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- DWR wants out of managing Burraston Ponds; county asked to take over
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Camping at Burraston Ponds, while popular, will need to be managed more by Juab County and less by Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), if it continues.
John Fairchild is currently the regional supervisor for the DWR Central Utah Region. Prior to his current work he spent most of his 35-year career in the Habitat Section of DWR.
He attended Juab County Commission meeting on Monday to discuss the role of DWR in managing camping areas. It was short and sweet—DWR doesn't.
"You asked me to go back to my office and put on paper a proposal for campground facilities at Burraston Ponds," he said.
He had done that and presented the ideas he had to the commission. He said that he had not yet discussed the proposal with any of his superiors at the agency.
"It is kind of a catch-22," he said. "I wanted to find out what the county would do before approaching them."
He suggested that the county might want to work with DWR to develop a recreation development plan for Burraston Ponds and assist DWR in securing grants for funding improvements.
"The county would provide a campground host from March to September to assume the following responsibilities: oversee campground activities, notify the county sheriff or local CO when laws are needed to be enforced, campground rules, limit camping to designated areas on a 'first come, first served' basis, post 'campground full' sign when no more spaces are available, collect fees if the county decides to charge for camping, and maintain restroom facilities when they are installed by DWR," he said.
The county would also provide heavy equipment, operator and road base material for improved parking at each campsite, the campground loop road, picnic areas and boat access.
The county would also agree to maintain all improved surfaces on the property (county road system, campground roads and parking areas).
"DWR would develop a recreation development plan for Burraston Ponds and seek funding for improvements identified in the plan," said Fairchild.
They would seek funding for single use camp sites, island group use camp sites, two-unit restrooms, boating access with parking, picnic areas with three tables per area and parking, a trail system, fisherman parking, a fishing pier, and would stock ponds with catchable rainbow trout.
"We will continue to collaborate with Nephi City on a Community Fishing Program," he said. "We are already working with them on fishing clinics for kids."
"As I look at this list, it is heavy on the county side," said Byron Woodland, commissioner. "I am not opposed to the county working with DWR on a plan."
Before they work on a plan, however, said Woodland, he wanted to see a copy of the county's agreement with DWR. He had asked for it several times and wondered if the county needed to make a GRAMA (Government Records Access and Management Act) form in order to get the information.
Fairchild said that would not help. He had been trying to locate the agreement but had not found it where he expected it to be. He would, however, conduct an all out search.
"I know that it exists," he said.
At first, Burraston's was planned as a fish hatchery but the Burraston family had agreed that as long as it was used as a fishery, it would meet the needs of their agreement with DWR, he said.
If the county were to make the ponds into a KOA-style campground, Fairchild said, it would need to be done to a certain standard and would cost well over $350,000.
There would need to be toilets, picnic tables, graveled roads and other upgrades.
"We need to decide what we want there," he said.
Woodland said that he had been visiting the site on a weekly basis and, two weeks ago, there were three scout camps there. It would not be a popular thing if DWR were to close the area to camping.
"I would not rule out BSA as a partner," said Fairchild. "We could see if they wanted to take over the group area and island."
He said that there was little trouble at the site in the daytime but after 10 p.m. there were problems, and some of them were serious requiring law enforcement.
"We need somebody there, a campground host, and that would be a responsibility of the county. It is not a game we play. At the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, we believe that wildlife is valuable to everyone. We serve the people of Utah by managing and protecting the state's wildlife and by conserving wildlife habitat," he said.
In 1965, the way the area was managed worked fine but that was no longer the case. It is currently free to camp there but if a fee were charged it would help provide the needed funds to hire a campground host.
"We can't break our own bank either," said Woodland. "I don't know if we are in a position to take over management."
Chad Winn, commission chairman, said that he thought that most of the campers were from out of the area.
Most of those who use the area, locally, are there for fishing.
"That does not mean," said Woodland, "that it is not used by local people."
His children do use the ponds area for recreation while he has never camped there in the 30 years he has been in the county.
"If it were an easy decision," said Fairchild, "we would have closed Burraston's to camping last year."
"The key decision, is whether or not the county wants to be involved in oversight," said Fairchild. "Currently, you maintain the roads."
"This is a good plan if dollars weren't involved," Winn said. "We appreciate the work you have done and, as a commission we will discuss it."
He said that Commissioner Rick Carlton was not present because he was representing the county at an important meeting.
"I do want a copy of the agreement we have with DWR," said Woodland.
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