Group Wants Utah's Rivers Federally Protected

[Fishhound]

[url "http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1847941"][black][size 3]LINK[/size][/black][/url][black][size 3] to KSL story.[/size][/black]
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[fishfinder462]

Sounds like a good idea too me, there sould be a couple of rivers that are protected....[cool]
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[Warchild]

It sounds good but I would need to know more about what the regulations would be... I think utah is silly for not being more proactive with protecting its rivers and natural lakes...
thats a hole new post to me..
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[PBH]

prior to protecting rivers, we need to know what we are protecting them against. It is quite possible that the reason Utah doesn't have any protected rivers is because they are not threatened from what the protection offers.


It would be nice to know which rivers (other than the Green River) are being considered for inclusion on this list.


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[ByteMe]

Link to National Forest Service info on Utah Wild and Scenic rivers:
[url "http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/"]http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/[/url]


List of rivers being considered:
[url "http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/11July07_publiclistofrivers.pdf"]http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/11July07_publiclistofrivers.pdf[/url]
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[PBH]

ByteMe -- thank you for the links.

I still would like to know what some of these rivers are being protected from.

Take a river (stream) like Mamie or Death Hollow Creek. Both of these streams are already in a wilderness area that is protected from mining and logging. What further protection do these remote, hard to access, streams need protection from?


I am not against the Wild and Scenic Rivers. To the contrary, I think there are some benefits to many of these streams being listed. But, I would like to see what risk we are forgoing by not designating these streams as Wild and Scenic. What improvements will be made by protecting these streams?
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[ByteMe]

A little more info on what protections are provided by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

[url "http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/rivers/overview_act.shtml"]http://www.fs.fed.us/...s/overview_act.shtml[/url] [ul] [li][font "Arial"][black]No new dams can be constructed on the river. [/black][/font][/li] [li][font "Arial"][black]Protects our river heritage and some of our nation's premiere rivers. [/black][/font][/li] [li][font "Arial"][black]No federally assisted water resource development projects are allowed on the river. [/black][/font][/li] [li][font "Arial"][black]No affect on the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the States with respect to fish and wildlife. Hunting and fishing shall be permitted on lands and waters administered as parts of the system under applicable State and Federal laws and regulations unless, in the case of hunting, those lands or waters are within a national park or monument. [/black][/font][/li] [li][font "Arial"][black]Mining and mineral leasing laws on the federal land are affected: [/black][/font][/li] [ul] [li][font "Arial"][black]Valid existing rights are not rescinded [/black][/font][/li] [li][font "Arial"][black]Ongoing mining and mineral leasing is subject to regulations. [/black][/font][/li][/ul][/ul]
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[PBH]

BytMe -- again, thanks for the info.

so, with respect to the examples I used (Mamie, Death Hollow), what would change by making them part of this list? Everything on that list you provided is essentially already in place.


I think one thing that is not being said is advertisement. Listing these unknown rivers will generate interest and tourism.
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[ByteMe]

I don't know the answer to your question PBH about what would change in terms of protection on the waters you mentioned. I'm no expert on any kind of state or federal designation or types of protection. What is the current protection in place on those waters you mentioned?
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[ScottyP]

Wild and Scenic designation would have prevented the private lodge/ Green River/ SITLA debacle, right? Sounds good to me.
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[Bigfishrule]

Be careful what you wish for......It would of also prevented Flaming Gorge Dam. The dam the made the Green below it so desireable to a lodge operation. Think what our fishing in Utah would be like without all the Dams we have. Utah Lake and the rivers. And you probably think the Green is crowded now.

Also I like to get a drink of water when I turn on the tap, and have lights when I flip the switch.

I'm not saying not to protect some rivers and even areas of the country. But I see a big cry to protect everything. And even to do away with existing development. And if we all keep jumping on the bandwagon because our favorite fishing hole might have a lodge built on it. Then we better start finding another way to live.

Just some thoughts,
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[PBH]

[reply]
What is the current protection in place on those waters you mentioned?[/reply]

both streams (Mamie, Death Hollow) are located in the Box Death Hollow Wilderness area and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The Box Death Hollow area is already designated as a roadless area. This place is some pretty remote, rugged area. Mining and logging are already taken care of. Dams are out of the question, and water resource development can't happen either.

Like I said, I'm not against the designation. But, some of these places aren't really going to benefit from the designation. The only "benefit" is going to be advertisement.
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[Enos_Gillespie]

In virginia we dident have any pertected waters....some of the cats and stuff I guess had some awful stuff in em....alot of are food and water came from teh rivers and some of us sufferd from it. I say pertect all your water.
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[sinergy]

Id like to see these rivers protected from private ownership. Dont get me wrong it would be nice to have my own river but even if I did I make it available to the public.

For example the upper prover near Jordanelle RC side that part of the river across from the entrance is all private what load of s!@#. God created that river so who says some jack ass with $$$ can buy it all up and regulate who fishes it. I sure my tax dollars went into the hatchery that provides
fish in that are so can I not get my moneys worth ? LOL sorry to rant but just had to get it off my chest.
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[Warchild]

Yep Utah needs to change its laws. Land owners shouldnt own the rivers they should own only to the high water mark... just my 2 cents. I wish they would protect the stretch of river from onidea dam down in Idaho.... O well
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[orvis1]

Warchild has it right, the stream access law should be just like MT. Anglers should have access to the water to the high water mark and only enter at public access points. It is a very easy rule to understand and very fisherman friendly. I would just encourage everyone to pick up thier trash!
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[sinergy]

I agree with the whole trash thing I know allot of private land owners who are allow there lands to be fish by the public (weber river) And I appreciate that I also agree with land owners who are frustrated with people mucking up there lands and messing with there cattle But to ban people from fish it or only allowing commercial outfits to fish these area is ludicrous.
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[riverdog]

It's nice to dream about stream access laws but wake up this is Utah. Here if the govenor is a relative you can purposely introduce whirling disease into the streams with impunity. There is a reason so many of us spend a lot of time and money in others states fishing. I was going to say just my 2 cents worth but I probable spend a couple a thousand dollars a year helping the economy of those states that are more fisherman friendly.
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[ByteMe]

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Here's a link to Brett's article in the Trib today about the Green River and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
[url "http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_7072218?source=rv"][#22229c]http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_7072218?source=rv[/#22229c][/url] I'm sure glad the SITLA Little Hole Lodge plans didn't come to fruition. If the river had been designated as Wild and Scenic then that wouldn't have ever been an issue. Be sure to checkout the associated multimedia. [url "http://166.70.44.68/multimedia/2007/1003_greenriver/index.html"]http://166.70.44.68/multimedia/2007/1003_greenriver/index.html[/url]
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