Iceaxe
10-05-2006, 10:05 AM
This is one of the most photogenic slot canyons that I know of. I hope we don't lose access.
Water protection sought for town
Kanarraville seeks county's help to protect creek for its drinking water
By MEG CADY
The Spectrum.com
PAROWAN - Kanarra Canyon has become a popular spot for hikers and campers from all over the country. It features a beautiful creek and fantastic waterfalls.
The problem is that the creek provides drinking water to the people of Kanarraville.
Town Board members Kay Carter and Barbara Munford came before the Iron County Coordinating Council on Wednesday to ask for help in protecting their drinking water source.
A growing problem
Munford admitted she loves to hike up the scenic trail to the narrow slot canyon that attracts so many other groups, but said people are destroying the area.
"I feel like they're ruining our canyon," she said.
The trail is eroding from foot traffic, and residents find trash, like beer bottles and diapers, in the stream.
Carter said she's counted groups of 500 students hiking the area at one time. A water pipe has become exposed and bent from people walking over it.
Other problems include speeding along the road, which goes through a residential neighborhood, and dust from the traffic.
Scott Hacking, Department of Environmental Quality district engineer, came to discuss the town's options to restrict access to the canyon.
The property belongs to the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, but restrictions will need to come at the local level.
Jim Martin, Division of Drinking Water environmental scientist, said because Kanarraville already has a water management plan for the area, there's little the division can do.
Kevin Carter, director of SITLA, said selling the property will be complicated because the area has been in public use for at least 10 years and it's part of a wilderness study area.
The road currently has RS 2477 designation, which is granted by the federal government to guarantee public rights of way.
Carter said if the county wants to relinquish the designation, SITLA would have no objections to Kanarraville closing off the road. But cutting off access will be difficult because the area is so popular.
Martin said commissioners can pass a countywide ordinance to protect the water resource.
County Planner Reed Erickson said another option is for Kanarraville to create a zone outside its town limits with the agreement of the county to restrict use in that area.
"That may be more applicable than a countywide ordinance," he said.
Carter and Munford agreed to meet with county representatives to discuss a possible solution.
Dispatch services
Also during the meeting, Cedar Consolidated Communications Center Manager Linda Petty and Cedar City Police Chief Bob Allinson met with county leaders to request additional dispatchers for the call center.
Allinson said with the growth in Iron County, dispatch calls have increased so much that additional staffers are needed; he hopes the state will pay for one and the other agencies will pay for two. Each person will cost $50,000 for salary and benefits.
Adding three will allow the center to keep three people on hand for three shifts a day, Allinson said.
The dispatch center handles calls from the county and all the cities plus 911 and the Utah Highway Patrol.
Petty said the center already is 2,000 calls ahead of last year.
"They're getting to the point where they can't handle it (all)," she said.
Dispatchers are receiving or making a call every three minutes. They've had to start prioritizing 911 calls.
"The liability has got me really concerned," she said.
The question before leaders was how to equally split up the cost of two additional dispatchers between cities.
The current formula is based on number of calls and property tax values, which could really impact Cedar City and Brian Head.
County leaders asked Allinson to look at other ways of distributing the cost, possibly even a special service district that can charge taxes, to pay for it. He will bring his proposals to the next meeting on Nov. 1 in Paragonah.
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/Files/kanarra01.jpg
http://www.citrusmilo.com/joe/zion/photos/joebraun_kanarra2.jpg
http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/photographs450/kanarra4.jpg
Route Description
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/kanarra.htm
:popcorn:
Water protection sought for town
Kanarraville seeks county's help to protect creek for its drinking water
By MEG CADY
The Spectrum.com
PAROWAN - Kanarra Canyon has become a popular spot for hikers and campers from all over the country. It features a beautiful creek and fantastic waterfalls.
The problem is that the creek provides drinking water to the people of Kanarraville.
Town Board members Kay Carter and Barbara Munford came before the Iron County Coordinating Council on Wednesday to ask for help in protecting their drinking water source.
A growing problem
Munford admitted she loves to hike up the scenic trail to the narrow slot canyon that attracts so many other groups, but said people are destroying the area.
"I feel like they're ruining our canyon," she said.
The trail is eroding from foot traffic, and residents find trash, like beer bottles and diapers, in the stream.
Carter said she's counted groups of 500 students hiking the area at one time. A water pipe has become exposed and bent from people walking over it.
Other problems include speeding along the road, which goes through a residential neighborhood, and dust from the traffic.
Scott Hacking, Department of Environmental Quality district engineer, came to discuss the town's options to restrict access to the canyon.
The property belongs to the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, but restrictions will need to come at the local level.
Jim Martin, Division of Drinking Water environmental scientist, said because Kanarraville already has a water management plan for the area, there's little the division can do.
Kevin Carter, director of SITLA, said selling the property will be complicated because the area has been in public use for at least 10 years and it's part of a wilderness study area.
The road currently has RS 2477 designation, which is granted by the federal government to guarantee public rights of way.
Carter said if the county wants to relinquish the designation, SITLA would have no objections to Kanarraville closing off the road. But cutting off access will be difficult because the area is so popular.
Martin said commissioners can pass a countywide ordinance to protect the water resource.
County Planner Reed Erickson said another option is for Kanarraville to create a zone outside its town limits with the agreement of the county to restrict use in that area.
"That may be more applicable than a countywide ordinance," he said.
Carter and Munford agreed to meet with county representatives to discuss a possible solution.
Dispatch services
Also during the meeting, Cedar Consolidated Communications Center Manager Linda Petty and Cedar City Police Chief Bob Allinson met with county leaders to request additional dispatchers for the call center.
Allinson said with the growth in Iron County, dispatch calls have increased so much that additional staffers are needed; he hopes the state will pay for one and the other agencies will pay for two. Each person will cost $50,000 for salary and benefits.
Adding three will allow the center to keep three people on hand for three shifts a day, Allinson said.
The dispatch center handles calls from the county and all the cities plus 911 and the Utah Highway Patrol.
Petty said the center already is 2,000 calls ahead of last year.
"They're getting to the point where they can't handle it (all)," she said.
Dispatchers are receiving or making a call every three minutes. They've had to start prioritizing 911 calls.
"The liability has got me really concerned," she said.
The question before leaders was how to equally split up the cost of two additional dispatchers between cities.
The current formula is based on number of calls and property tax values, which could really impact Cedar City and Brian Head.
County leaders asked Allinson to look at other ways of distributing the cost, possibly even a special service district that can charge taxes, to pay for it. He will bring his proposals to the next meeting on Nov. 1 in Paragonah.
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/Files/kanarra01.jpg
http://www.citrusmilo.com/joe/zion/photos/joebraun_kanarra2.jpg
http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/photographs450/kanarra4.jpg
Route Description
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/kanarra.htm
:popcorn: