The announcements below were once listed as news items on the Ogden Sierra Club home page. Some may still be of current interest, while others are now quite out of date. Note that some links may no longer be valid. The announcements are in approximate chronological order, with the most recent announcements at the top.
Gondola remains a priority for Godfrey. This commentary explains and documents why Ogden citizens should still be concerned about the mayor's plans for the gondola and for developing our foothills, despite his recent announcement that he will not sell the Mt. Ogden Golf Course.
Where do the candidates stand on environmental issues? We have the answers. The Ogden Sierra Club has sent a questionnaire to all candidates for mayor and city council in the upcoming Ogden City municipal election. Responses are posted here. We encourage all citizens of Ogden to read the candidates' responses and vote on September 11 and November 6.
Mayor Godfrey Environmental Scorecard published. With the municipal election season upon us and an eight-year incumbent who is seeking another term, the Sierra Club offers this environmental scorecard rating our current mayor's environmental record in nine specific areas.
Godfrey reverses position on golf course. According to recent news reports (the first on July 8), Mayor Godfrey has changed his mind and is now promising not to sell the Mt. Ogden Golf Course for private development. Godfrey has also indicated that no Ogden City funds will be spent on the proposed urban gondola. At the same time, he has made it clear that he remains a strong advocate for the gondola project and believes the project is still possible. It is not yet clear whether Godfrey would consider selling other city-owned open space to accommodate the project. Godfrey has not responded to repeated requests from the Ogden Sierra Club, asking him to clarify his position in this regard.Please make plans now to attend our summer social. It will be held again at the home of Karen Thurber and John Hinds, 1760 22nd Street in Ogden, on Saturday, August 25th, at 6:30. The social is a pot luck, and drinks will be provided. The socials are always enjoyable and a good way to meet other group members. Come join us and bring along friends and family.
Ogden Wilderness: Now is the time. Peter Metcalf's call for wilderness (see item below) has prompted us to again highlight our wilderness proposal for the Mt. Ogden and Lewis Peak areas.
Outdoor industry leader links Ogden's economic future to environmental protection. If you didn't catch this powerful opinion column in the June 20 Standard-Examiner, you can read it here.
Ogden Sierra Club Social on August 26. A social sponsored by the Ogden Sierra Club will be held at the home of John Hinds and Karen Thurber (1760 22nd Street in Ogden) on Saturday, August 26, starting at 6:00 p.m. Participants are asked to provide a potluck dish sufficient to serve eight people. Ogden Group leaders will provide liquid refreshments. This event is open to all Club members, friends and family of members, and non-members who are interested in learning more about the Sierra Club. As always, the social will also be a fun way to connect with others who are concerned about local environmental issues. If you are interested in hiking the nearby and newly-opened Birdsong Trail prior to the social, please contact John Hinds (621-0196 or jhinds at earthlink.net) to get information about arrangements. For other questions about the social, contact Mary Herring (Ogden Group Membership Chair) at 444-9574 or al.mary.herring at worldnet.att.net. We hope to see you on August 26!
Forest Plan appeal successful! Our recent appeal of the Ogden Ranger District's decision to open dozens of additional routes to off-road vehicle travel was successful, at least in part. In early July the Forest Supervisor reversed the District's decision on the grounds that the analysis of "cumulative impacts" was inadequate. A draft supplemental Environmental Impact Statement is expected in December. Meanwhile, we hope the Forest Service will vigorously enforce its existing travel plan.
Massive foothill development planned. After months of rumors, Mayor Godfrey announced in April a proposal to sell 175 acres of city-owned park land for a 400-home residential development and gondola base station in Ogden's foothills. The development would also incorporate 130 acres of land owned by Weber State University. Extensive city resources have already gone into developing and promoting this proposal, even though it is inconsistent with the city's general plan. (Historical note: Here's what Mayor Godfrey said about foothill developments and gondolas in 2003.)
A Ski Area in Malan's Basin? The much-touted development proposal for Malan's Basin includes a ski area that our mayor and the property owner are comparing to Brighton. Here's a side-by-side comparison of Malan's Basin and Brighton.
