Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners raise access and water-storage concerns over Cleveland Reservoir and Joe's Valley Dam
Summary
The council discussed metal gates and private signs blocking historical access at Cleveland Reservoir, a proposed land trade that the county declined, and a county letter about Joe's Valley Dam that said planned mining operations would not be close enough to cause subsidence but the mine company agreed to install monitoring.
Commissioners told the Emery County Public Lands Council they have observed recent closures and signage that restrict public access at Cleveland Reservoir after a private landowner began installing gates and metal signage on pullouts.
Council members said the county declined a proposed land trade that would have moved a campground and surrendered existing county-managed sites and that, following that decision, the landowner began limiting access. Commissioner remarks emphasized the importance of protecting "historical use" and exploring legal options. One commissioner summed the county's view as wanting to "fight for the best access we can," saying the county must work with its attorney and with forest-service partners to preserve historic public uses.
Separately, Speaker 4 read a county letter about Joe's Valley Dam and nearby mining activity. The letter said current mining plans describe workings roughly three miles from the dam and do not foresee surface subsidence in the immediate dam area; mining engineers had told county staff the mine would progress north and remain distant from the structure. Speaker 11 (mine-company contact via county outreach) told the council the company would coordinate with a county contact, Jay Mark, to install monitoring on the dam to provide additional oversight.
Why it matters: Commissioners said removal of longstanding public access could affect recreation, water- and shoreline use, and traditional events (for example, Fourth of July gatherings). County officials expressed concern that diminishing historical public use could have broader implications for water-storage and rights on private-property boundaries.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to follow up with the state, the forest service and PLIPCO where applicable, to investigate legal options, and to track the on-site meeting about the reservoir scheduled for the 11th of the month.
