L etters to the Editor

Close Highway SB12 to Parking Near Calf Creek Campground

Courtesy Keith Watts Utah Highway 12 near the Calf Creek Campground has become unsafe during times of high tourism traffic.

Utah Highway 12 near the Calf Creek Campground has become unsafe during times of high tourism traffic. Dozens of cars are often parked along this narrow, steep, winding road in places not intended for parking. As noted in their recent EA on Calf Creek Recreation Site (CCRS) Deferred Maintenance and Improvements Project, the BLM/ GSENM has coordinated with UDOT and Garfield

County on the establishment of a no parking zone along SB12 by the entrance to the CCRS. Rather than delay until after this project is completed, we feel that you should establish the no parking zone before the next tourist season. As you can see in the above picture, people all too often are forced to drive into the lane of oncoming traffic to avoid parked cars and pedestrians. People walking along and across

Utah Snowpack is 183% of Normal for Time of Year

average snowpack to refill our reservoirs.

“This is good news, but we have a long road ahead to recover from this prolonged drought,” Hasenyager said. “We must continue to use our water wisely to see the full benefits of the new snow added to our snowpack.”

Courtesy USDA Snow water equivalent based on regions as compared to other recorded years (Period of Record). Every basin in Utah is reporting over 140% of normal snowpack.

SALT LAKE CITY -

Consistent storms and cooler temperatures have brought Utah’s snowpack statewide to 183% of normal for this time of year, which makes this the best winter (so far) that we've seen in almost 20 years. With a little more than two months left for the state to accumulate snow, the state needs these conditions to continue for effective spring runoff.

“These snow totals are a welcome sight and have given a much-needed boost to our snowpack,”

Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources, said.

“Every basin in Utah is reporting over 150% of normal snowpack. This is great news, especially for basins such as the Upper and Lower Sevier, which have seen dwindling water supplies in the last few years.”

Almost 100% of the state is still in some form of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The authors have downgraded the level of exceptional drought (the worst category) in Utah to 0%. The last time this happened was May 31, 2022. The state is still in the second and third worst categories of drought (severe and extreme), and it'll take multiple years of above- this busy roadway are an accident waiting to happen. Adding bicycles to the mix with vehicles parked in what was intended to serve in part as a bike lane, the potential for serious accidents is all too real. In places, cars attempting to park adjacent to extremely steep slopes above the campground could roll all the way down to the canyon bottom, threatening innocent campers. Dealing with this issue before the next tourist season (by April) is very important. We think UDOT needs to put up signs stating that no parking is allowed along the highway for 1/2 mile on each side of the Calf Creek Campground turn off (between mileposts 75.8 - 74.8).

Tourists would have to park in available spaces in the Calf Creek trailhead parking area or in designated places along its access road. Parking would be on a first come/first served basis or as parking places be- come available when other vehicles depart. Large vehicles (over 25’ long) should not be allowed. It might make sense to develop a reservation system for campsites and some designated parking spaces using Recreation.gov.

During times of high demand for tourists wanting to hike to Calf Creek Falls, perhaps a local guide service might want to offer a shuttle service between Escalante and Boulder with stops at the Escalante River Trailhead, Calf Creek Trailhead, and other destinations. A shuttle system would be convenient and help relieve pressure on the parking problem.

Accidents have already occurred in this dangerous area, so it is important that we take this crisis seriously to avoid liability issues. Thank you for your work to ensure public safety on Highway 12.

Keith Watts and concerned citizens of Boulder and Escalante

At-a-glance highlights:

• Great Salt Lake has risen a foot since its historic low two set in early November 2022. This is due to direct precipitation and inflows to the lake.

Experts are also working to understand how the causeway breach modification that occurred last summer might be impacting the quick rise in lake levels. For context, the lake rose just over a foot all of last year. We are off to a good start as we look toward spring runoff.

• According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah’s statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) is 183% of normal. The only years that have had more snow on this date since the SNOTEL network was installed were 1984, 1997 and 2005.

This makes this the best winter (so far) that we've seen in almost 20 years.

Thirty of the 47 reservoirs the division monitors are below 55%, which is about the same as last year but still about 10% lower than normal for this time of year.

• Of the 71 measured streams, 18 are currently flowing below normal. The number of streams measured has decreased due to ice on the stream gauges. Residents can find water-saving tips at SlowtheFlow.Org.

—Utah Division of Water Resources

Visitation to Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks dropped in 2022 compared to the record-setting numbers seen in 2021. Numbers were down 7%, with over 10.5 million people visiting the five national parks last year.

UTAH - Visitation to Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks dropped in 2022 compared to the record-setting numbers seen in 2021, according to a KSL.com analysis.

According to KSL.com, numbers were down 7%, with over 10.5 million people visiting the five national parks last year.

Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion all experienced decreased visitation, with Bryce Canyon being the only park that saw an increase of 12% compared to their 2021 numbers.

There are several factors which could have played a role in these declines, but Utah State tourism officials believe it to be a series of economic factors, including global inflation which caused increased gas prices.

Since COVID-19, the number of international travelers is down, and the value of European currency has kept some European travelers closer to home.

It is hard to predict what 2023 will bring, but Garfield County recently completed a market capacity study to consider ideas of how to get people to visit the national parks year-round. This may mean altering Bryce Canyon's "Mighty 5" campaign strategy to marketing visitation to the park during the quieter, winter months.

