By Julie Johansen
Although a few of the agencies usually present during the monthly Emery County Public Lands meeting were not in attendance, two new state government representatives were present to report to the council during their meeting on Tuesday.
First, Nate Roberts with the Utah State Department of Agriculture stated that his main goal is to improve grazing lands and watersheds. He works hard to get funding to improve in these areas.
Roberts reported that three projects in Emery County have been funded for the next fiscal year beginning in July; a new trough for range improvement, the Bath Pond on the Moore cutoff road and rehabilitation for the Trail Mountain Fire to replace a fence burnt between East Mountain and Trail Mountain permit areas. He reported that his department has more funding available and users should apply for help with improvements.
Roger Barton, resource coordinator with the Utah Department of Agriculture, then stated that the department seeks grants for resource money to replace watering systems.
Jay Mark Humphrey, Manager of the Emery Water Conservancy District, told of the Chinese delegation that recently visited the water district to see the technology used to run the Emery County Water Conservation District (ECWCD). He explained the difference in the culture and government between the Chinese and here in America. The Chinese delegation was impressed that everything could be controlled by a cell phone. They were also shocked that they could make the decisions without directions from a higher government official.
Next, council member Les Wilberg gave a summary of the trail council meeting hosted prior to the public lands meeting. He expressed how much of it is volunteer work. He also spoke of the small Cat that the county has purchased to groom these trails. The Under The Reef Trail has completely been repaired and traveled on, Wilberg reported. Their next goal is to improve the Eva Conover Trail under the bridge of Eagle Canyon as well as cleaning it. He highlighted how much time, equipment and man power Emery Telcom has contributed to the trails.
The trails council meets on the first Tuesday each month at 8 a.m. and they are public meetings, open to all interested parties.
Following this discussion, the council showed a video entitled “Dirt Rich and Horse Poor” about the over populations of wild horse and burros on the range.
