[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6572711,"mediaKeyId","3162044-d32e55910d45f9a3edc91a2d8e671f99","parentId",3162044,"title","Habitat Council finalizes project list and budget after heated prioritization, approves multiple ECP‑funded projects","audioSeconds",6607,"startMs",1588000,"endMs",8195000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162044-d32e55910d45f9a3edc91a2d8e671f99&start=1588&end=8195","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162044-d32e55910d45f9a3edc91a2d8e671f99/thumbnail_1588000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6572711/Utah/Habitat-Council-finalizes-project-list-and-budget-after-heated-prioritization-approves-multiple-ECPfunded-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572711-93feb9e463f84ecea8e136530ccaeac6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075419&Signature=GDio1PuBFE1CpTNfNAGq89DCkjzQoIsji8ZRGBHp0epQAkfYsE2nj8h0gaPb3VWSccEApU3Mx8UxPUVaI2LoyppyzIEtyBsZWkUV0tKojH8GaeiaCjqIPY0a3UJu-zkoAofwnFWs-uTiR-G17IZvzIPP84UA7qIvsKh01sUmhpxQHmfmmpcuECStqoBqbjUwCD7rpW2Hw9bEE9Yc8z6fQ~CzidnoZf8K3-apfmcXtNc2jxnbgl4l5lqqnAo0AVvlI2P6ElwkOowMVbRFRhhxD73Y1hElonJdSlqw1cbzfJusNGSPV22p-WTzYf6t-tY7cDe-50RAhZI~iY4hPfO9kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-22T17:25:08Z","article","The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Habitat Council approved a final package of projects and a recommended budget after a multi‑hour review that prioritized projects based on WRI ranking, conservation partner commitments and available funds from the Habitat Council, the External Conservation Permit (ECP) pool and other sources.

Chair Eric Edgeley and council members described the meeting as a difficult exercise in prioritization. “There are many more shovel‑ready good projects than we have money for,” Edgeley said as the council worked through a list of proposals. Council members agreed to remove lower‑ranked projects, defer several large fencing projects and seek contributions from sportsmen’s groups and other partners for some items.

Among budget moves discussed in the meeting:
- The Gordon Creek inholding acquisition request was reduced from an estimated $150,000 to about $32,000 after several landowners accepted division offers; council members said the $32,000 is important to secure leftover inholdings.
- The BioBase (data/inventory) project was recommended to be deferred because funds were tight; staff said other funding sources will be explored.
- Several WMA fencing projects were pushed off the list because fencing costs had risen; the council kept higher‑priority fences where matching PR (mitigation) funds or ECP support existed, and discussed asking conservation partners to move pledged funds between projects if needed.

Council members also debated staff positions and recurring costs. A northern‑region upland position that had previously received partner support was removed from the funding list; several council members objected and asked staff to revisit whether other ECP or PR funds could backfill that $17,000 gap.