Source: Deseret News

Publisher: Erica Walz Layout & Graphic Design: Emily Leach Reporter: Tessa Barkan Reporter: Amiee Maxwell Reporter: Kadi Franson Reporter: Lisa Jeppson

Ian Marynowski

Trudy Stowe

Open House: Even in the traditional ‘cows and plows’ of agriculture, the basis of what 4-H was developed on, those industries are shifting to be more STEM based.—Callie Ward, a USU assistant professor who works in economic and 4-H youth development clubs is part of a nationwide shift for the non-profit organization 4-H to help prepare youth for the jobs of the future and learn to lead healthy lifestyles. “Even in the traditional ‘cows and plows’ of agriculture, the basis of what 4-H was developed on, those industries are shifting to be more STEM based,” said Callie Ward—a USU assistant professor who works in economic and 4-H youth development—during the open house.

Ward continued to state that the new programming “also brings in more opportunities to kids who aren’t in agriculture,” noting that “they still get that 4-H experience of belonging to an organization with opportunities to serve their communities.” 4-H is partnered with public universities to engage nearly six million youth nationwide. Their goal is to provide mentorship, experience and leadership opportunities where they might otherwise be difficult to find.

The open house had many chances for children and their parents to see and experience some of the activities which the new program had to offer. Displays ranged from looking at skin cells under a microscope and playing with ‘oobleck’ (cornstarch and water, a non-newtonian fluid and a fun thing to make at home) to coding small robots with hand-drawn maps and utilizing virtual reality. Other items on display were engineering and math based games, a fleet of drones and even a 3D printer.

“We’re here to help the kids with whatever they are interested in,” said Sondra Jones, the Garfield County 4-H Stem Coordinator. She feels that these programs specifically benefit rural communities. “They bring belonging and a sense of teamwork… in bigger cities you might have the opportunity for more programs, and this brings those opportunities to these kids.” Jones will be hosting afterschool club meetings to allow children to explore their interests in the world of STEM.

In addition to reinforcing the importance of engineering science, another goal of the program is to show that education can be fun. The games and activities allowed students to learn coding and practice systematic thinking without the need to look at screens, allowing for hands-on, experiential learning. Ward, Jones and USU Garfield County Youth Development Coordinator Clint Albrecht all emphasized the importance of this "unplugged" learning, referencing numerous opportunities for children to be active and continue their STEM learning at home, without necessarily needing technology.

This alternative approach to education appealed to Escalante resident Randy Mcknight, who felt that it may help provide new learning opportunities for his home-schooled son while also giving his daughter a place to socialize and be engaged beyond school. Jones was also involved in a home-school program in Cedar City prior to moving to Escalante and believes that clubs like 4-H are important to help-

Ian Marynowski ing youth develop in any type of schooling environment.

Paisley Chynoweth plays a virtual reality (VR) game using an Oculus VR headset and controllers while her mother, Chyvonne Stowe, supervises at the 4-H open house at Escalante High School on January 25, 2023. Beyond being a fun new way to play games, virtual reality has become an affordable and safe way to learn any number of skills from flying aircraft, to architectural design and medicine. Having access to this technology early may help children prepare for their futures. The Garfield county 4-H club was able to purchase these high tech items through use of grants provided by the Southwest Behavioral Health Center.

All of the technology provided in this program was funded through grants provided by the Southwest Behavioral Health Center (SBHC) to help prevent youth substance abuse disorders through extracurricular engagement. SBHC receives money from both the federal and state governments to provide education and resources for promoting wellness and recovery from addiction in Southwest Utah.

The 4-H STEM program in Escalante will be the first in the County. With the intent of engaging children from the elementary to the high school level, the program will eventually spread to Bryce Valley and Panguitch schools and beyond. This new afterschool opportunity comes on the heels of the new computer science curriculum introduced during the 2021/2022 school year to Garfield County under the Utah Computer Science Master Plan.

This open house served as an opportunity for families to see what options were available, as well as for Jones to gauge interest and find out how to best serve the community. Final times of STEM club meetings have not yet been finalized, but will be shared on social media, posters, future meetings, etc., when they become available.

With Near-Record Snowfall, Utah’s 2022-2023 Ski Season Is Off To An Exceptional Start

SALT LAKE CITY -

The Utah Office of Tourism is celebrating the Greatest Snow on Earth® with officials calling the 2022-23 season snowfall thus far the best in decades. According to OpenSnow, three of Utah’s premier ski destinations—Alta, Brighton, and Snowbird—hold the top three spots for snowiest ski areas in North America this year, with Solitude spending most of the season in fourth place. As of January 18, Alta is just 13 inches off the mark of its all-time OctJan record of 442 inches, which was set in the 198182 season.

“We’re so excited that the snow continues to fall, and we’re enjoying every moment of this season,” said Ski Utah President and CEO Nathan Rafferty. “We can’t predict the weather, but every year in Utah is better than most everywhere else snow-wise, and this year is no exception. Every resort in the state is offering a world-class experience.” snowpack, the snowfall has positively impacted the entire state. OpenSnow reports that every major basin currently has a snowpack exceeding 150% of the seasonal median peak, with most basins at over 200%.

“It’s safe to say it’s the best first half of a season we’ve had in 40 years,” says OpenSnow Forecaster and winter weather expert Evan Thayer. “This year our statewide mean snowpack is at 92% of the seasonal median peak, meaning we've already nearly seen an entire season's worth of snow in the first half.”

Winter is a beloved time of the year for Utah residents and visitors. When the snow falls, Utah comes to life offering world-class terrain, unparalleled accessibility, and vibrant cultural experiences. All 15 of Utah’s premier ski resorts are open for the 2022-23 ski season. A list of snow totals can be found at skiutah.com/snowreport.

—Utah Office of Tourism