[Birdtalk] Bear River Refuge Road Project - needs your help

[Dave Slager]

Hey all,

I agree with Colby's point about environmental awareness and
education.  But I would really like to see this happen closer to the
SLC metro area.  There are currently several GSL wetland sanctuaries,
very close to Salt Lake, that remain closed to the public or only with
very limited access.  The Utah environmental community should be
investing in these areas, closer to the core Utah population center,
rather than way up in Brigham City.  This is simple strategic
planning.  If some of these sanctuaries, within 10-20 minutes of Salt
Lake, were developed better--it would be much easier to bring the
public closer to nature--including schoolkids, etc.  While paving the
road to Bear River might solve the flooding problem and cut 5 minutes
off the drive time, it's still very far out of the way for the vast
majority of Utahans.  Which leads to higher cost, higher emissions,
and prohibitive time constraints.  By all means, let's keep Bear River
for the wildlife, and those who want to drive all the way up there, or
for tourists passing through.  And maybe pave the road.  But solve the
transportation issue by investing closer to the people--instead of
paving a road 1 hour plus to the north of the population center.  To
the average Joe, time is very important.  If we invest 10 minutes from
SLC instead of 75 minutes, Joe will spend an extra two hours actually
experiencing the environment.

Dave

On Dec 12, 2007 5:09 PM, Connie McManus <connie.mcmanus at gmail.com> wrote:
> After sending my remarks, I worried there would be flames coming my way, but
> it looks like I spoke up on something many of us are also thinking.  That
> makes me feel good.  IMHO, if they want to pave something, why not a bike
> lane?  I would much rather see bikers and hikers than autos.  Although, I
> can't imagine that crowd liking the dust the autos stir up on the unpaved.
> naaaah.  just leave it alone.  No pavements please.  If the feds think there
> needs be an increase in visitors, maybe someone should enlighten them with a
> greener way of thinking (I'm not joking, but it will be hard).  My concerns
> are not just the speed at which people want to travel when the roads are
> smooth, and it isn't entirely for the birds.  I am sick to death of the loss
> of green space and all the crappy development that is going on in Utah.
> Every day I look out my window and think "How Green Was My Valley" when I
> see the agricultural views I once enjoyed marred by a new housing
> development.   Someone said something about crappy, well folks, from where I
> sit, development is crappy.
>
> Connie McManus
>
>
>
> On Dec 12, 2007 8:28 AM, Dave Slager <dave.slager at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Yeah, I was thinking the same thing as Connie.  Perhaps its partly
> > selfish, but I would be sad to see the dirt road go.  The narrow bumpy
> > dirt road forces travel at slower speeds, so visitors and birders can
> > enjoy the wildlife and scenery on the way to the tour loop.  It also
> > adds to the rustic feel of the place.  Even with my small Ford Escort,
> > the road was still very passable.  After driving all the way from SLC
> > on a busy interstate, the remote road withuot much traffic is a knid
> > of refuge in itself.  I would like to see that paving money go towards
> > guaranteeing water for the refuge, or habitat restoration, rather than
> > catering to the comfort of those who would like to enjoy a smoother
> > faster ride in their automobiles.  The bottom line is, the existing
> > road condition certainly doesn't seem prohibitive for visiting the
> > refuge.
> >
> > I'm assuming there is another factor at play.  This is a guess, but I
> > bet the more visitors the refuge can attract, the more money the Feds
> > will allocate to the refuge.  So in order to compete, the refuge may
> > need to make "improvements" like a wider paved road to attract certain
> > types of visitors, to up those numbers in any way it can.  Maybe it's
> > a necessary evil. Or maybe not.
> >
> > Comments?
> >
> > Dave Slager
> > Grand Rapids, MI
> > (formerly SLC, Utah)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 12/12/07, Connie McManus < connie.mcmanus at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Betsy,
> > > I wonder if an improved road would only make for crowds of people coming
> to
> > > the bird refuge.  Not that that's a bad thing, but too many people might
> not
> > > be so good for the birds.  I, for one, enjoy the dirt road and feel
> there
> > > are getting to be too few of them in this state.  With millions of
> dollars
> > > laying around in DC, I wonder if the birding community could put those
> funds
> > > to a better use, even if it's just to maintain the dirt road???
> > >
> > > Just my thoughts :-)
> > >
> > > Connie McManus of Cache Valley (who is not happy with urban sprawl)
> > >
> > > On Dec 11, 2007 1:22 PM, < birderbetsy at comcast.net > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear Birding Friends,
> > > >
> > > > Congress has authorized funds for completion of the Bear River Refuge
> road
> > > improvement project, but they have not yet "allocated" those funds.
> Until
> > > this is done, the road project is at a standstill.  And we all know the
> > > dangers of millions of dollars laying around Washington...
> > > >
> > > > If you feel so inclined, please consider contacting Congressman Rob
> > > Bishop, and asking for his help in pushing things along, so that the
> funds
> > > can be allocated, the bid process for the project can commence, and we
> can
> > > keep things moving toward the road project being started this coming
> summer.
> > >  His web site with contact information is:
> > > >
> > > > http://robbishop.house.gov/
> > > >
> > > > And if you don't care about the bumpy, gravel road used for public
> access
> > > to the refuge, then ignore this email.
> > > >
> > > > Betsy Beneke
> > > > Birder
> > > > Perry, Utah
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Birdtalk mailing list
> > > > Birdtalk at utahbirds.org
> > > > http://utahbirds.org/mailman/listinfo/birdtalk
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Connie McManus
> > > Nibley, Cache County, Utah
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Birdtalk mailing list
> > > Birdtalk at utahbirds.org
> > > http://utahbirds.org/mailman/listinfo/birdtalk
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > Birdtalk mailing list
> > Birdtalk at utahbirds.org
> > http://utahbirds.org/mailman/listinfo/birdtalk
> >
>
>
>
>
> --
> Connie McManus
> Nibley, Cache County, Utah