By Julie Johansen
In his opening statements, Emery County Public Lands Chairman Rod Player informed the group about an insurance rescue card that can be purchased at rescue.utah.gov. for $25 per individual or $35 for a family that would help to offset expenses if one should need a search and rescue assistance. Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk stated that they have already performed about 30 rescues this year mainly because of high water, which is three times their normal yearly rescues. OHV owners and hunters defray most of these costs, but it is becoming increasingly necessary to consider charging rescued individuals.
Wade Paskett from the Division of Wildlife Resources addressed the council regarding the mule deer transplants from the Wasatch front to Emery County. Two hundred ninety nine deer have been planted here from the Bountiful Bench area, of which 20 to 30 deer have been counted in the residential areas. These animals have red tags and are being monitored to track their migration. Complaints have caused the DWR to consider red tag hunts as well as issuing two types of permits for property owners; vouchers and depredation tags.
The DWR is also considering issuing more bear permits, as well as pronghorn antelope permits. The acreage required for these permits has decreased from 640 acres to 100 acres of private land.
The BLM’s Jake Palma introduced the new recreational planner in the Price office, Ben Karja. He, too, told of posting warning signage on the San Rafael River in an effort to try to keep people safe. The number of mishaps there continues and will continue as long as there is high water. He spoke of new permit issue to various companies including Texas Core Well drilling, Little Wild Horse Canyon, and Emery Telcom for fiber optic cable installation. A decision is expected next week on the Deer Creek reclamation project but construction is not eminent on the pipeline. He reported that an excavation permit was granted for the Cleveland Lloyd Quarry as a dig is being done near the present site.
Oil, Gas and Mining representative Bart Kettle told of a permit request for the Dog Valley Mine near Fremont Junction and also one 4.5 miles east of Clawson. Very little drilling is happening in Emery County as gas prices have been and continue to be low. He did report that the formations in Emery County are right for oil drilling but lacking technology and ease of drilling inhibits it in Emery County.
Manti-La Sal District Ranger Daren Olsen reported that all gates should be open by this weekend even though there are some snow drifts that have been bladed for access. Ferron Mountain does have some slides that are hampering travel going south of Spinners, and travelers are being warned to use those roads at their own risk. Signs have been placed warning of these precautions. Sheep and cattle grazing will enter the forest within a couple of weeks and wood permit sales began on June 1. Veratrum, and skunk cabbage will be harvested by Potters Pond for cancer treatment but habitat should be restored. Seasonal closures are expected on Nuck Woodard roads to accommodate both hunting when closed and recreational use when open.
Utah State Parks reported an overflow crowd over Memorial Day weekend at Goblin Valley. They are building new restrooms in two places at the park. Green River State Park has also been more than full during the spring season. Sand bags and flooding prevention precautions are also in place at Green River Golf Course and State Park. The Forest Service Plan is still moving forward while waiting to see what Washington does with monuments. Scoping and NEPA process meetings will be held for the public on June 27 in Price and June 28 in Castle Dale.
Ron Dean from Senator Orrin Hatch’s office reported that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s recommendation on the monuments would be presented on Friday. He reports that many boundaries on monuments have been changed multiple times but never has one been rescinded.
If legislation is required for the Antiquities Act it may take longer than President Trump’s term to accomplish.
Next month’s Public Lands Meeting will be a field trip on July 11.