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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXIII Issue XVI February 1, 2016 WATER RIGHTS cont. from page 1 now stands, to a place that limited our options moving forward.” Staples added that he doesn’t think it was wise for these entities, in essence, to provide a conduit allowing Summit to build the number of units that have been approved by the county (up to 1,000 single-and multi-family dwelling units, in addition to 290,000 square feet of commercial space, including additional hotel units), purchase 400 acre-feet of water from Pineview Reservoir (below the Valley community’s watershed) then pump it from wells on top of the mountain at the top of the watershed, and to build a city “in the middle of some very sensitive wildlife habitat.” On July 31, 2015 State Engineer Kent L. Jones released an Order explaining his decision on Summit’s initial water Exchange Application, Number 35-512848 (E5382), in the name of Summit Mountain Holding Group, LLC (Summit), which was filed April 8, 2014. In the application, Summit asked the state for permission to exchange their rights to water in Pineview Reservoir for water from wells they plan to drill and draw from at, or near the top of Powder Mountain—a prominent Wasatch Mountain peak overlooking multiple counties. More recently, the mountain hasn’t been best known, locally, for its panoramic views or even its incredible winter powder, but for the controversy the mountain’s current owner’s actions have generated throughout the community. The debate has been over the 400-acre-feet of water Summit plans to draw from the top of both Weber and Cache County’s watershed, and whether downstream water users will be negatively impacted by the proposed drilling and pumping. During state hearings, Summit’s profes- SPECIAL EVENT cont. from page 1 prior to the proposed event. At the time an application is submitted, the applicant must also provide proof of liability insurance, also naming the State of Utah and UDOT and its employees as covered under the policy for a minimum of $1,000,000. They must also complete applicable “Waiver and Release of Damages” and “Indemnification” forms. The rule also states that all traffic control is to be the responsibility of the permit-requesting applicant, and that the applicant must also submit a traffic control plan, and barricading and construction standard drawings that must be approved by the District Traffic Engineer, or other authorized department designee. In addition, roadways must be restored to their pre-event state, including being cleaned of litter and trash, etc. The state can also require that an alternate route plan be used for reasons such as 40 Acre Lots From $349 K sional representatives held firm that there would be no negative impact derived from their drawing of water. Protestants held that there would be interference leading to a negative impact on flows; thus, their water rights would be impaired. The decision by the State in its July 31 Order, however, unequivocally determined that diversion of water under the application would impact both the Weber and Bear River drainages in Weber and Cache Counties. “Practically, the State Engineer’s finding that a diversion of water under this application has impact to both the Weber and Bear Rivers necessitate a condition of approval unforeseen when the application was filed.” The order adds, “It is unlikely that there are and will be any significant periods of time where a diversion of water from the applicant’s proposed source(s) will not interfere with an existing right on the Bear River . . . .” Regarding concerns on the Weber River, or by Ogden Valley protesters, “the State Engineer is of the opinion that there are times during each year when water can be diverted without interfering with senior water rights (primarily during the non-irrigation season and spring runoff period). Water diverted from wells can impact the hydrologic system in several ways—among them are reducing water discharging to springs and seeps and reducing underflows discharging from the system.” The newly-signed contract addresses the state’s concerns and outlines ways to minimize potential negative impacts, including Summit’s agreement to purchase some of Wolf Creek Irrigation’s water rights, which will allow Summit to capture and store water during noncritical water months—in the fall, winter, and spring—then to release this stored water from Summit’s reservoir during the summer irrigation season when the water is most needed. high volumes of traffic on the route being proposed, active road construction activity, planned route use by another event applicant, a safer route can accommodate the event, or the event would pose a significant inconvenience to the traveling public. As determined by a Region Permit Officer, the state rule may also require applicants to distribute news releases to all local radio and television stations and area newspapers so that information about the event is readily distributed to residents, who may be negatively impacted, can be advised of possible alternate routes and potential delays, and the anticipated length of those delays. According to Froerer, this new rule has saved the state $200,000 in tax dollars. The state permitting rule passed in January will be applied in addition to any other existing city, county, or other governmental agency permit requirements. WSU Storytelling Festival Shout Out Weber State University is hosting its 20th annual Storytelling Festival February 22 thru February 24. This festival is unique in several very important ways. Probably the most unique feature of the Festival is the student storytellers from Ogden, Weber, Morgan and Davis School Districts who perform their own stories each year. There is no other festival in the nation with this level of student participation. Special training is offered to teachers in the districts so they can prepare students to perform at each year’s festival. Students are coached, auditions are held, district storytelling nights are scheduled, and selected students perform in the big arena at the festival in February. Generous community donors make it possible to offer the festival to the community free of charge. The Ogden and Davis Conference Centers are filled with students from the school districts each morning of the festival, and two family-friendly concerts are offered in the evenings—one on Monday at the Eccles Conference