UTA and WFRC recommend streetcar system for Ogden transit corridor. Our regional transit and planning authorities have just concluded a study of future transit options for the corridor between downtown Ogden and south Harrison Blvd. After considering a host of issues, the study concludes that this corridor would be best served by an electric streetcar system, with TRAX-like stations at the intermodal transit hub, 23rd and Washington, 26th and Washington, 26th and Monroe, Weber State University, and 4400 S Harrison (serving the Dee Events Center and McKay-Dee Hospital). The streetcars would tentatively run at 8-minute intervals. Thanks to the fast, quiet, and convenient service they would offer, the projected ridership is quite high. The study's second-choice recommendation was a "bus rapid-transit" system using dedicated lanes and stations. However, the city's administration does not seem to be interested in either option, instead favoring an aerial gondola that would move only 13 miles per hour, intended primarily to serve tourists rather than Ogden residents. The 4.5-mile gondola ride would then connect downtown to the proposed tram to Malan's Basin.
Ogden Sierra Club appeals Forest Service decision on ATV trails. The decision by the Ogden Ranger District to convert dozens of nonmotorized routes into motorized roads and trails, and to construct several completely new looping ATV trails, was one more step in a multi-year effort to promote ORV use at the expense of quiet recreation and wildlife habitat. We filed an appeal of the decision in late May, and expect a decision on our appeal to be announced in early July.
According to rumors and news reports, the Ogden City administration is preparing to announce plans for a major new development in the foothills. The development would apparently incorporate much of greater Mt. Ogden park, which the city would sell. Lands currently owned by Weber State University may also be affected. City officials are privately showing the plans to a few individuals at a time. We urge Ogden residents to contact their City Council members and politely request that the plans be revealed to the public. (Historical note: Here's what Mayor Godfrey said about foothill developments and gondolas in 2003.)
Clearcutting in Malan's Basin has begun. Last fall a crew of workers cut an extensive clearing through the riparian area in the Basin, as well as various trails and clearings elsewhere on the property. While the Sierra Club respects the property owner's rights, we also believe it is important for the public to know what is occurring--hence this photo collection (not for those with weak stomachs). We have also written a letter to the property owner (pdf, 172k) and a follow-up letter (pdf, 148k) expressing several concerns about the activities that have recently taken place.
Lift Ogden now proposes only half a tram! Backing off from the earlier proposal to build a tram connecting Ogden's east bench to Snowbasin ski area, the Lift Ogden Committee (chaired by Mayor Godfrey's father-in-law) is now saying the tram would go only halfway up the mountain, ending at a proposed resort development in Malan's Basin. Such a development would, of course, also require electricity, water, and sewage facilities, as well as a four-season access road for construction and emergency use. (After all, Malan's original resort was destroyed a hundred years ago by fire.) The city is looking into whether the access road could pass through Taylor Canyon, where the city owns water rights. A commercial "village" is also proposed for the east bench area at the base of the tram, probably near the south end of the Mt. Ogden golf course. According to proponents, the combination of the urban gondola and the Malan's Basin tram would attract 700,000 riders per year, turning Ogden into "the next Aspen, Colorado." Dreaming is fun, isn't it?
Potluck Social to Be Held Saturday, July 9. Our summer potluck social will be hosted by John Hinds and Karen Thurber at their home (1760 22nd Street in Ogden) on Saturday, July 9, starting at 6:00 p.m. Please bring a dish to share, sufficient to serve eight. The Ogden Group leaders will provide liquid refreshments. This event is open to all members, friends, family, and others who are interested in learning more about the Sierra Club. If you have questions, please call Mary Herring (membership chair) at 444-9574.
New edition of Outings Guide published. The expanded 5th edition of our popular Ogden Area Outings Guide is now available! See our outings page for details.
