary talks with land owners. "Initially TNC figured they would purchase the sloughs If they could get some help with the funding, Boschen said, but eventually they came to realize how Important It was as a permanent wetlands and they decided to purchase It anyway without any definite help from DWR, BLM or any other organization. The resulting purchase will not only protect a valuable piece of habitat, but also protect a way of life that Moabites have known for many generations, as related In Sam on January 24, 1991, can think of no Taylors editorial In his Moab I In more appropriate use of the land. grew up the Sloughs and loved tt. I there In winter, hunted ducks when I still hunted ducks, poled a flat bottom boat around the area and hiked the overgrown trails that wound throughout the wetlands wilderness. The purchase Is a positive step for the local public, In terms of conservation and 1 economics. Close to downtown Moab, this preserve will have a positive effect upon the local business community as another highlight for tourists as well. But greatest of all, this preserve may bridge the gap between the different groups of land users In Moab. And that In Itself Is a unique enough reason for the purchase. Initially blrd-watchl- Tlmes-lndeoend- ng 1 ent Ice-skat- ed by Damian Fagan Kokopelli Theatre The Grand County Commission Is still trying to find some pretext for purchasing the Keystone disposal pits In San Juan County. The Keystone pits are used by oil and gas drilling companies to dispose of salt brine solutions generated In the drilling process. Wouldn't be any problem If that was all that was Involved, but... The disposal ponds are currently owned by an Individual and rented to Grand In turn charges drilling operators a fee to discharge Into the pits. The current which County, to wants owner sell the pits to the County for about $30,000 the County gets $50,000 to $30,000 up front; $70,000 per year In fees from the dumping. Not a bad Investment and $60,000 $60,000 revenue the first year (100 profit each year possibly profit); to want would a reason owner Must some What deal! be thereafter. the get rid of a gold mine. Must be some reason why two of our commissioners, who are usually totally opposed to a government entity doing anything that could be done by a private business, are so Interested In taking over this operation. The simple answer, of course, Is hazardous waste liability. While the disposal pits are supposedly O.K. now, and are periodically checked by the county health department, It would only take one 55 gallon drum of really nasty stuff to contaminate the entire pond. The clean-u- p costs could easily be In the millions of dollars. The little guy who dumped the waste couldnt pay, so the Grand County taxpayer would be stuck with the bill. The other part of the answer Is one commissioners unquestioning support and promotion of the oil and gas Industry. Anything to bring back the good old days when lots of easy money was floating around. An easy way to balance the county budget via oil and gas revenues. Drillers must have salt brine disposal ponds. If private Individuals (wisely) are afraid to take this risk, then maybe the liability risk could be transferred to the Grand County taxpayer by having the county buy the ponds. Why not let the drilling companies have a chance at this "easy money? Why not have the commissioners encourage private Industry to handle the problem? Seems rather strange In Itself to have Grand County buying land In San Juan County. Why not let the companies that will get the profits also bear the risks? As In the Savings and Loan fiasco ($500 billion cost to taxpayers), It's a lot more fun to be gambling In a rigged game where you get to keep all your winnings, but someone else pays If you losel Still Growing Jack Campbell The Kokopelli Theatre Is a theatre complex which the University of Utah hopes to build next to the Sllckrock Bike Trail. Although In a financially dormant phase, the theatre concept continues to Increase In size. At an advisory committee meeting In December, a theatre designer from the U of U spelled out some of the dimensions of the desired theatre 100 ft, for raising sets, etc, and 50 (700 seating capacity): minimum height above stage ft below stage to accommodate 60 ft x 20 ft orchestra pit elevator and multiple elevators to raise and lower sections of file stage; overall building area approximately 40,000 sq. trucks simultaneously at stage ft; loading docks large enough to unload six semi-trail- er to one acre area trucks for level; maneuvering the loading docks. paved It was stressed that there Is no actual design; there are only the approximate dimensions Involved In creating a "world class theatre. Even BLM seemed a bit stunned by the magnitude of these physical dimensions. Hard to picture it fitting In by the Sllckrock Bike Trail, but I guess my Imagination Is pretty limited. A few other details: there would need to be approximately 200 performances per for the project to be viable. Costume, scenery, electrical, and prop shops could be year food service and concessions would probably be located downtown If desired. On-si- te necessary. Continuous activity would occur at the theatre site all day long. Friends of Moab corporation which Is formed to promote native and plantings In the Moab area for beautification, water conservancy, dust and wind breaks, and wildlife habitat FRIENDS of MOAB Is a private non-pro- fit drought-tolera-nt HOW IS THIS DONE? 1. EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS Information Is being provided to show how easily In ways which enrich our lives: which plants vacant and derelict sites can be do best In which places, which are best for birds and wildlife, where mature plants can be viewed, where to get them, and how to plant and water them conservatively until they are virtually self-suffici- ent DEMONSTRATION SITES Highly visible vacant sites will be selected and planted 2. er and ultimately "adopted by the andor civic groups for minimum maintenance. Those sites will then provide opportunities to residents and visitors to conveniently view land-hold- NEEDLES OUTPOST 259-203- 2 Canyonlands National Park - Needles District Located 34 miles west on Hwy 211 259-854- 5 Gas only THE BEST BURGERS WITHIN 75 MILES -- - propane Camping - partial hookups 4x4 rentals Scenic flights Maps - books information General store Ice - cold beer snack bar - pop Showers firewood Jeep tours by reservation |