Asset and Agreement Tracking System Maintenance & Hosting
The division is nearing completion of the development of the new Sovereign Lands Asset and Agreement Tracking System. There will be ongoing costs for software maintenance of $25,000 and for DTS hosting and support of $15,000.
Bear Lake: Access Points Improvement
The division is in collaboration with Bear Lake Regional Commission, Bear River Association of Governments, GOED, National Park Service, and the Division of Parks and Recreation to improve Bear Lake's infrastructure and enhance the recreational opportunities, as well as the public access and safety. This funding request is to be matched with other sources and be used for projects that will improve the parking, enhance the lighting at boat ramps, and provide more permanent restroom facilities around the lake.
Bear Lake: Law Enforcement
The majority of the goals of the Bear Lake Comprehensive Management Plan deal with public safety and the protection of the environmental resources. Currently, the law enforcement is contracted through the Rich County Sheriff's Office for peak summer season only. To meet the increased demand for recreational access, and recent legislation and policies related to the beach launching, quagga mussel prevention, and restrictions on using motorized vehicles on the beaches, the division is requesting additional appropriation of $65,000 ongoing to provide full-time law enforcement at Bear Lake through Rich County's Sheriff's Office.
Bear River Management Plan, Phase 1
The Bear River is used for recreation, agriculture, and industry. These multiple uses will continue to increase as the population along the Wasatch Front continues to expand and move northward into communities along the river. The division is requesting funding for phase one of a comprehensive management plan for the area. The comprehensive management plan sets the framework for the management of sovereign lands under multiple-use, sustained-yield principles. The funding is to aid staff with expertise provided by consultants for certain aspects of the process, as well as for materials for the public meetings.
Catastrophic Fire
The Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy provides a systematic approach to reducing the risk of wildfire. If addressed collectively, the strategy's three goals of 1) Landscape Resilience, 2) Community Preparedness, and 3) Wildfire Response & Management will likely reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, as well as reduce both suppression and total costs of wildfire over time. The division is requesting $2.5 million to implement pre-suppression actions of wildfire prevention (targeted outreach to change behaviors and reduce the number of human-caused fires), preparedness (community planning, evacuation planning, egress issues, firefighter training and qualifications, fire department equipment, etc.), and mitigation (hazardous fuels reduction work, defensible space, etc.).
Jordan River: Bank Stabilization
The division has received numerous requests from local municipalities to help plan, implement, and fund stream bank stabilization projects along the Jordan River. In many cases the continual erosion and degradation of stream banks present serious threats to structures, land, and wildlife habitat along the Jordan River. The division is requesting $50,000 to provide matching funds for local projects that will protect the integrity and stability of the Jordan River, while also enhancing the ecological and aesthetic value of sovereign lands.
Jordan River: Commission
The Jordan River Commission was created by an inter-local cooperation agreement in 2010, with the purpose to facilitate regional implementation of the Blueprint Jordan River, to serve as a technical resource to local communities, and to provide a forum for coordination of planning, restoration, and responsible development along the Jordan River corridor. The cities and counties that participate provide funding, and the Division of Water Quality provides office space. Currently, the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands does not provide financial contributions to the Jordan River Commission. The request is for $30,000 ongoing to assist the commission to hire a full-time staff, who is to focus on research, grant writing, and project-specific work.
LiDAR for Northern Utah
The division will partner with contributions from FEMA, the Utah Geological Survey, Division of Emergency Management, and other parties for LiDAR data acquisition for the shoreline and beaches of Bear Lake, the Bear River where claimed as sovereign, and as much of the Great Salt Lake shoreline and beaches as possible. LiDAR data will help staff manage the beds of sovereign lands. The data can also be used for vegetation modeling and mapping.
Navigational Hazards Removal
The State of Utah faces liability by continuing to allow navigational hazards to remain on waterways throughout the state. The division is responsible to provide safe navigation on sovereign lands. Staff has been working with local stakeholders to mitigate and remove navigational hazards on sovereign lands. The division is requesting funds to partner with local municipalities and agencies to prioritize the removal of navigational hazards on sovereign lands, including: abandoned pipelines, concrete bridge pilasters, fences, abandoned railroad trestles, etc.