In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations

(Including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify June Jeffery

(435) 635-0427 ext. 109.

The City Recorder does hereby certify that the above notice was posted on the LaVerkin City website www.laverkin.org and the Utah Public Meeting Notice website http://pmn.utah.gov and

at the city office buildings on July 16, 2010.

June Jeffery, CMC

City Recorder

Board Members:

Karl Wilson                                                          LaVerkin City

Bob Sandberg                                                       Washington County-HCP

Annette Kleinman                                                Toquerville City

Advisory:

Steve Meismer                                                     Virgin River Program

Trail Kreitzer                                                       Division of Wildlife Resources

Others:

Kathleen Nielson                                                 Grant Writer

Ray Justice                                                          LaVerkin City Council

June Jeffery                                                         LaVerkin City Recorder

Tom Dansie                                                         Hurricane Trails River Run

Clark Fawcett - Hurricane City was absent.

Meeting Called to Order: Karl Wilson called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.

Report on July 4^th Activity/Race: Tom Dansie reported on the 4^th of July race that was held on Saturday the 3^rd. It started at 7:00 a.m. and lasted about 1 ½ hours. There were 75 registered runners and 20 volunteers. Twelve local businesses sponsored and donated prizes. The race went really well for its first year and provided great exposure to the Park.

To prepare for the event, there were numerous scouting and planning trips to identify the best course. Two weeks before the race, dead grasses were cleared from the course with gas trimmers. The night before, the course was marked with flour and streamers. Following the race, trash was picked up and the course was cleared of all marking. There was one aid station outside and other volunteers stationed inside the Park in case of emergency. The board stated that there could be other aid stations in the Park if race organizers felt the need.

Dansie wondered if this could become an annual event, and was given that support from the board. The race started in Hurricane about one mile before the Confluence area and continued for about four miles through the Park and to the finish. The final up-hill leg out of the park was pretty challenging. There was some concern about the number of future participants if the event grew in popularity. This race was not congested because the mile into the Park allowed the participants to spread out. There was some interest in capping the number of runners. Dansie stated that logistically for registration it would be difficult to accept more than 150-200 runners. The board expected that the number was reasonable.

There was discussion that the course gave a variety of trail types; the road into the park - a faint, narrow, old jeep trail with vegetation - a wider jeep trail parallel to the river - and the leg past the tortoise enclosure was narrow but worked well. The whole experience was good and the runners commented positively.

Further discussion investigated widening the road for maintenance or emergency access. There would be no need to widen the road for maintenance except to possibly clean up the old dump site. Four-wheelers would be able to access from either side of the river for emergencies.

Dansie had runners approach him to volunteer in trail clearing and support.

Report on Classes held in Confluence Park: Steve Meismer reported on the classes held by the "Wild Utah" project. Classes were on rapid stream assessment to look at a stream and the functionality of that stream. The class looked at portions of both Ash Creek and LaVerkin Creek.

There are three function categories: 1) non-functioning; 2) functioning but at risk; 3) functioning. Both Ash Creek and LaVerkin Creek were categorized as functioning at-risk. Issues were mainly from bank vegetation or non-native plants. Ash Creek came out a little worse than LaVerkin Creek. LaVerkin Creek had tamarisk, Russian olive, and arrundo. Ash Creek had grasses probably washing downstream from the Lichfield/Shangri-la area. There is also no upper canopy since the flooding in 2005. LaVerkin Creek had fish, Ash Creek had none. Kleinman mentioned that there were fish in the Ash Creek stream running through Toquerville. This may be because the water is cooler there.

From the reports, there should be some effort to find ways to fix the vegetation problems. Ash Creek is not actually within the Park boundaries, but LaVerkin Creek could benefit from some work. The beetles are working on the tamarisk, and there is regrowth coming from the fire last year. New growth is willow, cottonwood and other native vegetation.

Wild Utah has also worked in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Their website has a lot of information. They are a non-profit group. Zion Park and Southern Utah University use their technique and match this organization's restoration activities. Fourteen people took this course.