Ogden Ranger District Issues Revised ORV Proposal. After nearly a year and a half, the Ogden Ranger District has finally issued a revised version of its proposal to open additional trails in the area to ATV's. After a first reading of the 200-page document, it appears to us that the new "Preferred Alternative" is only about half as bad as what they proposed in July 2003. The Forest Service still wants to legalize motorized travel on dozens of additional routes. Of these, there are three that are especially troubling:
Potluck Social to Be Held Saturday, February 12
Kathy and Bill Dowell, longtime members of the Sierra Club, have graciously agreed to again host this winter's social at their home near Wolf Creek on Saturday, February 12. All Sierra Club members, friends, and those interested in learning more about the Club are invited. The social will begin at 5:00 followed by a potluck dinner.
The Dowells live at 4115 N. Juniper Lane in Eden and their phone number is 745-4115. To get to their home, travel up through Ogden Canyon and turn left at the dam. At the north end of Pineview Reservoir there is a Y in the road. Go left at the Y and then straight across the 4-way stop intersection towards Powder Mountain. At the top of the hill is the Wolf Creek Golf Course clubhouse. Juniper Lane is the first road on the left after the clubhouse. The Dowell driveway is the first on the right on Juniper Lane. There is limited parking and turn-around space in the driveway so you may want to park on Juniper and walk to the house. (Wear your boots.)
Please RSVP to Mary Herring (801-444-9574) if you plan to attend.
Gondolas for Urban Mass Transit? Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey made the news recently by proposing an aerial gondola for transporting commuters between downtown Ogden and Weber State University. A report on the feasibility of this proposal, commissioned by the city at a cost of $62,000, was released to the public in October. Now a broader analysis of multiple transit options for this portion of Ogden is being conducted by UTA and the Wasatch Front Regional Council. At their invitation, the Ogden Sierra Club is participating in the stakeholders committee for this study.
After a first look at the various transit options for this urban corridor, it appears that a gondola would have one major disadvantage: speed. If the gondola followed a fairly direct route up to Harrison Blvd. and then south to WSU, with no intermediate stops, the ride would take about 18 minutes--the same as the current local bus service. The proposed gondola route via Ogden's east bench would take five minutes longer still, and be susceptible to additional delays due to canyon winds. Although intermediate stations can be added along a gondola line, these would lengthen the travel time even more. On the other hand, an express bus between downtown Ogden and WSU could make the trip in only 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, Mayor Godfrey has just asked the City Council to approve yet another feasibility study of a tram or gondola on the west side of Mt. Ogden, connecting the east bench to Snowbasin. The Sierra Club has always opposed this proposal, on the grounds that we should not be mechanizing and commercializing any more of our dwindling mountain wilderness. Nearly every major summit in the Ogden area is already accessible by either car, motorcycle, or ski lift. The mayor has claimed that a gondola to Snowbasin would be an "economic engine for downtown Ogden," even though the last (1998) feasibility study concluded that it would not be sufficiently unique to attract new tourists to our area. Even on purely economic grounds, we suspect that preserving out mountain wilderness is a better investment than constructing yet another mechanized contraption.
Forest Service encourages illegal ORV use. The Ogden Sierra Club has released a 30-page report titled "Public Disinformation: How the Forest Service Encourages Illegal Off-Road Vehicle Use." Based on information provided by the Forest Service and extensive field research, the report describes more than two dozen ways in which the Ogden Ranger District has failed to effectively implement its designated-routes-only policy toward motorized travel. The report goes on to examine why so many legally closed routes have been managed as if they were open to ORV use, and to recommend steps that the Forest Service can take to solve this problem at little or no cost. See our ORV web page to download the report and for related information.
Tram Spam returns! Not content with the commercialization of the entire east side of Mt. Ogden, a few zealous promoters are still pushing to commercialize the west side as well. It now appears that Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey has been secretly pursuing the Mt. Ogden tram idea for the last two years, assisted by a private "committee" of other tram supporters including Scott Trundle, publisher of the Ogden Standard-Examiner. In addition to a tram on Mt. Ogden, the plan appears to include a gondola going up 23rd Street to the east bench, and another gondola going along the bench down to Weber State University. Sigh. Won't these well-meaning but misguided tram promoters ever grow up and realize that gimmicks don't make a vibrant city? For those who have bought into s ome of the wishful thinking propounded by tram promoters, we've prepared this tram reality check. Needless to say, our position remains the same as was put so well by the Pizza Runner's sign, six years ago: I DO NOT LIKE GREEN EGGS AND TRAM!
