By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Burraston Ponds, located near Mona on Highway 41, are now closed to overnight camping until a plan can be devised to manage the ponds as more than a day fishery.
John Fairchild, Regional Supervisor at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, met with Juab County Commissioners to discuss his ideas about the wilderness reserve.
The commission and Fairchild will go to Burraston Ponds on April 6 at 3 p.m. and try to come to a resolution of the way camping should be handled at the recreation area.
Conversations in the past have been that the DWR wanted to have the county take over maintenance of the facility if the commissioners wanted to keep it open to camping but the county commission has continued to maintain that there is not enough money for the county to take on the running of the area.
"We would like to see camping continue there," said Fairchild. "The reason I showed up is that I heard loud and clear that Burraston Ponds was the only free camping in the state."
However, he said it came at a cost. The only ones the DWR collected from were the ones who bought fishing and hunting licenses.
In an attempt to make the facility still usable to Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troops, John Gailey, Utah National Parks Council and David Johnson, Maple Dell Scout Camp, had been contacted.
"They have been asked if they would like to take over the north loop," said Fairchild.
However, the DWR does have policy and rules that they abide by, and though they are not directed to do so, he thinks it would be better to open the bidding up to any other groups that might be interested.
"What we do is manage wildlife," said Fairchild.
The DWR was not in the practice of managing campgrounds.
He said that DWR manages fishing, hunting and allows archery. Boy Scouts line up well with that.
There would need to be agreements made and the area would need to be reserved with the Utah National Parks Council, if they end up with the north loop of Burraston Ponds. They would fence that area.
"They would put in a pavilion," he said
The LDS church has an agreement with the Utah National Parks Council and their youth groups would be able to use that section of Burraston Ponds.
"The rest of the area would be a day-use only fishery," said Fairchild.
In the past, there have been several free maintained campsites with fire pits and some with tables.
Fairchild said that there were approximately four camping spots on the south end but that would not end up being open to camping.
Burraston Ponds consists of three large spring fed ponds which provide fishing, swimming and boating (kayaks, canoes, rafts).
The free campsites that have been used in the past have gone quickly on weekends and have been popular with college students, scouts, youth groups, families and family reunions.
The county has maintained the roads at the facility and there have been no vehicle restrictions.
"I am supportive of the use by the Boy Scouts but I think you are being prejudicial," said Byron Woodland, commission chairman.
He thought that the shutting of the facilities to any camping, other than Boy Scouts, was being prejudicial against young women and families.
"You will get a big push back from the public," said Woodland.
The criminal activity that the DWR said was causing problems, said Woodland, would have been on the north end because it was more out of sight. However, there was not even much of that.
At most, there were 10 to 12 criminal cases a year.
Jared Eldridge, county attorney, said that most of those cases were handled in the Juab County Justice Court.
"You have wanted to shift management to the county and the county is the least financially capable—DWR has more money than we do," Woodland said. "We maintain the roads and provide law enforcement."
He said that he resented the DWR closing the facility to all-day use.
The south end has a history of free camping on a first come, first served basis and that would be what he would like to see continued.
Fairchild said that the south end would be the area where people could come in and picnic and fish. It would be a community fishing pond.
"We stock it with fish every week all summer long," he said.
The entire area would be accessible on foot. The DWR was looking at four pull-outs for parking on the south side. Those interested in day use could park and walk around, he said.
That way they could access the levy.
That would eliminate camping along the stream, said Woodland. That was a popular area and it was heavily used.
"We need to go out with you," said Rick Carlton, commissioner. He suggested taking more of a bird's eye view which could only be done on site. Looking it over in person, rather than just looking over the DWR map, would be more helpful.
Clinton Painter, commissioner, said he also wanted Burraston Ponds to remain open to camping. It was a place for family reunions and a place where mom and dad could take the kids. He was also one of those fishermen and hunters who bought licenses.
Fairchild said that he knew the commissioners represented a large constituency and had the feel of what the people in the area wanted.
