Trust Lands Update - August 2002
01-Aug-2002
Trust Lands Update
Wildland Fire
An estimated 40,000 acres of trust land burned as part of the Rattle Complex fire in the Book Cliffs area northeast of Green River, Utah. The fire has taken a serious toll on older mature stands of conifers and desirable shrubs. However, older decadent stands of aspen that were consumed by the fire will actually benefit due to their ability to regenerate after fire.
The Trust Lands Administration is part of the national Burn Area Emergency Rehabilitation team currently assessing the effects of the fire. TLA is also organizing a limited timber-salvage sale for this fall.
A second fire on trust lands in the east fork of the Bear River destroyed portions of the East Fork Boy Scout camp. The Trust Lands Administration is assisting the Boy Scouts (who have a permit for the Scout camp on the property) in assessing damage, evaluating safety hazards and discussing timber-salvage possibilities.
Tabby Mountain Survey
The Trust Lands Administration is currently conducting a visitor survey on its Tabby Mountain Block. Tabby Mountain is a trust land block of approximately 27,500 acres within the Ashley National Forest straddling the Wasatch-Duchesne County line.
The survey counts the number of people visiting Tabby Mountain, what they do while they're there and where they'll be camping. The survey also reveals the type of traffic (campers, OHV's, horses, etc.) and the types of recreational activity within the block.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the types of impacts and number of visitors on the block and to provide a guide for management actions. Current management activities include fencing, timber harvesting, stream bank repair, topsoil erosion control, cattle guard construction, and road re-alignment to protect water courses.
The survey will continue through October 2002. For a free copy of the survey form and the Tabby Mountain visitor's brochure, contact us at 801-538-5105.
Mineral Inventory
The Trust Lands Administration is conducting a statewide inventory of minerals. This is a cooperative project between TLA and the Utah Geological Survey. The outcome of the project will be a database that can be conveniently used to (1) establish baseline mineral value for trust lands, (2) help promote mineral development on trust lands, and (3) help value trust lands for proposed land exchanges.
The inventory is limited to metallic minerals, industrial rocks and minerals, and selected energy fuels (tar sands, oil shale and uranium). Oil and gas, coal, coalbed methane, water, and geothermal resources are excluded from this project - these minerals are being evaluated separately.
The database is being developed on a county-by-county basis and will eventually be available on the Internet with information on status and availability of the lands. The on-line system will have the capability to provide reports, maps and copies of related documents to the public.
The inventory will embrace 4.2 million acres of trust land minerals and should be completed by June 2003.
Coral Canyon Development Leads To Governor's Award
The Trust Lands Administration is pleased to work with the award-winning organization SunCor Development and its Coral Canyon project.
SunCor Development received an Award of Merit from Envision Utah Governor's Quality Growth Awards for its "Coral Canyon" development on trust land in Washington City near St. George, Utah. This annual award is given to communities that are proactive in supporting the goals of Envision Utah, but, most importantly, improving the quality of life for the community's residents both now and in the future.
SunCor's Coral Canyon accomplishes those objectives with innovative and environmentally responsible plans, including:
Protecting and preserving open spaces in the development
Adding hiking and biking trail systems throughout the development
Promoting water conservation through irrigation and domestic water infrastructure and sources
This SunCor and Trust Lands' collaboration allows SunCor to invest its capital in the planning and creation of the project with Trust Lands as the supporting land partner. Trust Lands' compensation from Coral Canyon comes through three different mechanisms:
Trust Lands receives a percentage of the gross sales price as lots are sold
Trust Lands receives a percentage of rent on golf course activities
As commercial parcels are developed, Trust Lands Administration receives either a percentage of the value of the commercial parcel or participates with SunCor in ownership of the commercial building improvements as each individual commercial parcel is developed.
We look forward to the ongoing success of SunCor and Coral Canyon.