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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXX Issue VIII December 1, 2023 Over 148,000 Acres Restored Through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative in 2022-2023 Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative works to improve and restore high-priority watersheds and habitats throughout the state. During this past fiscal year—between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023—a whopping total of 148,883 acres were improved across Utah through this unique and innovative program. Created in 2006, this Utah Department of Natural Resources partnership-based program focuses on improving watershed health and biological diversity, increasing water quality and yield, and improving opportunities for sustainable uses of natural resources, including restoring fish and wildlife habitats. As one of the initiative’s founding partners, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources plays a key role in planning, overseeing, and completing regional restoration projects. Between 2022-2023, Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative completed a lot of habitat restoration work, including: • Restoring 148,883 acres across Utah, including 31,518 acres burned by wild昀椀res. • Mixing and spreading 523,120 pounds of seed on various landscapes (including those burned by 昀椀res) across Utah. • Completing a total of 101 habitat restoration projects. • Improving 262 miles of streams. • Creating an estimated 644 jobs in the state. Over $37 million of total funding was invested by more than 86 partners to pay for the different restoration projects. Part of the funding for these projects comes from the DWR Habitat Council, which is funded by a portion of revenue from the fees customers pay for licenses, permits, stamps and certificates of registration. Other funding partners include the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, conservation groups and many other non-government organizations. Habitat work through Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative includes: • Aerial seeding after a wild昀椀re. • Removing encroaching trees for sagebrush preservation and rangeland 昀椀re management. • Prescribed 昀椀res to reduce 昀椀re fuels in an area (which reduces the risk of a catastrophic wild昀椀re) and to enhance the aspen habitat utilized by many wildlife species. • Stream restoration through various techniques, including an innovative method of building arti昀椀cial beaver dams. This unique dammimicking technique was conceptualized in Utah and decreases erosion, raises river levels, and even improves water quality. • Planting shrubs and sagebrush to provide feed and shelter for mule deer, sage-grouse, and other wildlife species. “These proactive projects to improve wildlife habitat and watershed health throughout the state are crucial, not only for our fish and wildlife species, but also for the residents of Utah,” Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative Program Director Tyler Thompson said. “It takes a great deal of coordination and funding to make these projects possible, and we are very grateful to our many partners and their continued support of wildlife conservation and improving water quality.” Since 2006, this program has improved over 2.5 million acres of Utah’s landscapes through a total of 2,700 restoration projects and has created an estimated 6,560 jobs. Visit the WRI website to see where these projects have taken place across the state. Ogden Canyon Closes for Several Hours After Truck Hits Power Pole On November 15, a truck hit a power pole in Ogden Canyon, which brought down a live power line across the road. According to a Facebook post by Valley resident Kim Crittenden, UHP, ambulance, firetrucks, and more officers arrived on scene with westbound and eastbound traffic stopped in Ogden Canyon around 2:50 p.m. The accident closed down the canyon to through traffic until late that evening. Christmas Tree Cutting on National Forests in Utah Cutting a Christmas tree in a national forest is a family tradition for many residents of Utah. Christmas tree outings in the mountains can be unpredictable so always be prepared for winter conditions. Stay on designated roads and trails. Be prepared for slick, snow-packed roads accessing, and in, cutting areas. Trees must always be cut close to the ground, leaving the stump no higher than six inches. Tree topping is prohibited. No cutting is allowed within two hundred feet of riparian areas (lakes and streams), roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, administrative sites, summer home areas, or within designated closed areas shown on tree cutting maps. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests: 801-999-2103, fs.usda.gov/uwcnf Christmas tree permits are currently available to purchase online through recreation. gov/tree-permits/96b02cd4-ebc6-11ea-895c7e0f799b6940 or at the following locations, as noted below: Heber-Kamas Ranger District: 435-7834338 – Permits for the Heber-Kamas area are now available at both offices and vendors. Permits are $20 and allow one tree per person to be cut. Permits are available online at recreation.gov/tree-permits/96b02cd4-ebc6-11ea895c-7e0f799b6940 (a $2.50 fee will be added to on-line sales). Permits are also available at the following locations: • Kamas o昀케ce, 50 E. Center St., Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Heber o昀케ce, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Mountainland One Stop (Heber), 1175 S. Main St., 435-654-5530 • Mirror Lake Service Chevron (Kamas), 2 N. Main St., 435-783-4375 ACCIDENT cont. from page 1 Photo by Jessie Smith. Beach. Weber County Sheriff’s and Weber Fire District would like to remind everyone to be mindful while driving and ensure that you pass other vehicles safely. Drive safe! At right is a picture of the overturned SUV. Photo courtesy of Weber Fire District. Species of trees that may be cut include subalpine fir, white fir, and lodgepole pine. Trees 20 feet tall or shorter may be cut and removed. Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts, 307-789-3194 and 307-782-6555 Permits are now available at both the Evanston and Mt. View offices, at area vendors, or online at recreation.gov/ tree-permits/96b02cd4-ebc6-11ea-895c7e0f799b6940 (a $2.50 fee will be added to on-line sales). Permits are $20 and there is a one-permitper-household limit. Permits will be available at the following locations: • The Evanston Ranger District o昀케ce, 1565 Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyoming, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Mt. View Ranger District o昀케ce, 321 Highway 414, Mt. View, Wyoming, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • The Bear River Lodge, which is located thirty miles south of Evanston on the Mirror Lake Highway, 435-642-6289. • Benedict Thriftway Store, 950 N., Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyoming, 307-7823581. Benedicts is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please call vendors to confirm operating hours. Permits allow for cuts up to a 20-foot tree of any species, but lodgepole pine is the main species in the area. Snow conditions may require permit holders to use 4-wheel drive vehicles, snowmobiles, x-country skis, or snowshoes to access the cutting area. The gates on the Mirror Lake Highway and the North Slope Road are typically closed during the first week of December, limiting access for people without a snow machine. Access to the Mountain View Ranger District may require 4-wheel drive or the use of snow machines, skis, or snowshoes during this time of year. Please follow the district travel plan when cutting a Christmas tree. |