Today we’re going walking with Tom Diegel in the Wasatch. Tom has been involved with the CWC for some time now, and has held the Stakeholders Council Co-Chair role for the last two years. He’s focused a lot of his efforts on Mill Creek Canyon, and has a special affinity for it, so that’s where we went.

Tom is heading to Europe for the winter so I wanted to give him a chance to reflect on his time with the CWC before crossing the Atlantic. 

We discuss timely topics like the construction in upper Mill Creek Canyon and the Update to the shuttle feasibility study. Tom’s been working on the shuttle project in particular for many years, so he is able to provide a detailed lowdown on its history. We also discuss the possible rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule and what that could mean for the Wasatch. 

Finally, I ask him my favorite question, the question I ask all interviewees. What does the Wasatch mean to you—in unquantifiable terms? I ask this question because I have a gut feeling that there's something you can’t put your finger on that underpins all the work we do at the CWC. I have a feeling the real meaning of the mountains can’t be measured in the distance from your front door to a trailhead or in tax revenue dollars. And it’s possible that that special something will be described differently by different people. Tom, in his unique and surprising way, identifies fun, or the ability to have fun so easily as the “special something” that makes the Wasatch the place he wants to call home. 

Personally, I think he’s onto something. Fun and playing are antidotes to the harder parts of life, and here, with incredible mountains in reach, we’re able to have a type of fun that rejuvenates those parts of our spirits that get beaten down by the fast pace of the world, the news cycles, the internet, and the relentless attention economy. 

Tom also admits that, for the last 23 years he’s kept a spreadsheet in which he logs nearly every outdoor activity he does. The title of the spreadsheet, perfectly, amazingly, and ironically, is Fun. It made me laugh when I reflected on our conversation later and realized that his spreadsheet is an effort to quantify the unquantifiable. 

In any case, I don’t think you’ll be able to listen to this episode without feeling stoked by the end. Tom’s excitement sure rubbed off on me. By the end of our walk I was like “this place is even more incredible than I thought it was” And the result of that realization, for me, is an increased drive to work for the land, to protect it, and an increased drive do everything in my power to find time in my life to get out there and have fun.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro05:54 Mill Creek Canyon: A Hidden Gem

08:57 The Mill Creek Canyon Shuttle Project

11:47 The Importance of Recreation

14:49 The Role of the Stakeholders Council

17:43 Public Engagement and Feedback

20:45 The Future of Mill Creek Canyon

23:32 Challenges in the Wasatch

26:35 The Roadless Rule and Its Implications

29:36 The Value of Fun and Recreation

32:32 The Role of Youth in Conservation

35:33 Reflections on the Central Wasatch

38:37 The Impact of Climate Change in the Wasatch

41:44 Community and Connection in the Outdoors

44:38 The Future of Outdoor Recreation in the Wasatch

47:51 Final Thoughts on the Wasatch

Summit Community Gardens and EATS connect Summit County residents, and especially kids to what it really means to live in the Central Wasatch. For the second consecutive year, they have been awarded a grant through CWC's short-term grant program for their environmental education program where they connect kids to the process of growing food in rocky clayey soil at more than 6,600 feet above sea level.   The result? The next generation of Central Wasatch stewards with a deep knowledge of soil health, weather, climate, native vegetation, firewise planting, and how to grow things in the Central Wasatch. It's undeniable that increased local knowledge results in care for place. When people care for the place where they live, as Wallace Stegner once told us, they tend to stick around. And there's almost nothing more beneficial to the Central Wasatch--or any place--than a population who is invested and therefore wants to stay, through thick and thin.  

We met Summit Community Gardens' Executive Director Helen Nadel at the garden and she walked us through bee-laden flowers, collaborative areas where kids were harvesting sugar snap peas, the La Milpa plot, and even her own garden plot. Come take a walk with us and learn how the Central Wasatch is benefiting--now and in the future--from the short-term grant Summit Community Gardens received from the CWC.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Central Wasatch Commission

02:48 The Mountain Accord and Environmental Stewardship

05:55 Summit Community Gardens: A Community Hub

09:05 Connecting Kids to Food and Agriculture

11:53 Adapting to High Elevation Gardening

14:38 Soil Health and Sustainable Practices

17:25 Education and Community Engagement

20:26 Conclusion and Future Directions

Mountain Accord

Short-Term Projects Grant Program

Summit Community Gardens & EATS

Every year the CWC distributes grants for Short-Term Projects that would help further the goals of the Mountain Accord by implementing transportation and transit solutions, protecting the ecosystems that originate in the Central Wasatch, stewarding recreational access, and sustaining the economic vitality of the area. This year, the Swaner Preserve and Ecocenter applied for a grant to remove old fencing along East Canyon Creek in Kimball Junction, and in May, CWC awarded Swaner $5,000--exactly the amount they needed to pay a trained crew to remove the tangled wire and t-posts from the banks of the creek.

