Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sandwash Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and local operator urge county to address safety, traffic and dust at Sandwash Boat Ramp
Summary
A Sandwash Boat Ramp operator urged Duchesne County to improve access, parking and signage after repeated vehicle damage and delays; commissioners said the BLM is working on parking and estimated initial repairs could cost roughly $234,000 with annual maintenance requirements.
A local business owner and frequent road user told the Duchesne County Commission June 1 that heavy weekend traffic and poor access at the Sandwash Boat Ramp are causing safety hazards, vehicle damage and long delays, and asked the county to pursue road improvements and better signage.
"If you go down there right now... cars lined up the road," the operator (speaker 12) said, describing seasonal surges of two‑ to three‑hundred people on busy weekends and a pattern of flat tires and trailer damage. He said his operation moves dozens of vehicles daily in summer and that cumulative maintenance costs — he cited roughly $20,000 on tires and vehicle upkeep already — are a burden to local operators.
Commission staff and the chair acknowledged the access problems and said the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is working on a larger parking lot and facilities; the chair said that a product cost estimate to address access and initial improvements was approximately $234,000, and that full repair and upkeep could approach $350,000 annually depending on scope. Commissioners discussed phased work, signage, and coordination with federal land managers to protect archaeological and environmental resources.
Commissioners did not commit a budget appropriation at the meeting but asked staff to continue coordination with BLM and to identify targeted repairs the county could perform. The operator repeatedly asked for more frequent grader passes and limited focused blade work to remove rocks and reduce flat tires; staff said they would evaluate options and consider targeted maintenance where feasible.
The exchange underscored tensions between recreation demand, federal land management responsibilities, and the county’s maintenance budget. Commissioners recommended that concerned residents and businesses consider letters of support or partnerships to help secure funding or federal action.
