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Zionmojave Wilderness Area What s The US Senate Washington County Growth And Conservation Act Of 2006 All About
here currently is a Zion promote sprawl. Washington
Mojave Wilderness Proposal County, is located in the
being debated. It is called southwest corner of Utah
Washington County Growth and bordering Nevada and Arizona. The
Conservation Act of 2006. It is area covers nearly 2,500 square
currently being debated in both miles, and has been one of the
the US Senate and House of fastest growing counties in the
Representatives. The Wilderness United States. In the mid 1960s
Society and Southern Utah there were only about 10,000
Wilderness Alliance are playing a residents; today Washington
lead in helping protect this County has over 100,000
area. Located in Washington residents. More than 75 percent
County, UT, near Saint George, of the County is Federal land,
this area is predicted to grow by managed by the Bureau of Land
5 times over in the next 45 Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest
years. Service (USFS), and the National
Park Service (NPS). Also in
On July 12, 2006, Senator Robert Washington County include lands
Bennett (R-UT) officially held in trust by the Federal
introduced his Washington County government for the Shivwits
Growth and Conservation Act of Indian Tribe and lands owned by
2006 (S. 3636). The next day, the State of Utah. How those
Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT) lands are managed is a critical
introduced companion legislation issue to the people of Washington
in the House (H.R. 5769). County; this bill addresses a
wide range of land management
These bills could change the face policies.
of Washington County, Utah. It
could protect lands, but many The utility corridors in this
people also believe it will bill also plan room for the
proposed Lake Powell Pipeline Nevada, Arizona and California).
that would direct water into Currently Utah is using 74
Washington, Kane and Iron percent of its annual allocation
counties. The pipeline of 1,369,000 acre feet.
legislation was signed into law
in May of 2006. In order to meet The Washington County Growth and
the water demands of an Conservation Act of 2006 bill
ever-growing population in would designate more than 219,000
Southern Utah, these counties are acres as wilderness, preserve
pursuing a pipeline that would utility corridors, create an
run from Lake Powell to Sand off-road trail system, develop a
Hollow Reservoir. These 158 miles new conservation area, protect
of pipeline would bring 70,000 170 miles of the Virgin River,
acre feet of water to Washington and sell to the highest bidder up
County, 10,000 acre feet to Kane to 25,000 acres of public land at
County and 20,000 acre feet to fair market value. As with any
Iron County. The pipeline would change, many people are concerned
most likely cost $494 million or about the wording of the bill and
more in current dollars. the future rights for people to
use the outdoor lands that they
The Lake Powell Pipeline would have had access to for years.
allow Utah to tap into its unused Saint George has been growing,
portion of the Upper Colorado fast for the past few years and
River water, which was defined in there is a concern about the
the 1922 Colorado River Compact. developers who would buy the land
The Compact divides the river up for bid. Controlling urban
basin into two areas: the Upper sprawl in this area is a concern
Colorado (comprising Colorado, to many. So much of Southern Utah
New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and is an adventure outdoor
the Lower Basin (comprising wilderness area, not many people
want to see changes take place Deep Creek and Deep Creek North
that would restrict their access wilderness areas consist of sheer
to this ZionMojave Wilderness canyon walls which drop to
Area. dramatic year-round rivers. There
are hanging gardens with
This is an area where the Mojave wildflowers with bald eagles and
Desert intersects with the giant California condors. The
Colorado Plateau and the Great steep and rugged Hurricane Cliffs
Basin. Red Mountain’s incredible form the most outstanding feature
sandstone formations, the Beaver of another proposed Blackridge
Dam Mountains, Cougar Canyon, Wilderness. Soaring in elevation
Dixie National Forest, Cottonwood by 2,000 feet in under a mile,
Canyon, Joshua Trees and Doc’s the area is popular for hikers,
Pass provide deer hunting, hunters and photographers.
hiking, climbing, cycling,
fishing, horseback riding and ATV Here are some of the sections of
opportunities. US Senate Bill number S. 3636
Lizards, rattlesnakes, iguana, TITLE III--WILD AND SCENIC RIVER
desert tortoise, deer, cougars, DESIGNATION
and bear all call this area home. Sec. 301. Zion National Park Wild
Mostly to the west of Saint and Scenic Rivers.