Forest Service proposes major expansion of ATV trails near Ogden. We knew it would be bad, but not this bad. The Ogden Ranger District is proposing to add approximately 25 miles of motorized trails to its system of 150 miles of existing roads and trails open to off-highway vehicles. This proposal would make motorized recreation the dominant use in about 3/4 of the District. Click here for an overview of the Forest Service proposal and links to further information.
Adopt a Roadless Area! We're looking for a dozen or more volunteers to help monitor National Forest roadless areas near Ogden. This is a great way to get involved and enjoy the outdoors at the same time. See our extensive Adopt a Roadless Area web pages for more information.
ORV Monitoring -- Volunteer Opportunity!
Enjoy a beautiful spring day hiking AND help document off-road vehicle impacts on our public lands. Join the Ogden Sierra Club and Great Old Broads for Wilderness for a day of hiking and ORV monitoring. It's the perfect time of year to get out and enjoy spring with like-minded activists while doing something that can make a difference!
Irresponsible ORV use is fast becoming one of the biggest environmental problems along the Wasatch Front and elsewhere. Please join us in making sure that our public lands remain protected and that proper management practices are put in place for increasing ORV use (and abuse). No experience or special skills are required. You do not need to be a member to join us--all volunteers are welcome.
The Details:
Job opportunity: Weber Pathways, a nonprofit organization that promotes nonmotorized trails in Weber County, is looking for a new full-time Executive Director. Click here to read the job announcement; application deadline is March 12.
Winter pot luck social. Kathy and Bill Dowell, longtime members of the Sierra Club, have graciously agreed to host this winter's social at their home near Wolf Creek on Sunday, February 8. All Sierra Club members and prospective members are invited. Those wishing to ski or snowshoe should meet at the Dowells' at 3:00 p.m. for a two-hour excursion. Those who want to come for dinner only should arrive around 5 p.m.
Your Ogden Group Executive Committee cooks will provide a hearty soup or chili and some drinks. Please bring food for eight to complement the soups; good choices would be salad, bread, dessert, etc. Also please bring your own plate, bowl, cup and utensils. If you have any questions, call Mary Herring, the Membership Chair, at 444-9574. This is an opportunity to meet and enjoy fellow members and like-minded neighbors. As in previous events like this the conversation should be lively and the food delicious.
The Dowells live at 4115 N. Juniper Lane in Eden. Their phone number is 745-4115. To get to their home, travel up through Ogden Canyon and turn left at the dam. At the north end of Pineview Reservoir there is a Y in the road. Go left at the Y and then straight across the 4-way stop intersection towards Powder Mountain. At the top of the hill is the Wolf Creek golf course clubhouse. Juniper Lane is the first road on the left after the clubhouse. The Dowell driveway is the first on the right on Juniper Lane. There is limited parking and turn-around space in the driveway so you may want to park on Juniper and walk to the house (wear your boots). As a courtesy to the hosts, please let Mary or the Dowells know if you plan to attend.
Ski Clinic repeat (by popular demand). Our cross-country ski clinic in December was such a huge success that we've scheduled another one! John Hinds will lead this two-part class which will teach the basics of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The first session will be held at the Weber County Library (25th and Jefferson) in the basement classroom at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 29th. This indoor session will focus on technique and equipment. The second session, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, will provide an opportunity to actually practice on the hill and get pointers from experienced practitioners. Meet at 9:30 at the northeast parking lot of the Ogden High School. For more information, call John Hinds at 621-0196. Both sessions are free and open to the public, but we suggest that you consider making a $10 contribution for the Sierra Club's conservation work.
