01-11-2021, 09:36 PM
It’s taken a bit of research, but I think I’ve talked to all the players in the Pineview Saga. First and foremost, Pineview is NOT a State Park or State Owned/Controlled area. It is a Bureau of Reclamation Project that is Operated jointly by the Ogden River Water Users Association and Utah Power & Light Company. It is managed for recreation by the US Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ogden Ranger District.
The Cemetery Point area is within the incorporated boundary of Huntsville, UT. They provide snow removal for all public roads within those boundaries. The parking lot and swim beach area located on the south side of the point adjacent to the Huntsville Cemetery is NOT part of the incorporated area of Huntsville. That area falls under the jurisdiction of the USFS. Huntsville has not, does not, and will not plow out that parking lot as it does not fall under their jurisdiction.
It’s not 100% clear to me who has plowed that lot in the past, but it for sure was not the USFS; they do NOT have the equipment to do that. It was suggested to me by at least one source that the Weber County Road Department may have plowed it in the past.
Now, to the closure this year. The USFS has not directly managed the recreation activities at Pineview for many years now. They contract it out to a private company and up until 2020, that company was American Land & Leisure (AL&L). The contract changed hands in 2020 to a company called Utah Recreation. As part of the new contract with Utah Recreation, the liability aspects of the management was transferred from the USFS (as it had been under AL&L) to the Utah Recreation. While Utah Recreation only operates the recreational activities from April/May through Sep/Oct, they are still liable for any mishaps.
Along with that, Utah Recreation doesn't have any personnel on site during the winter months for such things as restroom maintenance. And neither does the USFS Ogden Ranger District. So the duties fall to the District Ranger for any facilities left open to accommodate the general public. And last year, to show their utmost respect for the USFS, the general public vandalized the restrooms beyond belief and used the building as a garbage dump. This year, the Ogden Ranger District decided that the best course of action would be to permanently close the area (closed & locked gate; unplowed parking lot) to try and prevent any further destruction of public property. We (the general public) are our own worst enemies.
Along with the vandalism of the Cemetery Point area, the Port Ramp was also vandalized last winter with the destruction of several sections of vinyl fencing. And the idiots wonder why the government takes a dim view of leaving public facilities unattended while open. The Port Ramp is programmed to be gated soon to keep the idiots from destroying more of our public facilities.
Well, there you have it. A handful of ignorant anal openings have closed a public access point that hundreds of folks have been able to enjoy in the past.
The Cemetery Point area is within the incorporated boundary of Huntsville, UT. They provide snow removal for all public roads within those boundaries. The parking lot and swim beach area located on the south side of the point adjacent to the Huntsville Cemetery is NOT part of the incorporated area of Huntsville. That area falls under the jurisdiction of the USFS. Huntsville has not, does not, and will not plow out that parking lot as it does not fall under their jurisdiction.
It’s not 100% clear to me who has plowed that lot in the past, but it for sure was not the USFS; they do NOT have the equipment to do that. It was suggested to me by at least one source that the Weber County Road Department may have plowed it in the past.
Now, to the closure this year. The USFS has not directly managed the recreation activities at Pineview for many years now. They contract it out to a private company and up until 2020, that company was American Land & Leisure (AL&L). The contract changed hands in 2020 to a company called Utah Recreation. As part of the new contract with Utah Recreation, the liability aspects of the management was transferred from the USFS (as it had been under AL&L) to the Utah Recreation. While Utah Recreation only operates the recreational activities from April/May through Sep/Oct, they are still liable for any mishaps.
Along with that, Utah Recreation doesn't have any personnel on site during the winter months for such things as restroom maintenance. And neither does the USFS Ogden Ranger District. So the duties fall to the District Ranger for any facilities left open to accommodate the general public. And last year, to show their utmost respect for the USFS, the general public vandalized the restrooms beyond belief and used the building as a garbage dump. This year, the Ogden Ranger District decided that the best course of action would be to permanently close the area (closed & locked gate; unplowed parking lot) to try and prevent any further destruction of public property. We (the general public) are our own worst enemies.
Along with the vandalism of the Cemetery Point area, the Port Ramp was also vandalized last winter with the destruction of several sections of vinyl fencing. And the idiots wonder why the government takes a dim view of leaving public facilities unattended while open. The Port Ramp is programmed to be gated soon to keep the idiots from destroying more of our public facilities.
Well, there you have it. A handful of ignorant anal openings have closed a public access point that hundreds of folks have been able to enjoy in the past.
Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 81 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
I'm 81 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."