East Canyon Watershed Committee
Minutes for July 13, 2006
East Canyon Resort
Attendees:
Brendan Waterman – UACD
Kari Lundeen – UDEQ/DWQ
Dave Tripp – Chair
Erin Spear – Swaner Nature Preserve
Derrick Radke – Summit County
Carol France – East Canyon Resort
Sherrie Christensen – Morgan County
Doug Garfield – UACD
Michael Luers – SBWRD
Greg Larson – Swaner Nature Preserve
Jack Wilbur – Utah dept. of Ag and Food
Barbara Carey – Uinta Headwater RC&D
Barbara Gardner – DNR Forestry and Fire
Melissa Stamp – BIO-WEST
Dave thanked the East Canyon Resort for hosting the meeting. This was followed by a round of introductions.
Greg Larson gave a summary of the 1st Annual Watershed Festival at the Swaner Nature Preserve. The Swaner staff feels that the festival was very successful. An estimated 500 people attended. Next year’s festival will feature a more casual schedule, with shorter, more frequent tours and presentations. I&E efforts included the distribution of water bottles featuring the Swaner logo. Dave Tripp was pleased with the number of children in attendance.
Mike Luers spoke about the congressional earmark that was recently awarded for NPS projects within the watershed. The earmark contains approximately $500,000. Current plans for these funds include stream bank stabilization and riparian plantings on properties located above the SBWRD plant. An additional earmark has been applied for, with a target of approximately $500,000-$1,000,000. Currently $30,000-$50,000 has been allocated for an Information and Education campaign. More funds will become available pending the approval of the second earmark.
Mike Luers informed the committee of a water transport study that is being completed by SBWRD and the various water distribution companies in the watershed. The study will build on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Water Supply Study from 2005. The study will address the possibility of importing approximately 1600 acre feet of water into East Canyon Creek. This imported water will be protected by a new in-stream water right pending the passage of new legislation that would allow public entities to hold in-stream water rights.
Melissa Stamp informed the committee that BIO-WEST will be conducting a phosphorus study in Summit County. The study has been funded by a $32,000 EPA grant. Summit County will be updating the land use map as a match for the grant. The study will consist of water quality sampling at 19 sites, each of which will be sampled 13 times throughout 2007.
Kari Lundeen updated the committee on the progress of the phosphate mapping project. UGS had been selected to complete the project, but due to a difference of opinion regarding the scope of the project, they will not be doing the work. Brendan Waterman will be soliciting bids for the project.
Barbara Carey provided an update on the East Canon WHIP projects. Beaver have become a problem as they have been disturbing the plantings along the stream. DWR has issued a permit to take the beaver.
Barbara Carey has been considering using Environmental Distance Learning (EDL) to develop an educational website for East Canyon. The interactive website would provide students with the ability to learn more about water quality, stream flows, and snow pack. The education sub-committee will meet to review other examples of EDL’s product and decide if such a website would be beneficial.
Doug Garfield asked the committee to support a proposal to transfer approximately $12,000 of 319 funds from East Canyon to Rees Creek. The funds are needed to cover the engineering costs associated with Phase II of the Rees Creek restoration. When the project was planned, NRCS was to provide the engineering services, however an NRCS staffing shortage and demand to have the project finished this summer have resulted in the need for the work to be contracted out. Several committee members expressed concern about the transfer of funds. The Executive Committee will meet soon to further discuss the issue.
Dave Tripp presented the latest versions of the watershed committee’s mission and vision statements to be included on the website. Barbara Carey suggested the following addition to the mission statement, “working through partnerships to protect and enhance the health of the East Canyon Watershed”
BIO-WEST has been hired by The Canyons to conduct weekly erosion control inspections. All are encouraged to contact BIO-WEST regarding erosion control problems at the resort.
The next East Canyon Watershed Committee meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday October 12, 2006. It will be held at the East Canyon Resort.
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