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Show Volume I , Issue IX The Ogden Valley News Page 19 June 1999 Forest Service Happenings in Ogden Valley As summer approaches, the Ogden Ranger District is preparing for yet another busy season. A number of changes are in store for visitors. Visitors will need to take responsibility to know the rules, regulations, and restrictions that are necessary to protect the environment and provide for a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. For more information about outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands, contact the Forest Service Visitor Information Center at Union Station, at 625-5306. The newly designed center includes exhibits, interpretive natural resource sales area, map sales, Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access passport sales. If you are in Ogden, be sure to stop by. If you have any questions or concerns about Forest Service activities in Ogden Valley, please do not hesitate to contact, Ruth Monahan, Ogden District Ranger, at 625-5112. Pineview Reservoir Changes The summer of 1999 will bring several changes to the management of Pineview Reservoir. The Forest Service completed a comprehensive planning process for management and facility improvements this winter, and will begin this summer to implement the decisions that were made. The changes are necessary to ensure a safe, quality recreation experience at Pineview, while protecting the quality of life and the environment of Ogden Valley, announced Ogden District Ranger Ruth Monahan. “As a Valley resident, I share the concerns of increased traffic, noise, congestion, and changes to the rural character of the Valley,” Ranger Monahan shared. The Forest Service has recognized that they must take a more active role in the management and use of Pineview Reservoir and address the issues of safety, experience, quality of life and, most of all, resource protection. “Our greatest challenge is to position our management and infrastructure to prepare for the increasing recreation demands,” explained Ranger Monahan. Pineview Reservoir is being managed as a Day Use Facility, with increasing restrictions on nighttime use. Pineview is unique in that it is the “backyard” of many Valley residents. Users need to respect private property. Summer of 1999 Changes and Activities · Boat Capacity: The total number of motorized watercraft allowed on the Reservoir at one time has been reduced to 375 vessels (at full water level) and will be adjusted as the reservoir level drops, to a low of 160 total vessels. Of the 375 total vessels, the Ogden Yacht Club has been assigned a maximum of 25 vessels on the water at one time. A vessel includes any watercraft that is motorized. · Boat Camping: Boat users, who in the past have anchored, tied, or pulled their watercraft on the shoreline for overnight camping, will now be restricted. Nighttime (after 10 p.m.) use by boats will be limited to being no closer than 150 feet from the shoreline, except while using Anderson Cove Campground, wet storage at Port Ramp, and the Ogden Yacht Club. Camping on the shoreline is strictly prohibited. · Surface Zoning: Surface zoning restrictions have been expanded. The wakeless zones at Middle Inlet and Cemetery Point beaches have been expanded; new wakeless areas have been created at Quist Beach, Anderson Cove, and Spring Creek. The Forest Service has recommended to the State Boating Advisory Board that new nonmotorized zones be created at Middle Fork, Geertsen Bay, and Middle Inlet. New buoys will be installed this summer. · Shoreline Regulations: In order to protect the shoreline environment, the following are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands around Pineview Reservoir: Overnight Camping (except at Anderson Cove Campground); possessing, using, or storing any type of glass container, except at Anderson Cove Campground, Cemetery Point Picnic Area, and Middle Inlet Picnic Area; building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire (except in provided fire rings); launching of motorized watercraft (except at Port Ramp and Cemetery Point); possessing and using any motorized vehicle (including OHV, four-wheeler, motorcycle), except on designated roads; discharging or igniting fireworks; dumping of any refuse, debris, trash or litter; cutting and or gathering of firewood; abandoning any personal property; damaging any natural feature or property; constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of structure or trail; and discharging of firearms within 100 feet of improved recreation facilities or any buildings, or across trails, water, and roads. · Day Use Restrictions: All managed facilities, including improved roadside parking will have strict Day Use only policy. No public use will be permitted after 10 PM. This will include the adjacent beaches accessed from these developed sites. Existing and new facilities will be gated to provide for closure and enforcement during the peak season. · Signing: New signs are being developed for all managed facilities