KZMU News

It’s not unusual to see people flying through the air on 500 West – wheels up, soaring over hand packed mounds, flowing over pump tracks. These features at Anonymous Park are built and maintained by a group of passionate volunteers, like Paul Lehr. For our next audio portrait of people in the Moab Valley, we hang with Paul as he builds out some new areas of the park.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak with reporters about the stories they most recently covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (7:00) discusses the twin crises of housing and workforce shortages, paperwork slowing construction at Arroyo Crossing, and funding for the county’s river path project. The Moab Sun News’ Maggie McGuire (15:30) talks wag bags – specifically, a request from local waste haulers to not throw them in trash cans. And, a volunteer day to move delicate soil and plants at Arches National Park.

Show Notes:

Photo: Paul Lehr, bike mechanic, teacher, and volunteer tests out some of the new features he helped build at Moab Bike Park.

Audio Portrait –

Anonymous Park/Moab Bike Park Contact

[email protected]

Moab Bike Park on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/moab.bike.park/?hl=en

Audio Portrait Featured Music:

La Surf by Chiquita y Chatarra from Animal de Amor

Le surf by Chocolat Billy from Mon pere est ma mere

Icelandic Surf by Scott Sherk from Phonology Compendium

The Lonely Surfer [BadPanda061] by Johnny Hawaii from Smurf’s Up

Headin’ Inside by Surf City Live @ KEXP

If you have an idea for a future profile, reach out to [email protected]

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Moab’s housing crises create a hiring crisis

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moabs-housing-crises-create-a-hiring-crisis/

The Times-Independent: Paperwork, insurance slow Arroyo Crossing project

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/paperwork-insurance-slow-arroyo-crossing-project/

The Times-Independent: County gets $150,000 to start river path project

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-gets-150000-to-start-river-path-project/

The Times-Independent: Renn, Holyoak are GCHS’ top scholars

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/renn-holyoak-are-gchs-top-scholars/

Moab Sun News: Though landfill-safe, wag bags can’t be thrown in the garbage

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_ba33ad14-b931-11eb-8d0e-139c67d1a485.html

Moab Sun News: Crust Farming – Volunteer to help Arches move delicate soil and native plants

https://www.moabsunnews.com/get_out_and_go/article_4570c64a-b929-11eb-a77f-4b3ab2c815b0.html

Grand County’s commissioners want to work with U.S. House Representative John Curtis on a federal public lands bill for the Moab area. Rep. Curtis helped pass a federal bill in 2019 solidifying conservation, development, and recreation areas in Emery County. Although Grand’s administrator expressed concerns over competing planning processes, commissioners say they want to work on public lands legislation for Grand County ‘sooner rather than later.’ Plus, conservationists praise the Biden administration’s nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management. And, although vaccine supplies are abundant, most people in the Mountain West remain unvaccinated.

Show Notes:

Photo: Labyrinth Canyon. Ray Bloxham/Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Grand County Commission 5/4 Public Lands Statement

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Public-Lands-Statement-FINAL-5-4-21.pdf

Grand County 5/18 Letter to BLM: Labyrinth-Gemini Bridges Travel Plan

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Letter-to-BLM-Labyrinth-Gemini-Bridges-Travel-Plan-Final.pdf

BLM NEPA Register: Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Area

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2001224/510

Schedule a Local COVID-19 Vaccination

https://www.seuhealth.com

or

https://www.citymarket.com/rx/covid-eligibility

Getting a noise ordinance on the books was a challenge for local elected officials. Now that the county and city passed their ordinances, enforcing them is another hurdle. Today on the news, we speak with Grand County Attorney Christina Sloan about the three facets of rolling out the noise ordinances this year – data collection, law enforcement training, and education.

Show Notes:

Thursday, May 27th Voluntary Noise Testing Event

9AM to 11AM at Sand Flats Recreation Area

Vehicles who opt-in to the noise test will get free admission into Sand Flats for the day. The purpose of the event is to educate folks about the local noise ordinances and to collect better data. No owner information will be collected.

Governor Spencer Cox is passing off the decision to go ‘mask-less’ on the last week of school to local school boards. The surprise announcement last week put a final twist on a challenging school year. Grand’s superintendent, Taryn Kay, described it as “being tackled on the one yard line.” Local school board members will make their decision next week, with input from community members and health professionals. Plus, a Colorado work group is examining statewide investments in water rights. The process has brought up some thorny questions about the system the entire Western U.S. uses to divvy up scarce water supplies.

Show Notes:

Photo: A #MaskUpUtah campaign poster at Grand County High School's athletic fields in 2020

May 19th Pfizer Vaccine Clinics, age 12 and up

https://www.grandschools.org/apps/news/article/1441306

Grand County Board of Education Contact

https://www.grandschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1653082&type=d&pREC_ID=1798889

Utah Transmission Levels

https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels/

KUNC: Colorado Is Examining Water Speculation, And Finding It’s ‘All The Problems’ In One

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2021-05-05/colorado-is-examining-water-speculation-and-finding-its-all-the-problems-in-one

Governor Spencer Cox has said Utah will likely sue if President Joe Biden enlarges Bears Ears National Monument, but experts say that could be a hard case to win. Plus, Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, a move critics say will hurt thousands of recipients. And, water is again flowing in the Colorado River’s delta in northern Mexico.

