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Show Federal Agency Reps Meet With Commission PANGUITCH Garfield County Commissioners gathered again in a quarterly meetings with Federal agency representatives from around Garfield County, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and Kane County. National Park Service, Bryce Canyon National Park Service Superintendent Fred Fagergren. Fagergren led off the nearly three-hours of group discussion, held to assess and update everyone involved on the status of ongoing projects and legislation associated with Garfield County. Park Visitation And Main Road Closure Fagergren stated that tourism at the park has been up 3 to 17 percent since last year, until June when it dropped off. He informed the commission that Chief Ranger Charlie Peterson would be departing for a new position at the Grand Canyon. Fagergren said the road construction project at the park is going well. He said the contractors had an option in their contract to close the road to Rainbow Point for up to 30 days. Early in the project they had used 6 of those days and beginning July 24, would be closing the road for approximately 24 days complctcing the project. He staled the project should be completed by Sept. 15. Highway 12 In-Park Passing Lane Referring to the proposed addition of 1800 feet to the present passing lane between the top of the dump and the junction of Hwy 12 and U63, Fagergren said the park had completed all their compliance work and sent the material on to the state. He said the Utah Department Of Transportation will be completing the addition with some leftover snow plow funds from winter. Asked about the future of extending the passing lane at the bottom of the dump all the way to the top, Fagergren expressed regret saying that it was not too likely. He said it is a combination of tremendous oversight review and a tremendous expense, funds that UDOT docs not have. Shuttle System And Fee-Generating Projects. Fagergren asked for support from all present for pending legislation concerning concessions and fees charged within national parks. He said the ability to be able to charge a shuttle fee is critical to the future of the park. He said the present shuttle system is already in its second year and it would be difficult to continue it as an "experimental" an additional year. He said all federal agencies are presently looking for what is termed "experimental new feespilot projects," that could be charged in addition to present fees to generate additional income for the park. He said with any project with a "brand new fee," the entity wilj get to keep 80 percent of the fees generated. The subcommittee looking at this is searching for fee-generating projects relating directly to recreation. Commissioner Louise Liston asked Fagergren if he foresaw any funding help for the parking situation at Bryce. He stated that he wasn't aware of anything except the pending shuttle fee legislation. He was also asked if he thought the reduced visitation in June was due to the announcement of bubonic plague, in the prairie dogs in the park? Fagergren did not believe so, from the comments he had received. Prescribed Burns Commissioner Maloy Dodds asked about prescribed burns at the park. Fagergren discussed how the burns were carefully planned and carried out taking the winds into consideration. Said no ones likes the lingering smoke over the development, Ruby's Inn, etc. outside the Dark or over the communities below like Tropic. But that the burns were essential to reduce downed fuels in the park to thwart the threat of fire. Fagergren said there is an experimental plot planned for burning at the south end of the park, 80 acres immediately north of Natural Bridge. Forest Service, Powell Ranger District Dixie National Forest Chief Ranger Carl Guillette As a natural segue, Guillette began his presentation with a discussion of fire suppression on the Dixie. Prescribed Burns He shared that forest personnel had burned some 650 acres southwest of the park near the Dave's Hollow area in a special project to reduce fuels and promote thinning of timber. He said it will take until fall to evaluate the effectiveness of the burn. But if successful it would mean the difference of thinning by burning at $10 per acre, compared to thinning timber by hand at $50-100 per acre. Guillette mentioned that at the last Garfield County Travel Council meeting, prescribed burn effects on the businesses and communities had been discussed with some concern. He said the Forest Service had burned one 20-acre parcel this summer when they believed conditions to be right, but that most of the smoke ended up at Ruby's Inn. They backed off the burn and waited for conditions to change. He shared that quite often a burn is accomplished in a matter of days, but smoldering large logs can continue smoke release for up to a month. While no one locally likes the effect of smoke created from a burn, they generally understand the necessity of managed burns to prevent devastating losses from accidental fire. Guillette shared that prescribed burns will continue to be a part of the ecosystem management manage-ment that is used by the Forest Service. Commissioner Clare Ramsay questioned whether timber thinning could be selective enough using the burn method to be effective. But Guillette assured commissioners that this particular tool was effective in certain tree species and stands. Jeff Bolt, with the Cedar City office of the US Forest Service, interjected that fire is a natural ecosystem management tool and that manual thinning will also continue to take place. Later in the meeting Commissioner Liston returned to the "burn" controversy. She stated that because the commission represents the public, they get a lot of questions regarding burning. Most are frustrated because of the already stringent regulations regarding burning even on private property, when they feel government agencies can burn when and where they please. Several agency reps clarified to the commission they are equally regulated by the state and federal legislation. All agreed some public education needs to take place on this subject. Current U.S.F.S. Project Guillette continued on to update the commission on Forest Service projects currently underway. There is a contract this summer for upgrading at Kings Creek Campground with the addition of two new restrooms, a water system and sewer system. Also a trailer dump station is contracted for Red Canyon. He explained that signing was being completed on the ATV trail from Circlcville to Tropic. A fairly lengthy discussion was held between all present about the impact of biking on the highways and infrastructure of Garfield County. Commissioners expressed their concern about the potential for accidents and the tremendous impact of the increasing numbers of bikers on restroom facilities across the county. In. his quest for a bike lane through Red Canyon, Guillette reported his frustration with UDOT, stating "with the altitude and lack of cooperation from the state" he was about ready to give up. (NOTE: Federal Agencies Quarterly Quar-terly Meeting Will Continue In Next Week's Edition) |