By Julie Johansen
Opening comments from Emery County Public Lands Council Chairman Rod Player began the Emery County Public Lands Meeting on Tuesday morning. He reported that he had been invited to the National Governors Association meeting in Salt Lake City. The purpose of the meeting was to create an outdoor recreation network. Utah was the first state in the nation to create an Outdoor Recreation Association, but other states are now following suit.
Chris Conrad with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) introduced Braden Shepherd to the Public Lands Council and he reported the implementation of Public Law 116-9, The Dingell Act. This act is part of the Emery County Public Lands legislation that was bundled with many other lands bills. The act mandates the BLM to meet deadlines for the implementation ranging from 180 days to five years. Some of their current implementation efforts in Emery County include developing a functional map to share with the public in the next month identifying boundaries to guide the implementation of the act. This has caused the Price BLM Office to prioritize and shift workloads and staff assignments because of the mandated timeline included in the act.
The BLM is also in the process of developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the state of Utah regarding the expansion of Goblin Valley State Park. This will identify interim management roles and responsibilities until the BLM completes the conveyance to the State of Utah.
With regards to the San Rafael Swell, a regional advisory committee (RAC) has been established with seven members from Emery County. Also, non-motorized trail inventory is proceeding and a sign inventory is being completed. The land designations in Public Law 116-9 include 17 wilderness areas, Jurassic National Monument, San Rafael Swell Recreational Area, McCoy Flats Trail System, Green River Wild and Scenic River, and the John Wesley Powell NCA.
Other agencies reporting to the council during the meeting were the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), Forest Service, State Parks and the Department of Agriculture. Chris Wood, DWR, announced an RAC meeting on Wednesday to discuss bobcat and cougar permits as well as population in the area. Brian Torgersen, SITLA, announced a tract of land between SR10 and SR 29 that will be auctioned off on Oct. 24. The auction will take place online. He also told of leases for solar and data entry east of Castle Dale and West of Huntington.
Daren Olsen, Forest Service, stated that summer was really a busy time for the Forest Service with recreation, grazing and beginning the Canyons logging project. He reported several lightning strikes in the areas but, because of the green condition of the forests, very few fires have grown. He also announced that Kyle Beagley has been chosen as the Forest Planner for the Manti-La Sal forest.
Jim Wells, Goblin Valley State Park Manager, stated this is the slow time for the park until Labor Day, but the State Parks are sponsoring a military day with free admittance for those in the military and their families. Nate Roberts, Dept. of Agriculture, explained a Central Utah Grazing Expo to be hosted in Sanpete and Sevier Counties Sept. 17-19.