Show Notes:

Photo: Friends of Cedar Mesa Director Josh Ewing points to petroglyphs at Sand Island Campground. The area was taken out of Bears Ears National Monument when the boundaries were redrawn in 2017. Kate Groetzinger/KUER

KUER: What The History of the Antiquities Act Could Mean For the Future of Bears Ears

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2021-05-14/what-the-history-of-the-antiquities-act-could-mean-for-the-future-of-bears-ears

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made some big announcements this week, including opening the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people 12 years of age and older. We spoke to local health officer Bradon Bradford on vaccinating this population here in Southeast Utah. [You can schedule a vaccine appointment at seuhealth.com and citymarket.com.]

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we speak to reporters about the latest stories they covered in our area. The Times-Independent’s Doug McMurdo (11:00) discusses the near-completion of the Highway 191 road expansion project, a Mother’s Day prayer at Birthing Rock, and SkyWest taking an inaugural flight to Salt Lake City from Moab. Moab Sun News reporter Anastasia Hufham (19:00) covers Seekhaven Family Crisis & Resource Center’s contributions over 30 years in the local community, as well as the city’s consideration of electric scooter services in Moab.

Show Notes:

Photo: The Southeast Utah Health Department's ‘Mobile Response Unit’ ready to give COVID-19 vaccines in Carbon County. To schedule a local appointment, visit seuhealth.com

Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccine

https://www.seuhealth.com

435-259-5602

or

https://www.citymarket.com/rx/covid-eligibility

CDC: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

CDC: Choosing Safer Activities

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/participate-in-activities.html

Weekly News Reel –

The Times-Independent: Highway 191 paving nears completion

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/highway-191-paving-nears-completion/

The Times-Independent: On Mother’s Day, mothers pray over Birthing Rock

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/on-mothers-day-mothers-pray-over-birthing-rock/

The Times-Independent: Maiden Flight

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/maiden-flight/

The Times-Independent: Seekhaven fundraiser a $74K success story

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/seekhaven-fundraiser-a-74k-success-story/

Moab Sun News: A pearl in the pandemic – Seekhaven celebrates 30 years, continues services despite COVID-19

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_e44d0314-b401-11eb-afc9-075251d80ebe.html

Moab Sun News: Council discusses electric scooters in Moab

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_416f3c02-b3fc-11eb-b8cc-e30d2006869b.html

Searching for a viable pathway to get more renewable energy, Moab City, Grand County, and Castle Valley have teamed up with 20 other Utah communities across the state on the Community Renewable Energy program. Representing about 37 percent of Utah’s total electricity load, this coalition has pledged to have 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. How are they going to do it? By helping Rocky Mountain Power make it happen.

Show Notes:

Photo: Red Rock Bakery proprietor Howard Trenholme with his ’76-panel power station.’ The solar unit provides energy for the cafe, and helps supplement the rest of the building. Moab City, Grand County, and Castle Valley are part of a program to get 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

Community Renewable Energy Program Resource Guide

https://e7c003d0-30f6-4f17-97e1-004b9f370063.filesusr.com/ugd/26b4b3_46d292df61744a34a91f5e0fe12cdb3b.pdf

‘How Utah cities are pursuing 100% renewable energy’

https://www.utah100communities.org/post/how-utah-cities-are-pursuing-100-renewable-energy

HB 411: Community Renewable Energy Act

https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0411.html

Grand County and Moab City Info

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Grand-County-and-Moab-City-Info.pdf

Utah 100 Communities

https://www.utah100communities.org

Researchers are examining the walls of the Grand Canyon to understand how groundwater responds to climate change. Snowpack plays a big role in the West’s water supply, but groundwater – particularly in the Colorado River watershed – might be equally important. Plus, cries for police reform continue to ring across our region as Black and brown people die at the hands of police.

Photo: Tourists, tribes and others in the Grand Canyon region must rely on groundwater for drinking water. Ron Dungan/KJZZ

Lionsback Resort developers are seeking final master plan approvals for 34 casita dwellings – the first phase of their project off Sand Flats Road. Nearly $5 million worth of infrastructure is being installed at the site, which may eventually support a hotel, conference center, and restaurant. Although developers hope locals embrace the project, one of its longest opponents still questions the Utah agency that owns the land, saying the ‘develop-invest-repeat’ model will not help communities like Moab survive through the 21st century.

Show Notes:

Photo: Sand Flats Road is visible from the Lionsback Resort site. A Moab Chamber of Commerce luncheon was recently held with the developers.

Moab City Planning Commission Public Hearing for Lionsback Final MPD

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3649?fileID=4742

Lionsback Resort Final MPD Phase 1 Plans

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3649?fileID=4743

Trust Lands Administration

https://trustlands.utah.gov

SITLA Land Ownership Map

https://sitla.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/99980972ab8140df8314badd2ebacb1f

Invent Development Partners: Lionsback Resort

http://www.inventdp.com/lionsback-resort

Last week, Moab’s elected officials made clear they want a temporary timed entry system implemented at Arches National Park. Our radio partners report that for other National Parks with similar systems, tickets are going fast. Plus, a popular hiking trail east of Glenwood Springs has seen a lot of changes in the last few years – a visitor cap, the pandemic, and a wildfire. On its recent re-opening, our partners at KDNK document the changes to Hanging Lake Trail.

Show Notes:

Photo: Burned trees are visible on the ridge from below Spouting Rock, on Hanging Lake Trail. Kathleen Shannon/KDNK

KDNK: Hanging Lake Trail Ready to Rock

https://www.kdnk.org/post/hanging-lake-trail-ready-rock