Sheep Grazing Proposal: While looking for a way to provide a fire break in the Park, Bob Sandberg discussed his concern with individuals who raise sheep. They questioned grazing as a possible solution. If sheep were put in the Park during January-March, the weeds could be grazed off so that dry growth would be minimal during the summer. There would have to be a proposal and some groundwork, but it seemed like a reasonable answer. Trail Kreitzer read from the Park plan that no grazing would be allowed outside the fenced pastures. Discussion that fences are around fields.

Sandberg was able to have an area cleared around fields near the dairy barn. The 16' plow was difficult to bring through the gates and some fences had to be opened. There has been a concern because of the number of recent brush fires - though the fire district has been able to get to them quickly.

There was consensus that the proposal would be worth pursuing. Discussion included: possibly providing an electric fence that could move with the sheep; asking grazers to help provide and maintain a fence in exchange for "free food"; maintenance may be more than expected; current fencing is net wire, barbed wire, and wood rail - that would not keep sheep; timing and the type of plants that sheep would eat; and that it could be worth the maintenance concerns as opposed to spending money on a fire break. If an electric fence is used there was some interest in public safety. This is not expected to be a concern, but some care should be taken. There is a need to protect the riparian corridor.

Sandberg has had request for camping this weekend. Requestors were made aware of flies, temperature, no fires, and no fireworks.

Grant Opportunities Update report: Kathleen Nielson has heard through the grapevine that the trail head grant request is high on the list. That will be announced September 1^st. She suggested that the group look carefully at the kiosk design. The State Trail Coordinator has said to be careful where it is placed - not directly facing south or west to protect it from deterioration from the sun.

This will not be Eagle Project material. The kiosk should be manufactured to work with similar types. They are designed with a steel frame and timber supports. This type is also graffiti protected. No cash is required for this grant. The County will provide work for the kiosk and fencing and there is a possibility that gravel will be donated.

Once the trail head is on the map with the State Trail Coordinator there may be more ability to fund. This is all federal money this year - there was no state money available. Depending on funds available next year - if all the trails can be laid out - application for the bridge may be good. Karl Wilson agreed that focus should be on trails. Hurricane City has volunteered their engineer to map the trails. Discussion that connectivity between Hurricane and LaVerkin is grantable if trails are in place. The bridge should be designed to allow horse and pedestrian use but not four-wheelers.

The second grant application went in without the irrigation line. It was received and was based on the park not having to come up with money. It was just for restoration and targeted getting rid of tamarisk and Russian olive. Nielson knows an organization that will donate 50% of their cost if the project can be done around their schedule in order to keep their workers busy in the winter months. This will be true eradication. Tamarisk trees would be cut close to the ground; stumps sprayed within 3 minutes with a herbicide; tree trunks and branches chipped.  Chips work very well when used for ground cover on trails.

The Ash Creek Sewer Board voted to table the sewer line for six months. Mayor Lefevre wants the line done at the same time as the treatment plant. Wilson has spent some time educating those who were opposed to the line going in, that the line will be HDPE pipe and will not deteriorate. He stated that the easement needs to be used. He was frustrated that Hurricane and Toquerville gave no financial support. LaVerkin Council voiced support with the other two cities' support.

Nielson sees this time as an opportunity to court other avenues for funding, including Meismer's company, DNR, and WCWCD. The applied-for grants will get rid of deadfall, set up the trailhead, get rid of invasive species, and set up for the irrigation to function. Sandberg said that Reed Harris from DNR was very supportive and may have money available next year. There was some suggestion that the County may have money. Ron Wilson had expected to be able to give $10,000 this year - don't know about next year.

There is no granting fund for just irrigation lines. Nielson said that both the grant awards will be announced in September.

Bob Sandberg: There has been some work to acquire the foreclosed Ken Anderson property. Proposal has been sent to VRLPT. Discussion that a portion of that property is in the flood plain. (75 acres of the 185 acre parcel). Anderson's Toahani development proposal is pretty dead. There are three conservation easements that are not moving. All of Anderson's properties went into foreclosure, the bank has pulled them back and Anderson has filed bankruptcy. There was brief discussion about acquiring the water rights that go with the 185 acres if it is purchased.

Minutes taken by June Jeffery.

August 18, 2010, Date Approved

Karl Wilson, Chair