OCR Text |
Show iMMBi mnTw ritneai mu September 18, 2002 -- V.. wri: & 'iK. Blanding to stop outside watering by Phil Mueller Unanimous action by the Blanding City Council on September 11 will, in effect, shut off outdoor watering in the city as of October 1. "We are down to the point that we will run out of water if we dont do something," is how open that can of worms. ..I would hate to see us take one step in that direction." Councilmember David Lacy suggested that Lyman meet with his staff and come back to council with a proposal of how to staff the facility on weekends. 9. The only thing cuter than a little girl and a puppy are two little girls and a puppy. Madeline Rogers (I) and Robin Randall enjoy Madeline's Staff photo new puppy, Gus. Get the details on page 1 3. BLM Director discusses ranching by Jim Keyes, USU Extension Kathleen Clarke, National Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), addressed the Public Lands Council at its annual conference last week in Salt Lake City. Clarke, a native of Utah, had many positive things to say about the future of ranching on public lands. She made it dear that in the future, BLM personnel and ranchers would be working more closely to manage grazing allotments. The decision making process will be moved closer to the land where it belongs, said Clarke. She became very emotional as she quoted from one of Utahs major newspapers about ranchers enduring die drought. You have all suffered enough. I don't want our land management agencies making your burden any bigger. Ms. Clarke talked about innovative ideas that would be coming forward to help manage the land, and how partnerships would be very important. She said that the BLM will no longer be seeking ownership of private water rights, and that permittees would have ownership of range improvements. It may also be more difficult for outside parties, with no direct investment or interest in grazing permits, to slow down or even stop the management process with frivolous litigation. The National Director ended her comments by stating that, Livestock is not the problem with the management of our public lands. Its the solution. 3Qr copy! The Public Lands Council is an organization made up of members from fourteen western states who have an interest in preserving and strengthening the use of livestock grazing on federally owned rangeland. to cut grazing on local allotments BLM Visitors Center Manager Requests Sunday Opening. City Councilman David Palmer While most of San Juan reports that Harold Lyman, County experienced a week of manager of the new Blanding Visitors Center says over 100 heavy rains, farmers and ranchers are fearful that it may be too visitors a day are stopping at the little too late for winter grazing center. Palmer says Lyman reallotments on public lands. ports that visitors cannot access Grazing permit holders on the the facility on Sunday because Bureau of Land Management it is closed. He quotes Lyman as received a letter last week that requesting that the center open stated: There will be little if any on Sunday during the tourism forage available for livestock use season. The request sparked considerthis fall... Therefore, as a general rule, we consider all allot- able discussion at the council ments to be in nonuse status for meeting, with councilman Dale Slade saying, "I do not want to the fall and winter seasons. that exceptions may be made if there BLM officials stress announced - See pg. 3 cess channel available on the Buckaroo win streak stops at 1 6 Cable System in Blanding and suggests that it Precis should be made use of. Laws suggested a planning meeting among several entities, including any local entreprenuers who may wish to operate a public access channel. Laws said the Council meetings, school board meetings and County Commission meetings could be videotaped and replayed. Also discussed was the possibility of videotaping high school football games and replaying them, since KUTA Radio permanently signed off the air earlier this year. Council assigned city administrator Chris Webb, who was not at the meeting, to organize a planning session. - See pages 9 Foster care for pies pup- - See Caveman, pg 12 Pet peeves in La -- See page Sal 15 Round the Region -- a See page 16 With the drought we dried up pretty quick this year. - Water use drops in Monticello Steve Deeter, explaining to the San Juan County Commission that a $50,000 budget to drill three wells was gone after two wells were drilled. A week of heavy rains led to a significant cut in secondary water use in Monticello. The secondary water pond has been perilously close to running out of water, but a week of rains, plus a significant cut in water use, may extend water in the pond. From September 6 to 13, resi- dents used approximately 700,000 gallons of secondary water, roughly the weekly production of the two city wells at the softball field. Q&mG mss' Native American Art Awards and Four Corners Indian Art Festival at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding Setember 19-2- 1. Culinary use was more than two million gallons for the week. Total intake into the water systems was 1.5 million gallons. is forage available for livestock. However, they add that depending updn vegetation condition at this time, this nonuse status may also have to be carried into the spring grazing season. It is the latest in a series of drought related setbacks for ranchers in San Juan County. BLM officials add, "If you think there are areas on your allotment that could be grazed this fall or winter without damage to forage resources, please contact the BLM range staff. Temple open house City Council and other Govemement Bodies on Locouncilman Kelly Laws plained the situation. With not cal TV? Councilman Kelly laws notes that there is a public acmuch other discussion, the coun- lution 2002-1The resolution says that effective October 1, there will be no watering of lawns andor vegetable gardens, except as approved by the council. The resolution also states that water users may continue to water trees and shrubs once a week until they go dormant. The water restrictions carry a class "C" misdemeanor fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for each offense thereafter. First time offenders have 24 hours to comply before a citation will be issued, says the resolution. Water usage issues and who has what access to remaining water in Recapture Reservoir will be among the issues discussed at a meeting of the San Juan Water Conservancy District on September 18 in the Blanding City Offices. The meeting was requested by the city and officials of other local governments have been invited. - See page 2 Silver Beavers to 2 Blanding Scouters - See page 5 ex- cil voted to enact Blanding Reso- Commission brief Monticello Sep Hi Lo Pr 9 68 47 10 72 51 11 69 51 12 64 49 13 65 48 14 73 46 15 74 45 .06 .27 .19 .07 Blanding Hi Lo Pr 77 51 76 69 69 73 79 79 rife News Roundup Letters Society Sports 57 53 .63 53 1.04 51 50 53 i 2 4 6 8 Community News .... 12 Blanding officials report that up to 100 visitors a day are stopping at the new Visitors Center, including an occasional tour bus. Staff photo 9 Legals Real Estate 16 Classified 18 17 |