Cross-Country Ski Clinic. The snow is here and the Sierra Club is ready with our popular clinic for skiers of all abilities. The first of two sessions will be held Wednesday evening, December 3, when master skier Jock Glidden will discuss technique, equipment, and where to ski. This session will be held in the downstairs auditorium of the Weber County main library, 25th and Jefferson, at 7:00 p.m. A second session of hands-on instruction will be held at a suitable outdoor location on Saturday, December 13 (or December 20 if there is insufficient snow). A suggested donation of $10 will benefit the conservation activities of the Ogden Sierra Club. Call Jock at 394-0457 for more information.
Wasatch-Cache National Forest Plan released! Four years in the making, the long-awaited Plan is finally here. As expected, it's a mixed bag. Good elements include strict limits on ski area expansions, closing the Willard and Lewis Peak roadless areas to snowmobiling, and the recommendation of most of the Upper South Fork roadless area for Wilderness status. The biggest disappointment is that the Plan outlines a policy of increased accomodation of off-road vehicles, including the establishment of the Shoshone ATV Trail system and the probable opening of new routes to motorized use.
Legacy Highway planning is again in progress. Let's keep the pressure on public officials to do it right this time! Let them know that we want an honest evaluation of transit alternatives, as well as an honest consideration of roadway options that would be less damaging than a freeway through the wetlands. Most importantly, we want an evaluation of the benefits to the community of building transit first, before any major new road construction. If you missed the recent scoping meeting, you can email your comments to nancy.kang@usace.army.mil.
Commuter Rail is on the way! The Utah Transit Authority is currently in the scoping phase of the environmental analysis of the Ogden-SLC commuter rail project. Now is your chance to have input into the decisions on station locations, times of service, and other details of this project. For more information, visit the UTA web site.
Off-Road Vehicles in our National Forests. Everyone is invited to a public presentation and open discussion of this issue to be held at Weber State University, Union Building, Room 338 at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16. The presentation will include photos of ORV damage in nearby roadless areas, a discussion of the proposed Shoshone ATV Trail and the new Wasatch-Cache National Forest Plan, and a preview of upcoming opportunities for volunteers to help lessen the impact of motor vehicles on our public lands. Sponsored by the Ogden Sierra Club, the Bear River Watershed Council, and the WSU Environmental Issues Committee. Please attend!
Outgoing Representative Jim Hansen's Shoshone ATV Trail legislation did not pass the Senate before Congress adjourned in fall 2002, thanks to the efforts of the Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, and the Wild Utah Project. Of course, ATV damage to our local public lands is ongoing, and the Shoshone proposal itself will almost certainly come back soon in one form or another. The Ogden Ranger District will soon begin revising its motorized travel plan, and this process should give us a chance to address this issue in a constructive way.
Powder Mountain is no longer in the cross-hairs of Park City developer Brent Ferrin, who recently announced that he will not be purchasing the property from owner Alvin Cobabe. Ferrin cited the lagging economy as the main reason he changed his mind, but opposition from some Weber County Commissioners may have also played a role. The Sierra Club hopes to work with the County and the Cobabe family in devising a long-term stewardship plan for the area that is in the best interest of all.
Legacy Highway stopped! The Sierra Club, Utahns for Better Transportation, and Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson prevailed when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 16 that the Legacy Highway construction permit violated federal environmental laws. Construction is now suspended indefinitely, while the Utah Department of Transportation undertakes a new environmental study that must consider a broader range of alternatives. It remains to be seen whether alternatives to a new freeway will be given fair, objective consideration in this study. The Sierra Club and the other plaintiffs are attempting to work with highway promoters in looking for a mutually agreeable solution to the region's transportation needs.
Potluck Social To Be Held January 26, 2003
Kathy and Bill Dowell, longtime members of the Sierra Club, have graciously agreed to host this winter's social at their home near Wolf Creek on Sunday, January 26. All Sierra Club members and prospective members are invited. Those wishing to ski or snowshoe should meet at the Dowell's at 2:00 p.m. for a three hour excursion. Those who want to come for dinner only should arrive around 5 p.m.
Your Ogden Group Executive Committee cooks will provide a hearty soup or chili and some drinks. Please bring food for eight to complement the soups; good choices would be salad, bread, dessert, etc. Also please bring your own plate, bowl, cup and utensils. Call Suzanne Storer at 479-5035 with any questions you may have. This is an opportunity to meet and enjoy fellow members and like-minded neighbors. As in previous events like this the conversation should be lively and the food delicious.
