KZMU News

The nation's first commercial-scale oil shale mine and processing plant in the Uinta Basin, near the confluence of the Green and White Rivers, is in the planning stages. That kind of mining takes a lot of water, roughly four barrels of water for every barrel of oil. Now, a conservation group is protesting who should have access to a 10-million-gallon-per-day water right impacting the Green River. Plus, the City of Green River is receiving $500,000 in federal funding to assess abandoned properties for contaminants in the downtown corridor, including old gas stations and a historic bank building. This is the first step in potential redevelopment. And, the Western Fire Chiefs Association launched a mobile-friendly map to provide the latest information on wildfires across the region.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Water from the Green River will be used for a planned commercial-scale oil shale mine and processing plant in the Uinta Basin. Credit: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management.

// Utah Division of Water Rights: July 19 Hearing Info

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/sites/default/files/resources/2022-04-21-Notice-of-Hearing.pdf

// Grand Canyon Trust: Utah Water Deal Siphons Colorado River Tributary

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/blog/utah-water-deal-siphons-colorado-river-tributary

// Grand Canyon Trust: Critical Habitat Map For Endangered Fish Near Enefit Oil Shale Development

https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/critical-habitat-map-endangered-fish-near-enefit-oil-shale-development

// EPA (May 2022): Biden Administration Announces $254 Million To Tackle Polluted Brownfield Sites

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-administration-announces-254-million-tackle-polluted-brownfield-sites

On a recent summer afternoon near the base of the La Sal Mountains, Pack Creek babbles along as thunderclouds threaten to send more water into the drainage. For the first time, there’s a device that can measure the height of this creek to let locals know if it’s likely to flood. Water managers, nonprofits and local government are also hoping the new Pack Creek Stream Gage will provide a missing puzzle piece of information about our local water system. Plus, Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas were hit by historic flooding while our region remains in a severe drought. A report on how these two extremes can occur side-by-side.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: A USGS crew installs the Pack Creek Stream Gage on June 16th. An inter-agency effort, the gage will monitor the surface water of Pack Creek, helping with flood warnings and water system study.

// USGS: Pack Creek At Pack Creek Road Bridge

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09184600/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

The U.S. Department of Energy is building up the country’s strategic uranium reserve. That’s meant to provide a reliable supply of the material for energy and defense. Today on the news, we speak with a regional uranium producer on what the policy means for business. Plus, legislation to recognize same-sex marriage is back before the Navajo Nation Council. And later, our radio partners interview regional author Craig Childs about his new book, “Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau.”

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Energy Fuels’ White Mesa uranium mill. A company spokesperson says the current build-up of a federal uranium reserve will not likely result in new mining. Dom Smith/EcoFlight

// Mountain West News Bureau: Navajo Nation again considers legislation to repeal same-sex marriage ban

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2022-07-11/navajo-nation-again-considers-legislation-to-repeal-same-sex-marriage-ban

// KVNF: Craig Childs discusses his new book about rock art on the Colorado plateau

https://www.kvnf.org/2022-07-11/craig-childs-discusses-his-new-book-about-rock-art-on-the-colorado-plateau

Earlier this week Moab’s Arches New Hope Pregnancy Center was vandalized. The organization offers a host of services to pregnant women. They also call themselves pro-life. Plus, a Utah lawmaker will reintroduce a bill that will broaden the list of individuals a victim of rape or sexual abuse can legally report to other than law enforcement agencies. And, many women are now more likely to travel across state lines for reproductive care.

//Plus, the Weekly News Reel! The Times-Independent’s Sophia Fisher discusses Four Corners’ move to Nob Hill, a ‘weird year’ for the local economy and a tourism marketing partnership. Moab Sun News’ Alison Harford covers a reproductive rights march in Moab, a six-year old motocross sensation and the annual La Sal Mountain butterfly count.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Moab’s Arches New Hope Pregnancy Center, a faith-based organization, was vandalized earlier this week. KZMU/Justin Higginbottom

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Four Corners Behavioral Health moves to Nob Hill

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/four-corners-behavioral-health-moves-to-nob-hill/

// The Times-Independent: The economy in 2022 – ‘It’s been a weird year’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/the-economy-in-2022-its-been-a-weird-year/

// The Times-Independent: Moab’s tourism marketing evolves with strategic partnership

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moabs-tourism-marketing-evolves-with-strategic-partnership/

// Moab Sun News: Moabites march in support of reproductive rights

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/07/march-reproductive-rights/

// Moab Sun News: La Sal’s six-year-old sensation is ready to ride

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/07/motocross-sierra-bull/

// Moab Sun News: Annual butterfly count finds 26 species in La Sals

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/07/butterfly-count/

Moab City needs housing for the local workforce. Last fall, the city’s elected officials and staff floated a question – what if developers in certain residential zones were required to set aside a portion of their project to the local workforce? But this idea hit a major snag – concerns about private property rights infringement. We speak with the CEO of the Utah Central Association of Realtors about the ongoing negotiations. Plus, a new study provides a snapshot of the number of short-term rentals in Utah. Not surprisingly for residents, Grand County is near the top.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: New residential development in central Moab. Elected officials want to require future multi-family developments in certain zones include a percentage of workforce housing. The ordinance process stalled after late-stage concerns from private property rights groups.