To kick off our first "shorts" episode of In The Wasatch, I met Rhea Cone, Swaner's Conservation Director, at the project site to see how the work was progressing. The crew had already removed a quarter mile of fencing but had nearly three-quarters of a mile remaining. "The fencing...has just fallen into disrepair, is a barrier to wildlife passage, and prevents our staff and volunteers from moving safely though the area to do other restoration work," Rhea said.

Once the project is complete, she told me, other restoration work can begin. They will be able to plant more narrowleaf cottonwoods and perform invasive species removal, among other needed projects.

What really stood out to me, is that in my short time on the Preserve, we saw red tailed hawks, fish, fox holes, ducks, songbirds, and a handful of riled-up and very large bees--evidence that the Swaner Preserve is an incredible bright spot of biodiversity on the edge of a bustling urban center. It's exactly the kind of place that makes the Central Wasatch a place like no other.

#wearethewasatch #swanerpreserve #restoration #shorttermgrants #cwc #centralwasatchcommission #wildlifehabitat #conservation #ecosystem #treeplanting #beavers #biodiversity #communityinvolvement

Takeaways

• The removal of fencing is crucial for wildlife passage.
• Tree planting will provide shade and stabilize creek banks.

• Exclusionary fencing can hinder restoration efforts.
• Beavers play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems.
• Planting native species enhances biodiversity.
• Community involvement is essential for conservation success.
• Professional help can significantly improve project outcomes.

Chapters

00:00 Restoration Efforts at East Canyon Creek

01:51 Introduction to the Central Wasatch Commission

02:23 The Importance of Removing Exclusionary Fencing

04:31 Enhancing Wildlife Habitat and Ecosystem

06:42 The Role of Beavers in Ecosystem Engineering

08:19 Planting Native Species for Biodiversity

09:42 Challenges in Restoration Projects

11:34 The Impact of Professional Help in Conservation

12:27 Conclusion and Call to Action

Swaner Preserve & Ecocenter

CWC Short-Term Grants Program

John Knoblock is the Central Wasatch Commission’s outgoing Stakeholders Council Chair. In this role he has actively participated in nearly every System Committee meeting, every Stakeholders Council meeting, and every Board meeting for the last two years. Since his term is up at the end of the month, we wanted to give him a chance to share his thoughts on his tenure in a podcast-style exit interview. To make it a special event we asked him to choose a location in the Central Wasatch that he’s passionate about. For reasons that become increasingly clear through the duration of the conversation, he had me meet him at the foot of Grandeur Peak on a sunny summer morning where the latest section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail has recently been completed.

The conversation switched back and forth as we ascended the singletrack trail, but a strong narrative thread ran throughout: Whether the topic is trails, transportation, or conservation, John touts the importance of embracing long-term thinking. Without a decent grasp of history, he says, it’s hard to remain committed to big and important projects. This newest section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, for example, took him more than 20 years to finish. By the end of our walk, 20 years seemed like a much shorter duration than it did at the trailhead. The Mountain Accord is only 10 years old and the Central Wasatch Commission is only seven years old, John reminds us–and big goals such as the Central Wasatch Conservation and Recreation Area Act (CWNCRA) could take 20 years to complete, but they will get done.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

01:52 Connecting Community and Nature

04:51 The Urban-Wildland Interface

09:00 Land Acquisition Challenges

12:54 Trail Development and Community Involvement

15:48 Trail Design Considerations

19:47 Legislative Challenges and Opportunities

25:32 The Role of IMBA and Community Support

30:52 Incremental Progress vs. Comprehensive Solutions

34:54 Ski Resorts and Legislative Support

35:30 Reflecting on Two Years of Progress

41:08 Building Collaborative Relationships

47:59 The Long View: Patience in Progress

54:07 Education and Long-Term Thinking

01:01:08 Finding Common Ground in Conservation

01:05:51 The Personal Connection to Nature#BonnevilleShorelineTrail #CentralWasatchCommission #landacquisition #communityinvolvement #traildevelopment #urbanwildlandinterface #outdoorrecreation #environmentalprotection #legislation #IMBA #CentralWasatch #MountainAccord #collaboration #environmentalconservation #longterm thinking #stakeholderengagement #recreation #communitydialogue #sustainabledevelopment