The Dowells live at 4115 N. Juniper Lane in Eden. Their phone number is 745-4115. To get to their home, travel up through Ogden Canyon and turn left at the dam. At the north end of Pineview Reservoir there is a Y in the road. Go left at the Y and then straight across the 4-way stop intersection towards Powder Mountain. At the top of the hill is the Wolf Creek golf course clubhouse. Juniper Lane is the first road on the left after the clubhouse. The Dowell driveway is the first on the right on Juniper Lane. There is limited parking and turn-around space in the driveway so you may want to park on Juniper and walk to the house. (Wear your boots.)
As a courtesy to the hosts, please let Suzanne or the Dowells know if you plan to attend.
Representative Jim Hansen's Shoshone Trail legislation has been passed by the House of Representatives, but is yet to be considered in the Senate. This bill would designate a 400-mile system of routes in northern Utah as the Shoshone recreation trail, with motorized use as the primary purpose. About half of the system is in the Ogden and Logan Ranger Districts of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with the rest on BLM land, state wildlife refuges, and other state and private land. While most of the routes are already open to motorized use, there are several exceptions. Furthermore, the legislation would elevate motorized recreation above other land management considerations, and the intent is to attract vastly increased numbers of ATV riders to northern Utah (with no long-term funding to manage this activity). Click here to learn more.
Powder Mountain and the surrounding area are being targeted for a major real estate development covering 12,000 acres in Weber and Cache Counties. The developer (from Park City) is asking both counties for zoning changes that would allow him to build thousands of private homes and condominiums atop this rural plateau. While the Sierra Club does not object to limited, concentrated development at Powder Mountain Ski Area, we strongly oppose the transformation of so much of our open space into a sprawling subdivision. The development would have serious effects on the adjacent Middle Fork Wildlife Management Area, as well as on watershed, traffic congestion, and the overall quality of life throughout Ogden Valley and the southern portion of Cache Valley. Click here to learn more.
Injunction stops Legacy Highway construction! This story is all over the papers, but they've said surprisingly little about the legal issues that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is considering. Perhaps the best article so far is this one from the Salt Lake City Weekly. For more information, please visit the Utahns for Better Transportation web site, where you can read the text of the injuction order itself.
Ogden City is hosting an open house to discuss plans for the Ogden Mall site, this Wednesday evening, July 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Eccles Conference Center (2415 Washington). Please attend and participate in this effort to improve our downtown! The Ogden Sierra Club supports pedestrian-friendly developments with residential apartments above commercial shops. We would like to see a useful center of commerce for local residents, rather than gimmicks to attract tourists.
Nordic Valley expansion proposals are again in the news. For about a year, the web site nordicvalley.com has described plans (by the owners of Nordic Valley Golf Course) to expand this small family ski area up the mountain into the Lewis Peak roadless area of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Still, as recently as December 2001, a news article reported that all new developments would be on private property, according to ski area operator Randy Whetton. On March 18, however, the newspaper reported that Whetton's plans include expanding the ski area from 60 acres to 2000 acres, with six ski lifts and an extensive resort at the base. A more detailed article appeared on March 31, along with accompanying articles on lawsuits between the competing developers and allegations of trespassing by one on the other's property. Although the adjacent National Forest lands are probably safe while this dispute is going on, it seems likely that one developer or another will eventually submit a formal proposal to expand into the Forest Service roadless area. (If you have a fast internet link, click here to see a detailed topographic map of Nordic Valley and the proposed expansion area. According to the Nordic Valley web site, the highest ski lift would extend up to peak 8110, the high point of the popular Skyline Trail. The National Forest boundary is just above the higher of the existing lifts, at the boundary between sections 31 and 32. Note also that any lateral expansion to the south would be directly above an existing residential subdivision.) Take action: Write a letter to the editor in opposition to any resort expansion into the Lewis Peak roadless area. Send a copy of your letter to District Ranger Ruth Monahan, WCNF Ogden Ranger District, 507 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. (So far, the Forest Service has expressed quite a bit of skepticism about Nordic Valley expansion. Let's show them that the public is even more skeptical!)