and improved roadside parking areas. The signs will include map of the reservoir, identifying restrictions, and a list of regulations and expected behavior of visitors. The signs and new brochure will be installed throughout the summer season. In addition to the information signing, the Forest Service is working with UDOT and Weber County to install new highway directional, and site signs. · Enforcement: The Forest Service has increased its weekend staffing and will have Forest Service employees doing visitor contacts, enforcement of regulations, and user education. The Forest Service has also entered into an agreement with Weber County Sheriffs Office to share access to the Forest Service patrol boat. This will facilitate evening patrolling of the reservoir shoreline and enforcement of the shoreline camping restrictions. · Port Ramp Marina: The existing entry road will be widened on the shoulders to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at the ramp. The widened roadway will be used for boat preparation to launch and to leave. · Pineview West Trail: The Pineview West Trail is under construction from Pineview Trailhead to North Arm Trailhead. The trail will provide hiker and bike access around the Westside of the Reservoir. · Spring Creek Parking Area: A new 14 car parking area will be constructed this summer at Spring Creek along SR 166. This parking area will provide non-motorized boat and fishing access, provide safe entry to the highway, and get vehicles off the highway right-of-way. No parking signs will be posted along the highway to encourage use of the new parking area and allow for revegetation and rehabilitation of the right-of-way. · Huntsville Cemetery Parking Area: The Forest Service will be working with the Town of Huntsville to improve parking and access to the cemetery. A new parking area will be developed and fences re-aligned · Wildlife Habitat Improvement: The Forest Service cooperated with Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Power to install 2 Osprey nesting platforms at North Arm Wildlife Viewing Area. · Noxious Weed Control: The Forest Service treated approximately 5 acres through prescribed burning this spring. A combination of manual (hand pulling) and chemicals will be used to remove Dyer’s Woad, Leafy Spurge, St. Johns Wort, and Canadian Thistle. · Boundary Management: The Forest Service has initiated efforts to survey and post portions of the National Forest boundary around Pineview Reservoir and address problem areas. Increasing development on private land has resulted in encroachments on National Forest System lands and resource damage. We have found that the old “fence line” may not be the official boundary. South Fork Changes The Forest Service is continuing to rehabilitate the campgrounds in the South Fork. Improvements to Willows and Lower Meadows Campgrounds will be completed early this summer and work will be initiated at Magpie and Botts Campgrounds. Improvements include new restroom facilities, new camping pads (tables, fire rings, and grates), relocated camping spurs to reduce impacts to river shoreline and wetlands, and improved drainage on the roads. In addition, numerous trees will be planted to begin replacing the old cottonwoods that are dying and falling. Overnight camping in the South Fork area is now restricted to designated developed campgrounds only. Previously used dispersed sites are being closed and rehabilitated. Snowbasin Area Update With the warming temperatures and receding snowline, work is nearly ready to commence at Snowbasin. The resort is entering the third year of a planned five-year construction program leading up to 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Because the mountain facilities are located on the National Forest, the Forest Service continues to work with Snowbasin Ski Area to ensure that project implementation is done in an environmentally sound manner. This year’s projects include: · Snowmaking: Installation of nearly 20 miles of snowmaking lines, which will provide snowmaking coverage on more than 300 acres of ski trails and runs. Snowmaking cooling and water storage facilities will also be installed. · Water Development: Installation of three new deep production wells which will provide water for snowmaking, fire protection, domestic use, and irrigation. Several buried water storage tanks will also be installed. · Mt. Ogden Communication Site: The City of Ogden has been permitted to construct a new communication facility and towers at Mt. Ogden. This site provides critical communication link for public safety agencies in Northern Utah. · Trail and Run Work: Improvements to existing ski trails and runs will continue. Congestion and safety issues will be improved. Women’s Downhill Racecourse may be extended. · Snowbasin-Trappers Loop Connector Road: Work will begin on the 3 ½ mile new state highway into Snowbasin from Trapper Loop Road. The contract has been awarded and construction should initiate in mid June. This project will take 2 construction seasons to complete. CONTINUED on page 20 |