// Moab Sun News: City still developing workforce housing requirement

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/city-still-developing-workforce-housing-requirement/

Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute: Short-Term-Rental Inventory

https://gardner.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/ShortTermRent-PB-Jun2022.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_saltlakecity&stream=top

National Parks were big draws for tourists last year. Visitors lined up across the country to enter the National Park System more than 297 million times – up 25 percent from 2020. These visits meant a lot of spending in nearby communities like Moab. Today on the news, a report on a new study which crunches the numbers. Plus, the Southwest may be in for some drought relief this summer as monsoon season is off to a strong start. And, residents of a Colorado mobile home park are working on a statewide initiative to address water equity.

// Show Notes:

// NPS: 2021 National Park Visitor Spending Effects

https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/673126

On Independence Day, protesters across the country marched for body independence in the wake of the Supreme Court decision upending the federal right to abortion. This decision allows states to drastically reduce or even outlaw abortion. Here in Moab, protesters at the Rally for Body Independence and Autonomy say they haven’t only lost a federal right – they’ve also lost a human right.

// Show Notes

// Photo: At least 50 people marched through downtown Moab yesterday to show support for body autonomy. Courtesy Jessica Retka

// Reproductive Care Resources

// Utah Abortion Fund

https://abortionfunds.org/fund/utah-abortion-fund/

// The Brigid Alliance

https://brigidalliance.org

// Indigenous Women Rising

https://www.iwrising.org

// KUER: Judge temporarily blocks Utah’s abortion trigger law for 14 days

https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2022-06-27/judge-temporarily-blocks-utahs-abortion-trigger-law-for-14-days

Ahh, the pool in the summertime. A place to relax, cool-off and send the kids on summer break. A local family of six can have a full day at Moab’s pool for 15 bucks. But that’s likely to change – slightly – as Moab City considers raising fees to offset a significant deficit at the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center. Plus, squaring health and safety codes with new solutions to counter housing displacement for vulnerable locals has proved challenging for Grand County. A report on their strategy to codify long-term residential camping zones. And, a new documentary looks at how Colorado has led the way in secure voting by mail.

// Show Notes

// Photo: The outdoor pool at the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center. A new feasibility study showed a 10 percent fee increase could help offset the center’s deficit. Credit MRAC

// Moab Sun News: MRAC to possibly raise rates by 10%

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/mrac-to-possibly-raise-rates-by-10/

// Sounds in the MRAC story:

"Ambience, Outdoor Public Pool, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org

"splashing in the pool.wav" by angeliqueperdikes of Freesound.org

// Moab Sun News: City still developing workforce housing requirement

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/city-still-developing-workforce-housing-requirement/

// Free Speech TV: Democracy vs The Big Lie

https://freespeech.org/stories/tonight-on-justsolutions-democracy-vs-the-big-lie/

The recent flooding around Yellowstone National Park also created challenges for gateway towns like Gardner, Red Lodge and Cooke City in Montana. That includes lost homes and possibly lost livelihoods. For travelers who can no longer access the park through those towns, there’s another Montana entrance: West Yellowstone, the most popular gateway to the park. Our partners at the Mountain West News Bureau visited the community in late June. Plus, a report by Utah Public Radio on the toxic dust left from the drying Great Salt Lake. Last, our region’s long drought is putting pressure on drinking water supplies. Add in a water main break and the situation can be catastrophic. We have another report from the Mountain West News Bureau on one area that’s already under water restrictions.

// And later, the Weekly News Reel where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Reporter Sophia Fisher of the Times-Independent discusses local and state officials’ take on the Supreme Court decision regarding abortion rights, new construction coming to Highway 191 and Grand County's COVID status. Ali Harford of the Moab Sun News talks about efforts at educating residents on housing rights, the status of local Celtic festival Scots on the Rocks and an opportunity for locals to record oral histories with help from the Moab Museum.

// Show Notes

// Photo : The Montana entrance to Yellowstone, West Yellowstone, remains open to visitors after area flooding. Madelyn Beck/MWNB

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Local, state officials weigh in on divisive Supreme Court decision

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/local-state-officials-weigh-in-on-divisive-supreme-court-decision/

// The Times-Independent: 3 UDOT projects speeding ahead

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/3-udot-projects-speeding-ahead/

// The Times-Independent: Grand’s COVID status wobbles between High, Medium

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/grands-covid-status-wobbles-between-high-medium/

// Moab Sun News: Local housing advocates receive fair housing laws training

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/local-housing-advocates-receive-fair-housing-laws-training/

// Moab Sun News: City permits Scots on the Rocks festival at ballparks

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/city-permits-scots-on-the-rocks-festival-at-ballparks/

// Moab Sun News: Creating a personal history

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/06/30/creating-a-personal-history/

//Moab Museum oral history project

https://moabmuseum.org/oral-histories/

Primary elections favored incumbents across the state this week. And a murder has shocked a Ute Mountain Ute community in San Juan County. Also, we rebroadcast an audio portrait of the world-record holder in endurance horse racing.

//Show Notes

//Utah primary results:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/2022-utah-primary-results

//Audio Portrait Featured Music/Sounds:

‘Night Owl’ by Broke For Free

‘Horse Whinny, Close, A.wav’ by Inspector

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

//Photo: Moab resident Christoph Schork trains horses and people in endurance riding at his local ranch. Justin Higginbottom/KZMU