All Sierra Club members and prospective members are invited to attend a potluck social on Sunday, March 24, starting at 5:00 p.m. This will be a chance to get to know each other and discuss local environmental issues. The meeting will be held at the Tanglewood Clubhouse, located at the foot of Tanglewood Drive in Layton. (Tanglewood Drive is located on the east side of Highway 89 just south of Oak Hills Drive in Layton. If you need more detailed directions, call Al Herring at 444-9574.) For further information on this event or Sierra Club membership, contact Suzanne Storer at 479-5035.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail plan unveiled for Box Elder and Cache Counties. This is very good news for trail users to the north of Ogden, and we encourage all local residents to participate in the further stages of this planning process. For more information, see this Standard-Examiner article and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail web site.
Snowbasin and the Olympic Lie. Was the Snowbasin Land Exchange Act of 1996, and all the environmental damage it authorized, really needed for the 2002 Olympics? Read the full story in this illustrated article. Also check out this NPR program on the subject, featuring an interview with Ogden Group Chair Dan Schroeder (requires RealAudio).
Wilderness proposal released. As part of our comments on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest proposed management plan, the Ogden Sierra Club has proposed that wilderness areas be established on Mt. Ogden, Lewis Peak, Francis/Thurston Peaks, and the Upper South Fork (east of Causey Reservoir). (Popular mountain biking trails such as the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the Skyline Trail are excluded from our proposed wilderness areas.) Wilderness status for Wasatch Front roadless areas is the best way to ensure that these areas will never be commercialized or taken over by motorized recreation, as has happened in so many other places. Here is a map of our wilderness recommendations. To see the full text of our comments on the proposed forest plan, click here.
Snowmobile advocates compare conservationists to 9/11 terrorists! Sad but true. At the October 11 hearing in Logan on the WCNF plan revision, not one but two speakers accused wilderness advocates of being no better than Osama bin Laden and the terrorists who attacked New York and Washington on September 11. How so? Just as the terrorists are "attacking our freedom" (according to President Bush), environmentalists are attacking the freedom of snowmobilers to take their noisy, polluting machines wherever they please. Both speakers who made this analogy were applauded loudly by approximately half the audience. (For a summary of the hearing, read this Standard-Examiner article.)
Victory! The Wheeler Creek trail proposal, developed over the last two years by the WCNF Ogden Ranger District, has been modified to incorporate nearly all of our suggested changes. Many thanks to those of you who submitted comments on this proposal! The final plan still includes the needed improvements to popular trails in the Snow Basin area, as well as much new trail construction within the ski area. However, trails that would have encouraged lift-served recreation outside the ski area have been deleted from the plan, and the proposed grooming of cross-country ski routes has been lessened to preserve more of a backcountry experience. We applaud the Ogden Ranger District for its responsiveness to our concerns. The development of this plan is an excellent example of how the public comment process is intended to work.
Support clean energy and conservation! The Utah Chapter Sierra Club has endorsed the Grassroots Campaign for Wind Power, a campaign to promote clean, wind-generated electricity in our region. We also applaud incentives for energy efficiency and conservation, such as Utah Power's new 20/20 Challenge. Unfortunately, Governor Leavitt doesn't seem to get it. He's fixated on coal, suggesting that Utah should rapidly expand its coal-fired generating capacity (which already supplies nearly all of our electricity, plus lots of extra power that's sold to California). For more information on energy, check out the Sierra Club Energy web site or read this letter to western governors from the Colorado-based Land and Water Fund of the Rockies.
Job openings at Ogden Nature Center (click here for more information).
Email list. If you would like to be on an electronic mailing list to receive information about our conservation efforts and public events, send an email to dschroeder@cc.weber.edu. Both Club members and nonmembers are welcome to subscribe to this list, which will be used only for Ogden Group announcements.
Last modified on 16 February 2009
