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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Rich County Commission Trail Discussions

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah.  February 4, 2015.  Mitch Poulsen, Director of the Bear Lake Regional Commission, reported to the Rich County Commission that for area economic development trails are important.  Unfortunately the Legacy Pathway proposed to go around Bear Lake is not making much progress because of the need to get easements from private property owners.  The State of Utah is creating a database of trails to create a cell phone app.  They want to identify  OHV trails, bicycle and mountain bike trails, horseback and walking trails. 
Commissioner Tom Weston said that more and more people are mountain biking up Temple Canyon from Meadowville. “There  is  a nice fishing pond up there,” said Weston.
Poulsen is making a local train inventory because the state doesn’t have much information on Rich County.  Since some of the trails used by locals go through private lands, accesses would have to be acquired.  Commissioner Norm Weston suggested that some land owners might have to be paid a lease fee.  Commissioner Bill Cox said that there are trail dollars available.
Mitch said the county has had agreement with several owners, Richardson Canyon for example.  However there have been some problems with private land damage.  Norm Weston said the road up the canyon needs to be improved since it is such a popular trail.  The county owns the land from Garden City parking up Hodges or Richardsons to get to Forest Service lands.  The trail is public but it goes through private lands, so as long as people stay on the road it can be used.
Private landowners are concerned about vandalism, and there are some major springs in the area.  Poulsen said that if a trail is improved there is less vandalism.  Cox said the sheriff is doing OHV monitoring during the summer months, but it is so busy he cannot monitor it enough.
Poulsen asked about a separated trail with signage about yielding.  Cox said, “you would have a hard time separating roads.  Who yields to whom?” 
The forest service would welcome more trails as long as they were not OHV trails.  Poulsen and Joe Stocking, Bear Lake Chamber will talk to scout troops for cleaning and creating trails for their service projects.
Poulsen wants to start a trail committee to create more trails and encourage landowners to donate the trail and then having scouts maintain them.  Poulsen will put a committee together.  
Justin Dolling and Pam Kramer, Utah Division of Wildlife Management, reported on the DWM Management plan for Swan Creek.  DWM needs a management plan every 5 to 10 years which is approved by local and state governments. Swan Creek Wildlife area adjoins the Forest Service land and land has been acquired to protect habitat and reduce big game animal depredation.  They want to approve wildlife habitat and range lands.  Due to the presence of Bonneville Cutthroat  they must improve the trap diversion and consider installing a fish screen to some of the existing canals and streams.  DWM will maintain current catch and release policies.
There are 670 acres in the management area.  Tom Weston said that it might be a good trail area.  Hiking trails would be allowed in the area, said Kramer.  Cox said that trails should be considered in the management plan.  There are roads which are open to vehicle access in the area and, with some parking, these could be good walking trails.

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