UTAH AG NEWS
January 2005

Governor Walker Praises Volunteers For Helping Improve Utah's Watersheds

$200,000 committed to future programs

Governor Olene Walker thanked more than 100 community volunteers who waded through water, planted trees and removed debris from stream banks in an effort to improve the state’s water quality.

The Governor’s Watershed Initiative targeted 25 key streams for improvement. One of those streams was Summit County’s Chalk Creek, located near Coalville. Recent Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) studies of the creek recorded a 20 per cent reduction in phosphorus…and nutrient that causes excess aquatic plant growth and is harmful to fish.

“I am tremendously impressed with the commitment that our volunteers have shown this year, thank you,” said Governor Olene Walker. “You have taken the message to the people that watersheds are vital to our environment because ‘every acre is a watershed.’ she added.

“I would like to thank Senator Bob Bennett for his support of the Governor’s Watershed Initiative and his efforts to secure $200,000 of federal funds for future watershed projects. Those funds are to be used by the Utah Watershed Coordinating Council and local watershed groups throughout the state,” she said.

Governor Walker also congratulated and thanked three state department leaders whose programs contributed to the program’s success: DNR Executive Director, Bob Morgan; DEQ Executive Director, Dianne Nielson; and UDAF Commissioner, Cary G. Peterson.

The Watershed Initiative also exceeded its goals in the “Adopt-a-Waterbody” program, where communities were encouraged protect local waterways by adopting them. By December of 2004, 69 new adoption locations were added to Adopt-a-Waterbody program. (see: http://adoptawaterbody.utah.gov)

Volunteers received certificates of appreciation from the governor and posed for pictures with her during a one-hour ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Salt Lake City.

The volunteers were instrumental in conducting the various improvement projects such as planting new grasses and shrubs, and adding erosion prevention structures.

One important program associated with the Watershed Initiative is Utah’s Take Pride in Utah/America campaign. Take Pride in Utah won a national Take Pride in America award as the outstanding state program in 2004 from U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Utah’s longstanding commitment to annual Take Pride in Utah community projects, along with the program’s connection to the Governor’s Watershed Initiative and strong promotion of watershed Take Pride projects this year were the main reasons for the national recognition.

Precedent-Setting Water Rights Decision Over Endangered Species

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a precedent-setting decision, the federal government agreed to pay four California water districts $16.7 million for water the government diverted a decade ago to help two rare fish.
The settlement could have implications across the West, where the government often clashes with property owners in attempts to save species on the brink of extinction.

The case stemmed from the government's efforts to protect endangered winter-run chinook salmon and threatened delta smelt between 1992 and 1994 by withholding billions of gallons from California farmers.

Court of Federal Claims Senior Judge John Wiese ruled in December 2003 that the government's halting of water constituted a "taking" or intrusion on the farmers' private property rights. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the government from taking private property without fair payment.

Environmental groups feared the ruling would force the government to pay millions of dollars each time it reserves water to help threatened wildlife.

Making Lemonade From Lemons

When Oak City, Utah resident Barbara Stuart was overrun by crickets during the recent bug wars in Millard County, she turned a bad thing into something good. Barbara encased the creepy critters in plastic, creating a unique paper weight. The 3” by 2” conversation piece comes with a written history lesson about the Mormon cricket.

The Historic Cricket

The following passage contains some of the information printed in an information tag that accompanies the plastic-encased crickets produced by Barbara Stuart of Oak City, Utah.

The Mormon cricket has plagued Utah and other western states for many years. The pioneers arrived in Utah in July of 1847. They observed Indians harvesting crickets and storing them for the winter. In late May of 1848 many crops were destroyed when the crickets invaded Utah. The crickets ate sagebrush, alfalfa, small grains, seeds, grasses, and vegetable crops. The arrival of the seagull in early June was a miracle. The seagulls would eat the crickets and then regurgitate them. They would then continue to eat more crickets. Thus, the crickets became known as “Mormon Crickets”.

Oak City is one of several rural communities hit hard by cricket and grasshopper infestations over the past several years. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to control insect populations near farms and ranches. This year the department used GPS (global positioning satellite) technology to help guide the aerial application of pesticides.
Barbara says she stopped making the cricket-in-plastic items because working with the liquid plastic was difficult and dangerous.

You can read more about crickets at these Internet web sites that she recommends:

Mormon Cricket Control, USU extension:
http://extension.usu.edu/hoppers/

Anabrus Simplex Fact Sheet, and Mormon Cricket;
http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/grasshopper/ansi.htm

Miracle of Seagulls, http://ldsfaq.byu.edu History of the Church , Early Utah Era, 1847–77, What was the miracle of the seagulls?

Governor Walker Bids Agriculture and Food Employees Farewell

Governor Olene Walker praised UDAF employees for their dedicated and professionalism during her Dec. 14 farewell visit. The department employees gathered in the building’s main lobby to hear the governor, Lt. Governor, Gayle McKeachnie and Chief of Staff Gary Doxey thank them for their service during their time in office.

Governor Walker recounted her earlier visit to the department during National Agriculture Week where she helped draw attention to her Watershed Initiative and kick off Take Pride In Utah month. During her Dec. 14th visit she highlighted her recommended budget that included wage increases for state workers who hadn’t received adequate raises in three years. She also acknowledged that UDAF workers were among the lowest paid State employees in Utah.

Commissioner Peterson presented the governor with two CD’s containing a video and still pictures that summarized her year-long Watershed Initiative. He also presented her with a framed photo montage of her earlier watershed visit that included the statement, "Governor Olene S. Walker, 2004 Watershed Initiative, From Your Friends at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.”

Governor Walker shows off a framed photo presented to her by Commissioner Peterson. The photo is a montage of pictures taken during an earlier visit to the department.

Governor Encourages State Employees to Work Healthier

Eight new recommendations call for healthy eating and physical activity

Gov. Olene Walker announced eight Work Well recommendations to help Utah state employees eat better and get more physical activity. The recommendations are designed to prevent obesity, decrease absenteeism and health care costs, reduce stress, improve morale and productivity, and promote the lifelong health of employees and their families.

The complete list of recommendations includes:

1. Offering healthy menu choices at each work meeting, conference, and training where food may be served.
2. Posting healthy eating messages in cafeterias, break rooms and vending areas.
3. Working with vendors in state facilities to include healthy options in vending machines, based on customer preference.
4. Encouraging employees to exercise, including the implementation of the existing exercise release policy of 30 minutes, three times per week, with supervisor approval.
5. Promoting the use of stairs as a way to get more daily physical activity.
6. Encouraging employees to walk, bike, or bus to work and, where circumstances permit, providing showers, lockers, bike racks, discounted bus passes, and flexible working schedules.
7. Educating employees about trails and pathways that are safe and near work sites.
8. Establishing work site wellness councils to support healthy eating and daily physical activity.