Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah- January 2, 2012. Jennifer Hanson, Utah Forestry,
Fire and State Lands, said that in the last few years the Comprehensive Plan
for Bear lake has been implemented for more safety at Bear lake. The division finds that they need more
flexibility to manage Bear Lake than the plan authorizes. They are working to make that change in this
legislative session. The change will allow,
with written authorization, the division to either post against ATV use or to
allow it in certain areas. This gives
more authority to the Bear Lake Management Plan and is specific to the Bear Lake
area. State Rep. Rhonda Menlove will sponsor the
bill.
In another matter, State Lands are considering closing
private, non-permitted boat ramps on sovereign lands. There
are 240 permanent boat ramps on sovereign lands on the lake on the Utah
side. Sixty were permanent concrete ramps but only 6 have permits. If legislation passes, permits will be needed
for a boat launch. Hanson said, “Private
use for public land should be compensated.”
Commissioner Tom Weston was opposed to this. In years past people have been required to
get permits for boat ramps but enforcement was lax. Hanson said that a lot of people were permitted for
an easement but did not take the next step to get current permits. Tom Weston said some of those have been in
for 50 years. "This will be the fight of a lifetime." He said.
“There
is a new sheriff in town," said Hanson.
There is currently no beach launching fee and no permit required for tractors
pulling into the lake. Commissioner Bill
Cox asked if this would be a yearly permit.
“We are at the beginning stages of these issues,” said Hansen. Trying to manage things like keeping quagga
mussels out of the lake with that many boat ramps becomes impossible.
Commissioner Norm Weston suggested that there be a
requirement that boats be cleaned and inspected before leaving infected waters
rather than trying to prevent it in Bear Lake.
He said, “If we have an infected animal on the ranch, we are not allowed
to take it off the ranch but have to dispose of it there before it infects
others.” With only one inspection site
at the Marina it is just a matter of time before the lake becomes infested.
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