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Thursday, March 10, 2022
BLM to Enhance Permitting Process for The Wave in Coyote Buttes North
Issue # 1451
insiderutah.com
Arches of the Escalante
Garfield County Commission
by Emily Leach
February 28
Arches bring together two citizen scientists to compile a mass public database of arch descriptions & locations in GSENM region
KANAB - On March 15, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will implement a new mobile-based geofence system for obtaining daily lottery permits to hike at the geologic feature known as “The Wave,” within Coyote Buttes North, Paria CanyonVermilion Cliffs Wilderness. The BLM is implementing this technology to provide a safer and more convenient lottery experience, marking a new milestone for how hiking permits to this iconic recreation site will be selected, distributed, and processed. “This is an exciting change for BLM managers in both Arizona and Utah,” said Kanab Field Office Manager Whit Bunting. “Over the last two years, BLM Utah and BLM Arizona have worked alongside city and county officials in both states to increase recreational opportunities and visitor access to The Wave. This geofence transition is another important customerservice step in that direction.” The mobile geofence system, hosted by Recreation. gov, allows for applicants to use the location-based serGeofence System Cont'd on page 8
Insider
Horizon Arch, also known as "Kissing Dragons" arch.
ESCALANTE - On paper, Jens Munthe and Adiyan Haran may not appear to have much in common other than the fact that they both call Escalante, Utah home. Haran is a general contractor, and Munthe is a retired geologist. But both men would discover a shared interest in arches, es-
pecially in and around the Escalante Canyons, which would bring the two together. And a book—a self-described hobby project for Munthe—would later result in the creation of archesoftheescalante.com, an online compendium of arches developed and kept up to date by Haran, complete with pho-
tos and arch descriptions and locations for over 2,000 arches and counting. Just a Little Hobby Project Finding and documenting the location of rock arches has been a longstanding hobby for Munthe, the root of which, he says, came from his initial
Boaters Need to Plan Ahead Advocates Say Officials Need for Decontaminations at Lake Powell this Upcoming to Act Now Boating Season to Keep Utah
exposure to the landscapes of southern Utah as they were presented in National Geographic issues of the 40s and 50s. When he and his wife, Kathy, moved to Escalante, it sparked a memory of those magazines and the myriad of Arches
Cont'd on page 7
GARFIELD COUNTY In their Feb. 28 Garfield County Commission meeting, the agenda included Utah’s Prevention Coalition in D.C., legislative actions, various land recording matters, and feral cows in the Escalante River. Commissioner David Tebbs said Prevention Coalition members were able to communicate their concept of “prevention” as “preventing putting anything in their bodies” as opposed to providing mitigants once addiction has already occurred. Use of County funds to assist Tropic Senior Center were clarified: the county assists with improvements and helps offset utility bills but does not enter into lease arrangements with towns. The Zion Regional Mgt. Steering Committee continues to talk about options for housing park staff and routing traffic to lessen impact through the tunnels. Commissioner Jerry Taylor said some of the affordable housing units should be ready for open house display by the end of March. Ticaboo power requirements are being discussed. Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds, that were in jeopardy in an Garfield Commission Cont'd on page 9
Capitol Reef National Park Ready to Welcome Spring Visitors
Kids Insured
by Mark Richardson, Utah News Connection
Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Because of lowered water levels, there will be limited options for launching boats on both sides of Lake Powell, and watercraft users must plan ahead if they want to receive a watercraft decontamination at the lake. SALT LAKE CITY While snow may still be in the weather forecasts, spring is just around the corner, and boaters should make sure to plan ahead before visiting Lake Powell this spring and summer. Multiple Utah waterbodies had record low water levels last year, which had some impacts on boating and fishing. Lake Powell was among those impacted by drought, and unfortunately, water levels are expected to remain historically low. As a result of the continued low water levels at Lake Powell, there are going to be limited options for launching boats at both ends of the lake, which may lead to delays entering and exiting the water. Visit the Glen Can-
yon National Recreation Area website for updates on boat ramp access and water levels. Due to fewer ramp options for this upcoming boating season, watercraft users must plan ahead if they want to receive a watercraft decontamination at Lake Powell. There may be crowding at the open ramps, and staff with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish Department and National Park Service at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will work hard to inspect boats departing the area and provide decontaminations to those who request them. “We ask that watercraft Boat Decontamination Cont'd on page 9
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
SALT LAKE CITY With the end of the pandemic-driven public-health emergency looming, a new report reveals that millions of children in Utah and elsewhere are at risk of losing insurance coverage. About half of Utah children are insured through either Medicaid or CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program. They've been able to maintain stability in their coverage thanks to the continuous-coverage requirement from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. But Jessie Mandle, deputy director of Voices for Utah Children, said when the public health emergency ends, it will put many Utah kids at risk of losing insurance because of something as simple as a change of address. "We think a lot of kids will either continue to be eligible for Medicaid or they'll be Insurance Coverage Cont'd on page 7
NPS Photo / P. Torgerson
After a brief closure, the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center has reopened to the public with newly installed exhibits. CAPITOL REEF N.P. Capitol Reef National Park is ready for the busy spring season. Visitation typically increases dramatically in midMarch. Visitors can enjoy the new visitor center exhibits, and the Gifford House will be opening for the season on Pi Day, Monday, March 14. Addi-
tionally, the Capitol Reef section of the NPS app features a newly added self-guided audio tour of the Scenic Drive. Superintendent Sue Fritzke expressed the importance of the new visitor center exhibits: “These exhibits, representing the efforts of many past and present employees,
more fully represent the myriad stories and resources of this park, and are a fitting improvement in our 50th year as a national park.” This project utilized recreation fee dollars to improve and update the Spring at CRNP Cont'd on page 8
UPCOMING EVENTS... 2022 Spring Break Wayne School District
2022 Spring Break Garfield School District
March 9 -11, 2022
April 11 - 15, 2022
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. MAR. 10 - WED. MAR. 16
Sunny and partly cloudy with low chances of precipitation throughout the week. Highs range from the mid 20s to high 50s; lows range from the single digits to mid 20s.
Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.
—Anita Krizzan
ALL content for THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER MUST BE submitted by FRIDAY AT NOON to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.
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PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122