Congressman Jim Matheson introduces Wasatch Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act

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At a press event on April 1, 2010, Congressman Matheson announced his intentions to introduce legislation that would protect the wildlands and watershed in Salt Lake County's Wasatch Mountains. Speaker's included: Congressman Matheson, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, Save Our Canyons Executive Director, Carl Fisher, Snowbird Ski Resort Manager Bob Bonar, and CEO of Black Diamond, Peter Metcalf.   (Click named links for talking notes).

At the event the Congressman spoke to how important this legislation is to future generations and the protection of our water supply. “Ever since the Mormon pioneers camped by the mouth of City Creek in 1847, our prosperity and our quality of life has been linked to the abundant, clean water flowing from these canyons. The foresight of those early settlers is re-enforced by our actions today, so that this priceless resource will be here for our children and grandchildren,” said Matheson.

This bill adds an additional 12,723 acres to the existing wilderness areas of Mt. Olympus, Twin Peaks and Lone Peak; sets aside 10,480 acres within “special management areas” to strengthen watershed protection while continuing permitted use by helicopter skiing; and resolves a conflict between backcountry skiers and proposed expansion of Snowbird ski resort. The bill is the result of years of discussions among numerous stakeholders, including environmentalists, city and country government, the Salt Lake Public Utilities Department, ski resorts, mountain-bikers, private landowners, transportation officials and others.

Matheson said it is the first major watershed protection effort since the wilderness designations provided for in the Utah Wilderness Act of 1984. Since that time, the population of Salt Lake County has grown from 678,000 to 1.1 million. More than 500,000 people in the Salt Lake Valley get the majority of their drinking water from the canyons. The spectacular peaks are also cherished for their beauty, natural environment and recreational opportunities.

A new wilderness area and special management area designated on Grandeur Peak will be named in honor of a former Utah 2nd District Congressman – Wayne Owens. Owens represented the 2nd District twice—from 1973-1975 and again from 1987-1993. He was a strong advocate for public lands protection during his time in Congress.

Matheson said that during recent public workshops-- held to gather input to update the Wasatch Canyons master plan—comments submitted tell how much valley residents love the canyon areas. Surveys show that 78% place a high value on the environment, recreational opportunities and water quality. Most frequent summer and fall activities include hiking, jogging and rock climbing; Winter and spring are taken up with ski resort visits, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.

“Utahns see the canyons as their beautiful backyard – as a place to get away outdoors and to enjoy some ‘down’ time with their families,” said Matheson. “They also appreciate that thanks to the pristine quality of the water supply, their culinary water bills remain very affordable.”

Matheson said the legislation is the result of months of collaborative meetings with many stakeholders who brought a variety of concerns to the table. From the Salt Lake City water department, to the ski resort and heli-ski businesses, to the environmental community, to local government officials—everyone supports the same goal- protecting the watershed and preserving the outdoor experience.

“As Wallace Stegner so astutely observed, in his landmark book “Beyond the 100th Meridian”—water is the true wealth in a dry land,” said Matheson. “Stegner also wrote that John Wesley Powell learned a great deal from the Mormon pioneers about how ‘saluatary cooperation could be a way of life, how much less wasteful than competition, how much less destructive of human and natural resources.’ What we inherited from our forefathers we can now conserve and pass on to future generations.”