Center and one on Wednesday at the Davis Conference Center. Again, these event, too, are offered free of charge. In addition, each afternoon of the festival local, regional, and national storytellers participate in outreach performances at elementary and Jr. High schools, senior centers, and preschools throughout the region. The four professional storytellers are carefully selected each year and provide a mix of entertainment and education. They are diverse and dynamic performers. For more information, contact Vincent Bates at 801-626-7222 or vincentbates@weber.edu or visit our website at <weber.edu/storytelling> UTAH DINOSAUR cont. from page 1 the state, attracting millions of visitors. Utah’s state fossil, designated in 1988, even happens to be a dinosaur—Allosaurus, endearingly known as Big Al! This Jurassic dinosaur was the dominant predator of North America during the Late Jurassic period, and is known from numerous skeletons, ranging from 10 to 40 feet in length, found in the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur quarry located in east-central Utah. Allosaurus rivals Tyrannosaurus Rex as the supreme meat-eater of the Mesozoic. Utah is also home to the relatively recently discovered Utahraptor, which was a feathercovered, sickle-clawed predator that may have hunted in packs. Weighing perhaps a half ton, this agile meat-eater personifies the ferocious oversized Velociraptor portrayed in the movie Jurassic Park and the staging of the raptors in packs for the movie’s storyline. Dinosaurs have long been associated with the state of Utah. According to the Utah History Encyclopedia: Dinosaurs of Utah, the first dinosaur to be found in the state “was discovered during an 1859 U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers Expedition led by Captain John N. Macomb to explore southeastern Utah and locate the confluence of the Green and Grand (Colorado) Rivers. A number of bones from a dinosaur’s front legs were collected by the expedition’s scientist Dr. John S. Newberry . . . .” Paleontologist Earl Douglass was also instrumental in early dinosaur exploration within the state, first arriving in July 1909. In August of the same year, he traveled to dinosaur beds near Vernal, Utah to search for fossils. On August 17, He came across a great discovery— the bones of an Apatosaurus, the most complete ever found. Between 1909 and 1924, he managed the work at the quarry. In 1924 he joined the staff of the University of Utah. He died in 1931, and “played a central role in one of the most important fossil finds in North America.” Over one hundred years have passed since the first dinosaur fossil finds within the state, but new dinosaur discoveries are still being found in the state. The Associated Press published an article October 16, 2015 titled, “Treasure trove of late Triassic fossils discovered in Utah.” The article reads, in part, “Paleontologists have discovered a cliff-side in Utah brimming with fossils that offers a rare glimpse of desert life in western North America early in the age of dinosaurs. Among the discoveries in what used to be a lake shoreline between giant sand dunes is a new pterosaur that would have been the largest flying reptile of the time. It wielded its ferocious teeth and powerful skull to gobble up small crocodile-type creatures as it soared over a desert some 210 million years ago.” Brigham Young University paleontologist Brooks Britt and his fellow paleontologists findings are to be published in a scientific journal in 2016. Dinosaurs: an Economic Boon for the State of Utah - A report published by the National Park Service in 2012 indicates that 197,812 visitors to Utah and Colorado’s Dinosaur National Park spent $6,717,000 at the park and surrounding communities in 2010, and supported 77 jobs (www.nps.gov/dino/learn/news/moneygeneration-model.htm). Mary Risser, Park superintendent at the time, stated, “The people and the business owners in communities near national parks have always known their economic value.” The report adds that most of the spending/jobs are related to lodging, food, and beverage service; followed by other retail, entertainment/ amusements, gas, and local transportation, and groceries. The financial boon to tourist sites such as Dinosaur National Park extends to other tourism and visitor attractions, such as the many interesting museums and exhibits found throughout the state.” Designating a formal and official week known as Dinosaur Days would draw additional attention to the myriad of visitor attractions found throughout the state, and generate additional traffic and tourism dollars spent within the state. It would also increase the multiple educational opportunities associated with the study of dinosaurs. lution will be named in honor of Leland A. Williams, a 14-year-old student of paleontology from Huntsville who was killed December 30, 2015 in a tragic accident. At the time of his untimely death, Leland, who was a documented intellectual genius, was applying and interviewing for full-ride scholarships to a number of universities where he was debating on whether to formally study engineering or paleontology. Dinosaurs are important for Utah’s tourism industry, considering the critical role they have played in the state’s history, their economic benefit, and positive branding for the state. Adopting Utah Dinosaur Days would bring additional attention to Utah’s rich dinosaur history and resources and ongoing scientific discoveries, and an accompanying increased focus on, and interest in dinosaurs, and, in turn, provide additional educational opportunities and revenue generation at multiple state-wide sites. Utah’s Office of Tourism’s website states that “Dinosaur and Paleontology enthusiasts have long turned to Utah and its ancient residents for a conversation with our prehistoric past. New research in the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument . . . is now capturing the world’s imagination and changing the way we see dinosaurs. Featuring the world’s most complete exposed record of the earth’s geologic history, Utah is THE (emphasis in the original text) dinosaur state—not only a real life Jurassic World, but a hotbed of new discoveries nestled among stunning landscapes. . . .” According to National Geographic, around 75 million years ago, Utah was part of an island landmass called Laramidia. It was hot and swampy, and dinosaurs ruled! The result . . . today dinosaur fossils can be found throughout |