Mountain Accord https://cwc.utah.gov/mountainaccord/

Central Wasatch Commission https://cwc.utah.gov/

Visitor Use Study https://cwc.utah.gov/visitor-use-study/

CWNCRA https://cwc.utah.gov/legislation-and-federal-designation/

Donate to CWC Project work https://cwc.utah.gov/contribute/

Trails Utah https://trailsutah.org/

Season 2 (and winter) have both come to an end, and a new chapter is beginning. While the gamble oaks and maples have been leafing out, a changing of the guard is taking place at the Central Wasatch Commission. Mia McNeil is heading out on an adventure, and Ben Kilbourne, the new Communications Director, will be taking over the pod. Listen to learn a little about Ben and find out how Mia's relationship with the Central Wasatch has changed during her time at CWC.

The Mountain Accord Charter

https://cwc.utah.gov/

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A public comment period is an essential component to many government projects. It provides evidence as to why the development should or should not be implemented, needs to be reevaluated, or does not follow official protocol. Comments can change the trajectory of a project in a positive way, but how can the public give effective input that makes a substantial difference? Kirk Nichols joins me in this episode to explain how public comment periods work, the history and laws behind them, and ways to improve your comment submissions.

"Now is the time. Don’t wait for a comment period, write your legislators, governor, BLM, Forest Service, and Park Service in support and in encouragement to do the right thing by our public lands." - Kirk Nichols

Resources:

How to Participate in Rulemaking

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Administrative Procedures Act (APA)

Central Wasatch Commission

https://cwc.utah.gov/⁠
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The Central Wasatch Commission was created because of a document called the Mountain Accord charter. This document is the foundation of the organization and its goals to help alleviate issues regarding the economy, environment, recreation, and transportation throughout the Central Wasatch. The CWC’s Executive Director, Lindsey Nielsen, will read verbatim the Mountain Accord charter.  This episode is specifically for auditory learners, who would prefer to listen than to read the document.

Mountain Accord Charter: Read here

Central Wasatch Commission

https://cwc.utah.gov/⁠
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The state of an economy depends on a variety of factors. Job opportunities, housing availability, business prosperity and more. The Central Wasatch’s economy consists of tourism, recreation, hotels, restaurants, and multiple towns and cities. The wasatch front and back are physically separated but have common themes. In this episode, I talk economics with CWC stakeholder Morgan Mingle and how it relates to the four interdependent systems of the Central Wasatch.

More Information:

Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau

Sustainable Tourism Plan

Central Wasatch Commission

https://cwc.utah.gov/⁠
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Our environment is the foundation of life in local communities. With continuous development, it's crucial to monitor the level of impact imposed on the surrounding water, soil, and inhabitants. The National Environmental Policy Act, commonly known as NEPA, is the law that protects surrounding environments from potential damage. Kirk Nichols joins me in this episode to dive into what NEPA is and how the law is applied in the Central Wasatch.

More Information:

National Environmental Policy Act | US EPA

What is the National Environmental Policy Act? | US EPA

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 101 | Bureau of Land Management

Central Wasatch Commission

https://cwc.utah.gov/⁠
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The first annual Central Wasatch Symposium was a success! The event was held on January 9th and 10th, 2025, at Millcreek City Hall, with various speakers and organizations in attendance. To capture the experience, we walked around in between breakout sessions to hear what attendees and speakers had to say. This episode highlights each person's perspective on the conference and the overall impact of the event.

Special thanks to everyone who was interviewed: Molly Chien; Amy Brunvand from Great Old Broads for Wilderness; Adam Shaw from the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Barbara Cameron; Mayor Silvestrini of Millcreek; Lee Ann Hansen; Ella Abelli-Amen from Cottonwood Canyons Foundation; and Andrew Gruber from Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC).

Want to learn more about the Central Wasatch Symposium? Go to the CWC's website to learn more and stay tuned for next year's event!

Learn more here - https://cwc.utah.gov/