Price River

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Friday, July 08, 2005 - 12:00 AM [url "http://www.harktheherald.com/print.php?sid=59165"][/url] | [url "http://www.harktheherald.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Recommend_Us&file=index&req=FriendSend&sid=59165"][/url]

Council offers close-up look at threatened river

Caleb Warnock DAILY HERALD


Utahns are being offered a chance to see one of the nation's most threatened rivers firsthand.
The Utah Rivers Council will lead a guided hike along the headwaters of Price River on Saturday for interested residents. The hike will be the first of a new program of guided hikes around the state designed to get Utahns more in touch with the state's wild places. [url "http://heraldextra.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=display_ads&file=index&func=display_ad&ad=00266069"][/url][url "http://adserver.harktheherald.com/adclick.php?n=a1d19a67"][/url]
"Clearly the reason this is one of the first hikes we are doing is because it is such a beautiful place and it is threatened by a proposed dam," said Merritt Frey of the Utah Rivers Council.
In April, the American Rivers Council, along with the Utah Rivers Council, released its 2005 list of the 10 most endangered rivers in the United States. Price River, which starts at Scofield Reservoir and flows through Sanpete and Carbon counties before joining the White River in Utah County, was ninth on the list because of a proposal to build a $25 million dam and reservoir in its headwaters. It was the only Utah river on the list.
To save the river, the Utah Rivers Council is advocating an effort, first proposed by farmers in the area, that would cost about $7 million and provide the same amount of water as the dam and reservoir project through conservation efforts including lining canals and converting some flood-irrigated fields to sprinklers.
The proposed dam would be built on Gooseberry Creek, which flows into Fish Creek, making up the headwaters of Price River.
Saturday's hike, which begins at 9:30 a.m., will explore about three miles of Fish Creek and a mile of Gooseberry Creek.
"Fish Creek is a beautiful creek with nice pools and lovely wildflowers blooming and we will try to do some birding as we hike to the confluence of Gooseberry Creek," Frey said.
The hike will stop at an overlook, where guides will give a short presentation on the proposed dam, she said.
"Mostly it will just be fun," she said. "The broad idea is that if we can get people out to, in or on Utah's rivers, they will be that much more passionate about protecting those rivers."
The hike will be easy to moderate with relatively rolling terrain and a few hills, she said.
"It will probably be pretty hot, and so in addition to lunch, people should bring plenty of water, a hat, sunblock and good hiking shoes," she said.
At least two other hikes are planned around the state this summer, as well as several "mellow" canoe trips and a handful of cleanup projects, Frey said.
"Then we have a very strange one called 'Beat the Heat' at Dinosaur National Monument where people will put on these life-vest tubes and bob down the river while a naturalist teaches you about the history and geology of the canyon," she said. "We call it 'Float Without A Boat.' "
On July 30, the Utah River Council will sponsor a guided hike along Provo River, and there will be a Provo River cleanup event in September, she said.
Those who wish to go on Saturday's hike are asked to RSVP by calling the Utah River Council at 801-486-4776 or e-mailing merritt@utahrivers.org. Camping is available at the trailhead. Directions to the meeting will be given when the RSVP is made.
For information about future Utah River Council events, visit www.utahrivers.org.

[i] Caleb Warnock can be reached at 756-7669 ext. 19 or cwarnock@heraldextra.com.[/i]This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.
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