George, UT the Zion Mojave
Wilderness would create one huge TITLE IV--UTILITY CORRIDORS
recreational adventure Sec. 401. Utility corridors and
opportunity. With Zion National rights-of way.
Park to the east and additional
parks and BLM lands within miles. TITLE V--HIGH DESERT OFF-HIGHWAY
In the northeastern part of VEHICLE TRAIL
Washington County, the proposed Sec. 501. High Desert Off-Highway
Vehicle Trail.
(4) COTTONWOOD- Certain Federal
TITLE VI--RED CLIFFS NATIONAL land managed by the Bureau of
CONSERVATION AREA Land Management, comprising
approximately 11,650 acres, as
(1) BEARTRAP CANYON- Certain generally depicted on the Central
Federal land managed by the Map, which shall be known as the
Bureau of Land Management, `Cottonwood Wilderness'.
comprising approximately 40
acres, as generally depicted on (5) COTTONWOOD FOREST- Certain
the Eastern Map, which shall be Federal land managed by the
known as the `Beartrap Canyon Forest Service, comprising
Wilderness'. approximately 2,642 acres, as
generally depicted on the Central
(2) BLACKRIDGE- Certain Federal Map, which shall be known as the
land managed by the Bureau of `Cottonwood Forest Wilderness.'
Land Management, comprising
approximately 7,145 acres, as (6) COUGAR CANYON- Certain
generally depicted on the Eastern Federal land managed by the
Map, which shall be known as the Bureau of Land Management,
`Blackridge Wilderness'. comprising approximately 10,568
acres, as generally depicted on
(3) CANAAN MOUNTAIN- Certain the Western Map, which shall be
Federal land in the County known as the `Cougar Canyon
managed by the Bureau of Land Wilderness.'
Management, comprising
approximately 35,344 acres, as (7) DEEP CREEK- Certain Federal
generally depicted on the Eastern land managed by the Bureau of
Map, which shall be known as the Land Management, comprising
`Canaan Mountain Wilderness'. approximately 3,320 acres, as
generally depicted on the Eastern Land Management, comprising
Map, which shall be known as the approximately 1,124 acres, as
`Deep Creek Wilderness'. generally depicted on the Eastern
(8) DEEP CREEK NORTH- Certain Map, which shall be known as the
Federal land managed by the `Red Butte Wilderness'.
Bureau of Land Management,
comprising approximately 4,264 (12) RED MOUNTAIN- Certain
acres, as generally depicted on Federal land managed by the
the Eastern Map, which shall be Bureau of Land Management,
known as the `Deep Creek North comprising approximately 18,716
acres, as generally depicted on
(9) GOOSE CREEK- Certain Federal the Central Map, which shall be
land managed by the Bureau of known as the `Red Mountain
Land Management, comprising Wilderness'.
approximately 89 acres, as
generally depicted on the Eastern (13) TAYLOR CREEK- Certain
Map, which shall be known as the Federal land managed by the
`Goose Creek Wilderness'. Bureau of Land Management,
comprising approximately 35
(10) LAVERKIN CREEK- Certain acres, as generally depicted on
Federal land managed by the the Eastern Map, which shall be
Bureau of Land Management, known as the `Taylor Creek
comprising approximately 445 Wilderness'.
acres, as generally depicted on
the Eastern Map, which shall be (14) WATCHMAN- Certain Federal
known as the `LaVerkin Creek land managed by the Bureau of
Wilderness' . Land Management, comprising
approximately 600 acres, as
(11) RED BUTTE- Certain Federal generally depicted on the Eastern
land managed by the Bureau of Map, which shall be known as the
`Watchman Wilderness'. border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
(15) ZION- border-style: solid;
border-color: #FFFFFF;
It will be an interesting period background-color: #F5F7FB;
of time to see ZionMojave grow border-left: #BAC9FF 1px solid;
and prosper. border-right: #BAC9FF 1px solid;
margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom:
10px;" valign="top"
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