OCR Text |
Show PANCLTICII • PANCLUTCHLAKK • HATCH • BRVCK • Tuoric • ANTIMONY • HI-NRIKYIU.F, • CANXOWILUC • ESCAIANTE • BOULDKR • DUCK CREEK ' Thursday, May 18, 2006 • Issue # 60 SKYLINE FOREST RESOURCES WINS FOREST SERVICE GRANT NEW VISITOR CONTACT STATION OPENS AT WAHWEAP On Monday, May 15, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area opened a new visitor contact station at the Wahweap District Ranger's Office near Wahweap Marina. Operated in cooperation with the Glen Canyon Natural History Association, the visitor contact station offers free information about visiting Glen Canyon and Lake Powell and the surrounding public lands, as well as exhibits and information on paleontology, the ecology of Colorado Plateau, and boating safety, among other things. The Glen Canyon Natural History Association also operates a bookstore at the site. "We are excited to offer our visitors another place to stop and get important information about their visit to Glen Canyon and Lake Powell," said superintendent Kitty Roberts. "We sincerely appreciate the support of our partner, the Glen Canyon Natural History Association, in providing this service." A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, May 25 at 11:00 AM M.S.T. to mark the opening of the visitor contact station. The public is invited to join park staff and supporters of the Glen Canyon Natural History Association in formally "opening" the visitor contact station. The Wahweap visitor contact station is centrally located on Wahweap Boulevard and is only a short walk from the Lake Powell Resort, the Wahweap launch ramp, and the Wahweap campground. The contact station is also located near the Stateline launch ramp and the boat rental office operated by Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. Wahweap is the most popular access point to Lake Powell, with nearly 1.4 million visitors annually to this area alone. •The visitor contact station is incorporated into the front lobby area of the existing Wahweap District Ranger's Office. Initially, the Wahweap visitor contact station will be open from 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. Lake Powell is on the rise with spring runoff! There is always has something new to experience in this national park area. Come discover or re-discover all that Jim ... ,;B2°F 8ZV47 Glen Canyon has to offer. 30% QtSn* d T * * May 18 « aanlZ-aiiutiJCftMf Sunblotfr. With the water level currently at 3,593 feet and ris0I /47 May 19 S" ' 20% ing daily, there is plenty of water to enjoy boating, fishing, kayaking, and other wa20% May 2U ^ " ' ter activities. Current water temperatures are approxiSun ; •': 7a°F 20% mately 58 degrees. May 21 Q WEATHER . May 22 « • *~ur!r|T 70"'•»<* 7.tK-»-i<;i:- 78V4-1' Iim 60% • ' • " - . • : " SurFri7 ' :; 7a°F ,'77* 20% M/iy May DUr. i. Si:«n ( Prlvt >.?7a* 0% Pl*r> j »c^n New equipment will process smaller-diameter trees, reduce forest fuels ESCALANTE, Utah — Agriculture Under Secretary Thomas Dorr announced on April 24 that the Forest Service has awarded a $235,800 grant to Skyline Forest Resources, Inc., of Escalante. Skyline Forest Resources will use the Woody Biomass Utilization Grant to purchase equipment that will process small-diameter logs into shavings that can be used as animal bedding material. 'This new equipment will allow us to harvest and utilize small-diameter trees that a typical timber harvest would otherwise leave behind," said Stephen Steed of Skyline Forest Resources. "It's a relatively small addition to our existing operation that we hope will pay big dividends, both in terms of adding value to our operations and reducing fuel loadings in our area's national forests." Skyline's is one of 18 Woody Biomass Utilization Grants totaling almost $4.2 million awarded by the Forest Service this year to develop innovative uses for woody biomass. Grant proposals were selected based on a number of factors, including those that make it economical to remove woody biomass and turn it into marketable products. In addition, grants were awarded for projects targeted at removing economic and market barriers in using small-diameter trees and woody biomass. 'This grant program helps reduce the risk of wildfires by removing built-up fuels, and improves forest health," said Dorr. "In addition, these projects j*ive an economic boost to our rural communities, increasing the nation's sources of renewable energy." Woody biomass includes trees, woody plants, limbs, tops and needles that are by-products of forest restoration and fuel reduction projects in national forests and grasslands. Accumulated woody biomass can serve as fuels that increase the intensity and spread of wildland fires. Skyline forest Resources is a locally owned, independent lumber manufacturer employing about 50 people full-time. Skyline also contracts small businesses from throughout southern Utah and northern Arizona. Skyline's area of operations includes the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests in southern Utah, and the Kaibab National Forest's North Kaibab Ranger District in northern Arizona. "We congratulate Skyline Forest Resources for winning this grant," said Bob Russell, Dixie National Forest supervisor. "Skyline is already an important partner in our efforts to reduce the threat of wildland fires and improve forest health, and this grant will help them play an even larger role." Steed acknowledged the assistance of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands in developing his grant proposal. The division contracted the services of a grant writer to help Skyline and other Utah businesses compete for the Woody Biomass Utilization Grants. For more information about the Forest Service's Woody Biomass Utilization Grant program, visit www.fpl.fs,fed.us/tmu/grant/biomass-grant.htrnl. Everyone in the world was programmed by the place they were born, hemmed in by their beliefs, but you had to at least try to grow your own brain. Scott Westerfeld. Pretties, 2005 BOXHOLDER £9k. i «# MUir* ifcuo snapshot@scinternet.net PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID po BOX 472 LOA, UTAH Loa, Utah 84747 PERMIT No. 5 Phone: THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Thank you. |