After multiple sniping and negotiation rounds the council approved the ECP‑funded project group and the final budget to be forwarded to the director’s office. A motion to approve the final budget passed by voice vote. “We’ve allocated the full amount the director’s office asked us to be at,” Edgeley said near the end of the session.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve minutes from the previous meeting — moved by Randy; seconded by Blake K.; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve ECP‑funded project group — motion made during the meeting; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to approve final project list and budget to send to the director — moved by Randy; seconded by Drew; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Council members asked staff to follow up with conservation partners on several items — including redirecting ECP pledges to higher‑priority fence work (Cinnamon Creek) and exploring ICP/PR funds to reduce Habitat Council burden — and to return with revised proposals or permitting language where needed. The council also scheduled a field tour (Parker Mountain / Vignal areas and nearby facilities, 2 days) and closed the meeting by approving the motion to adjourn.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Habitat Council Meeting 4/30/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a lengthy budget and project‑by‑project prioritization, the Habitat Council approved a package of projects and a final budget to send to the director’s office; members cut or deferred numerous fencing and infrastructure requests and flagged several items for follow up with conservation partners.","taxTitle","Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",7888,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6572716,"Utah wildlife managers propose winter seasonal closure, motorized ban for Swan Creek WMA",393,652000,1045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3162044-d32e55910d45f9a3edc91a2d8e671f99&start=652&end=1045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3162044-d32e55910d45f9a3edc91a2d8e671f99/thumbnail_652000.jpg","/articles/6572716/Utah/Utah-wildlife-managers-propose-winter-seasonal-closure-motorized-ban-for-Swan-Creek-WMA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572716-11c09f96908a9473388163957f8e6a7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075419&Signature=cP-TJLK-b~V4ycav7B7fnH95mzGxiFNkTvK0JTb829iLaFPGz6RecTOOzPXuxQocRFgFY79oCIR2Y-k4dvFz9wdG1mprsR0wrJJZAK7aBakC0yTN5M7EqTWnXZPdk1mw~11u3TxyH2A-EsR87pFQjU-byPDCiD-ELqHbQfxHqSNXC7PTYvPDhlQPTLgOuwMwX~WdGpHvNZQym1tKEsatSnWY-b1WTovyg2WLMRLOOkmmHRKeE3-ZbUk1qxoXh5QJ6d9rtN~KBs5FB-1iCbUiHo3I7vf6qwaSCMSWLTI04N1jTfaXFYeMz3G~dRNy9lHoL5IWWow56KDMZCV7k0BNeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) presented an updated habitat management plan for the 672‑acre Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, recommending a motorized‑vehicle ban and a seasonal closure from Dec. 1 through May 1 to protect wintering mule deer, elk and moose and preserve spawning habitat for Bear Lake cutthroat trout.

The update was presented by Zach Oman, a habitat biologist in the DWR Northern Region, at the Habitat Council meeting. “The Swan Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan aligns with the goals and objectives and strategies of various plans, including the Utah wildlife action plan,” Oman said as he described the WMA’s vegetation, species and management needs. The WMA, acquired in 1988, lies about 3 miles north of Garden City on the west bench above Bear Lake and contains water rights the division says help ensure annual cutthroat trout spawning.

Council members pressed staff on trade‑offs between restricting public access and continuing predator control and hunting opportunities. One council member expressed concern that closing access could create “a predator pit” and limit predator harvest that helps protect deer. “I hate to see these WMA's close to walking in. Just becomes a predator pit for … our deer just can get slaughtered,” a council member said during the discussion.

Oman said staff observed substantial year‑round public use — user‑created trails, spur roads, trash dumping and dogs disturbing wildlife — and explained that the access plan is designed to reduce disturbance during key winter months. “The access management plan will require that the WMA is closed to all motorized vehicles and that there's a seasonal closure for all public access from December 1 to May 1,” Oman said.

Council members proposed compromises for retaining some limited hunting access while reducing recreational disturbance. Suggestions included allowing walk‑in hunters during closures, special‑use permits for targeted predator control, and division‑invitation harvests for predators or cow elk where warranted. Several council members said they favored limiting recreational use to avoid displacing wintering animals but asked staff to consider narrow exceptions or a permit process to preserve predator management and essential hunting opportunities.

The council did not take a formal vote on the Swan Creek plan during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript; members asked staff to consider options and to return with refined language that balances winter range protection with narrowly tailored access for hunting and predator control.

The Swan Creek plan update also identifies noxious‑weed control, fuel‑breaks to reduce wildland‑urban interface fire risk, and measures to maintain Bear Lake cutthroat trout spawning habitat as priorities. Oman said the WMA’s vegetation is dominated by curly mountain mahogany with an understory of bitterbrush, serviceberry and mountain big sagebrush and that one range trend site, established in 1990, is monitored every five years.

If the division moves forward with the recommended closure and motorized ban, it will write the access restrictions into the WMA management plan and continue to consult local stakeholders and the public as required by state code.","The Habitat Council reviewed an updated habitat management plan for Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area that seeks to protect wintering big game and cutthroat trout spawning habitat by restricting motorized access and establishing a seasonal closure from Dec. 1 to May 1.","actionData","errors"]

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Habitat Council finalizes project list and budget after heated prioritization, approves multiple ECP‑funded projects

Utah wildlife managers propose winter seasonal closure, motorized ban for Swan Creek WMA