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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXX Issue VII November 15, 2023 Utah Wildlife Board Approves Two New Community Fishing Ponds The Utah Wildlife Board approved two new community fishing ponds in Utah, as well as a few changes to other wildlife rules—including those for spearfishing and private fishponds—during a recent public meeting. The board also approved a couple of items related to the Utah Conservation Permit Program. New Community Fishing Ponds - The Utah Wildlife Board approved two new community fishing ponds in Utah during the meeting. The community fisheries program launched in 2001, and with the addition of the two newest ponds, there are now 59 ponds across Utah. The DWR stocks these ponds annually with fish, and they provide a great close-to-home fishing option for residents. Utah has dozens of thriving fishing clubs and angler education programs in communities statewide, making its community fishing program one of the largest in the U.S. The two new community fishing ponds that will open next year are: • Roosevelt Nature Park Pond in Roosevelt, Duchesne County • The Pond at Poulter Preserve in West Haven, Weber County “We are excited for the new, accessible fishing opportunities that these ponds will provide for residents of these communities and for the collaboration with each of these cities and their recognition of the importance of outdoor recreation,” DWR Sportfish Coordinator Randy Oplinger said. Updates to Spearfishing - After receiving feedback from local spear anglers who wanted additional spearfishing opportunities, the DWR surveyed anglers and also evaluated some waterbodies around Utah that needed increased harvest of specific fish species. The Utah Wildlife Board voted to approve the following changes to spearfishing in Utah: • Clarifying that spear anglers are allowed to use underwater scuba equipment while spear昀椀shing. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for Utah chub at all waterbodies that currently allow 昀椀shing. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for northern pike and white bass in Utah Lake, with no limit on either species for spear昀椀shing. Northern pike were illegally introduced and have impacts on June suckers, a threatened 昀椀sh species found only in Utah Lake and its tributaries. White bass are plentiful at Utah Lake and will provide another opportunity for spear anglers. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for northern pike in the Jordan River (with no harvest limit while spear昀椀shing) to help remove the illegally introduced species. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for northern pike in all Utah Lake tributaries west of I-15— except for the Provo River and the newly created Provo River Delta—in an e昀昀ort to help remove an illegally introduced species. This will include American Fork Creek, Beer Creek, Dry Creek, Hobble Creek, Spanish Fork River, Spring Creek and Spring Run Creek. There will not be a harvest limit while spear昀椀shing for northern pike in these areas. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for common carp at Jordanelle Reservoir. • Allowing spear昀椀shing for smallmouth bass at Quail Creek Reservoir. “These new changes provide additional spearfishing opportunities and will help address illegal fish introductions since spear anglers can target specific species,” Oplinger said. “With no harvest limit on spearfishing for some of these problematic species, spear anglers can help reduce the number of illegal fish in these waterbodies.” Private Pond Rule Amendments Previously, the rule guiding fish use in private ponds and aquaponics facilities in Utah was complicated and confusing. The wildlife board approved several rule changes Thursday that will help reduce the complexity and simplify the language in the rule to make it easier to understand. One of the updates to this rule will now allow certain fish species to be stocked into private ponds that are screened and off channel, outside the Virgin River drainage, without requiring a certificate of registration. These are all sterile fish species, which means that they cannot reproduce. If they somehow escaped their enclosure (or private pond), they couldn’t create reproducing populations in other nearby waterbodies and potentially impact native fish. Conservation Permit Items - The Utah Conservation Permit Program was launched in 1980 in an effort to increase funding for conservation projects throughout Utah. Each year, the Utah Wildlife Board designates a small percentage of limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunting permits as “conservation permits.” The conservation permits are offered to conservation and sportsmen’s groups who then auction them at banquets, fundraisers and other events. After the auction, the conservation organization returns 30% of the money raised to the DWR. The conservation organizations may keep up to 10% of the proceeds to cover administrative costs, and the remaining 60% is held by the conservation organizations for a short time as they work cooperatively with the DWR to choose approved conservation projects to fund. The money raised from these permit sales goes directly toward conservation and research projects, including: • Habitat restoration and enhancement work • Movement and migration tracking of various wildlife species • Wildlife transplants • Aerial surveys • Deer survival studies The board voted to approve the audit and annual report for the conservation permit program for 2023. The wildlife board also approved the dates for the regional advisory council meetings and Utah Wildlife Board meetings for 2024. Eden’s Historic Blacksmith Shop Needs a Newto achieve “Smithy” this federal designation. The NRHP Blacksmith Aaron Richardson By Shanna Francis The J.M. Wilbur and Company Blacksmith Shop is located at 2145 N. 5500 E., on the west side of Eden Park in historic Eden. It is the only known continuously functioning blacksmith shop remaining in the region and still houses all the original tools and equipment. In February of 2017, the Shop was adopted onto the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by the United States Department of the Interior. It is the only building in Ogden Valley PLANNING MTG cont. from page 1 allowance for agritourism operations in the S-1, F-10, and F-40 zones, and allowing certain limited agricultural sales in agricultural zones. 3. Public Comment for Items not on the agenda. 4. Remarks from planning commissioners. 5. Planning director report. 6. Remarks from legal counsel. Break for Work Session - WS 1: Discussion on amending the Subdivision Ordinance to reflect State Code requirements on Land Use Authority, Financial Guarantees and Releases, and Required Subdivision Improvements. Adjourn The regular meeting will be held in person at the Weber County Commission Chambers, in the Weber Center, 1st Floor, 2380 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah; and Via Zoom Video Conferencing at https://webercountyutah.zoom. is the United States government’s official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. The building was built and operated by Jesse Wilbur who was the son of Elisha Wilbur who founded the general store some years earlier. When he passed away in the 1950s, his son Glen carried on the family tradition for two more decades. The blacksmith shop was built in 1895 and extensively restored between 2011 and 2014. The building was deemed historically significant because it provided essential services and support to the growing agricultural community established by early pioneers who came and settled in this peaceful mountain valley. Since restoration in 2014, blacksmith Aaron Richardson and his business Ragnar Forge have been carrying on the smithing tradition making knives, tomahawks, and custom hardware pieces for customers nationwide at the historic site. Unfortunately, since spring of 2023, Aaron has been suffering from the debilitating effects of Long Covid and, as a result, can no longer operate the shop. Aaron has been blacksmithing since the age of 14 when his family volunteered at This is the Place State Park in Salt Lake City. He visited the blacksmith shop there, saw the blacksmith “making knives and playing with fire,” became an apprentice, and never looked back. Aaron has become a mainstay in this mountain valley, and he will surely be missed. His colleagues and customers wish him a speedy recovery from long covid. The owners of Sunnyfield are anxious to find an artisan Blacksmith like Aaron who can continue the historic tradition started 130 years ago here in Eden. Anyone interested in leasing the shop should contact Natalee Smout at 801-388-7598. us/j/83247091304 Meeting ID: 832 4709 1304 A Pre-Meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. The agenda for the pre-meeting consists of discussion of the same items listed above, on the agenda for the meeting. No decisions are made in the premeeting, but it is an open public meeting. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary services for these meetings should call the Weber County Planning Commission at 801-399-8761 Notice of Special Accommodation During Public Meetings - In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify county offices at 801-399-8794. Accommodations include elevator, ground-floor meeting room, and digital meeting recording system. For more information contact Marta Borchert, mborchert@ webercountyutah.gov, 801-399-8761 |