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State and federal agency updates: agriculture grants, timber sale and trails volunteer work
Summary
Officials from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Forest Service and other agencies briefed the council on grant programs (irrigation grants up to 50% of cost; canal companies up to $1,000,000, private farmers up to $500,000), an upcoming timber sale and volunteer trails work; the council praised local volunteer groups and planned to show a trails video at the next meeting.
Agency representatives gave a round of routine program updates to the Emery County Public Lands Council.
Brian Jones of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food highlighted the Water Optimization Program for irrigation-improvement projects and said applicants can seek up to 50% of project costs. He said canal companies are eligible for up to $1,000,000 and private farmers for up to $500,000, and noted local working groups and a Soil Health conference (Feb. 10–12 in St. George) and an agriculture fair on Feb. 18 in Price.
Darren Olsen, district ranger for the Manti–La Sal National Forest, described upcoming actions including closing wildlife gates for mud season (closed Jan. 1, open Apr. 15), a March timber sale in the Muddy drainage and watershed-restoration (WRI) proposals focused on the south end of the forest. He also said plans for the Cleveland Reservoir proposal continue and that maps and additional material will be provided at the next meeting.
Council members showed and discussed a short video of volunteer trail work (Mountain Dew Trail and others) and acknowledged a national volunteer award for the San Rafael Backcountry Horsemen to be formally presented next month.
The agencies encouraged local participation in proposal and planning meetings and offered to provide maps and meeting materials to council members ahead of the next session.
