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County accepts wildlife in‑lieu tax payment, hears draft habitat‑management plans and deer‑management update
Summary
The commission accepted a $16,195.93 in‑lieu tax payment from the Division of Wildlife Resources, heard a draft habitat-management plan for four wildlife management areas and discussed urban deer management and migration‑corridor mapping.
Utah County accepted a Division of Wildlife Resources contractual in‑lieu tax payment and was briefed on habitat plans and wildlife management priorities on March 13.
Division staff presented a check for $16,195.93 and read a letter from Director Michael Foulkes thanking the county for partnership on Division‑owned lands. The Division said there are 12 wildlife management areas in the county totaling nearly 45,000 acres and described an ongoing effort to produce habitat‑management plans; staff asked the commission to disseminate a draft plan for Starvation, Dairy Fork, Lake Fork and Birds Eye WMAs for public comment.
Wildlife program manager Riley Peck summarized challenges including urban deer management (trap‑and‑relocate programs and euthanization followed by donation for food), city partnerships (Highland, Alpine, Provo and Springville among those active) and an emerging migration‑corridor initiative to map and protect migration routes. Commissioners asked about opportunities to coordinate with federal migration‑corridor efforts and whether the Division would share reports counties and cities could use in land‑acquisition and planning decisions; staff said a migration initiative was in early stages and should produce usable reports in the near future.
Commissioner (speaker 8) moved to accept the payment; the motion was seconded and carried 3–0.
