I wrote this piece almost 4 years ago. The sentiment holds true 100% and most of my predictions have unfortunately become more and more apparent.
Luckily, the politicians have “pumped the brakes” as Governor Cox put it on the Lake Powel Pipeline, not killed it so much as maybe recognized that there really isn’t any water to be stolen.
The unfortunate part is that the Northern Corridor is back in the news. Conserve Southwest Utah, along with a few other national and regional groups sued the Department of Interior over the decision that would give UDOT the right of way to build said highway through a National Conservation Area, something that has never been done. The DOI, upon reviewing the lawsuit and the decision that was made asked the judge to allow them to go back and review said decision. This essentially put the Corridor on hold until a full review of the legality of the road could be done.
The local BLM office is currently working on this and the politicians are super pissed. The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, the folks who are supposed to be managing and protecting this area, but who are also funded and beholden to the County Commissioners are spreading a lot of false information about this process.
What you need to know:
- Zone 6 is not currently up for review. Opposing the highway does not mean Zone 6 will go away.
- The only item currently up for comment and review is the legality of putting a highway through endangered species habitat, a National Conservation Area and lands that were purchased with Land, Water, Conservation Funds money.
- Constructing this road would not only destroy part of the little bit of the red desert we have left, but it would set an awful precedent. Basically opening up all conversion area lands for road development. Meaning that keeping Zone 6 by permitting a Highway, would mean that they could just turn around and put one through Zone 6 which is already proposed on the County’s travel management plan.
- For Zone 6 to be affected by this decision, the County would have to request another ammendment to the NCA to reverse the protections given to Zone 6. This is unlikely and would take years to perform.
- Even if Zone 6 is rescinded, the majority of the land was and would continue to be protected by the BLM land holdings and the Bear Claw Poppy Reserve.
You should, by all means, oppose this effort to divide our community and to give us more of what we don’t want. You can comment on the road right of way until the 21st. EplanningUi (blm.gov) Read the FAQ for more details and to confirm what I’m telling you.
Now a reprint of this letter so you get what is at stake.
Luke this is well written and I agree with you. I hope to come back to SG area someday and I don’t want to come back to some huge city.
I love SG because of the small community feel and the opportunity to go outside and enjoy the outdoors without a million people right on top of you.
Love you buddy! Take care.
Lukas, you need to get this type of info into the local printed media also (if you haven’t already.) Anger is an awesome generator of energy but it is raw energy that requires directing to be effective; your writing can contribute greatly to both the generating and directing. IMHO, growth is always linked to the prosperity of communities. The claim usually goes like this…growth is what generates jobs for crafts and community support organizations, etc, its the good that goes with the bad. Well again IMHO, that’s a specious claim. Jobs are created but they also generate yet more growth as people move to this “prized area” to fill the jobs. (very few people will want to move to “suck-a-dick Arkansas” to work for less than optimal wages but yeah they’ll jump at the chance to move to paradise) . The only way forward following this model is for the residents to be willing to sacrifice what they love and cherish so that they have a path forward for their children and children’s children; which ironically just destroys what they want to preserve for their future spawn in the first place. Irony rules at this point. Lukas, fight the fight, it’s worthy. scarf
Hey Lukas!
My buddy Craig Shanklin passed your post on to me. Your thinking on these two projects is right up an alley I’ve been working for the past 8 years. I’m the board president of Conserve Southwest Utah, with about 3,000 locals of the same thinking. CSU has been mobilizing resistance to these projects for 14 years now, and proposing sensible alternatives and we’re in a really critical phase right now. We need all the help and ideas we can get. Want to talk about joining forces?
My wife has been in contact with some of your board members. We are both more than willing to help.
Scarf, you are dead on!
Well articulated and thoughtful as always. Thank you.
Eye opener for me, thanks for making us aware.
Thanks Nephi. We’re gonna do our best to make sure it’s still small here.
Thanks Monte.
Well said Lukas! Thanks for sharing. As you come across specific things we can do, please let us know.
Yes, I did comment extensively on the Northern Corridor proposal I am certainly up for getting more involved. I will reach out to you and Conserve Southwestern Utah to see how we can bring about change In Ivins for example the first step could be to make sure some of the incumbents on the City Council don’t get reelected
You’re spot on dude!