Wasatch Wilderness -- The Devil in the Details

Rep. Jim Matheson plans to introduce new wilderness legislation for the Wasatch Mountains east of Salt Lake City.  The Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act would expand wilderness and ensure watershed protection over an additional 26,000 acres in Wasatch Front canyons.  This roughly follows the county-based approach to wilderness designation that we are seeing in other parts of Utah.  Up to now, Salt Lake County has served as a hub for the effort and is a big supporter of wilderness, and our friends at Save Our Canyons have been intimately involved in the process.  The boundaries of wilderness additions in the draft maps look very good but the language for this legislation has not yet been released.  Word is that there is some controversial language in the body of the bill regarding land trades and heli-skiing in designated areas.  While hopeful, UEC is withholding support for the legislation until a draft is made available. 

The legislation is said to involve some land trades including the transfer of the Twin Peaks area from the U.S. Forest Service to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, supposedly allowing it to build a new tram and expand some developed ski terrain. 

The bill includes 15,000 acres of new designated wilderness, which includes creating a new wilderness area north of Mill Creek, and expanding all existing wilderness areas.  In addition to true wilderness, it also would also set aside more than 10,000 acres within special-management areas to protect water quality with a wilderness-like designation while still allowing heli-skiing to continue.

The Utah Environmental Congress is closely watching this legislation and anxiously awaits the release of the actual legislative language so we can make an informed determination of the worth of this legislation.  Salt Lake County staff describe this as the start of the public process, and we are very hopeful that we’re looking at some great additions to wilderness in the central Wasatch.  Stay tuned!