Cattle ranchers say they want recreationists off Stansbury Island. But the Bureau of Land Management says no way, no how.
"From the BLM standpoint, we sympathize with the private-land owners. But on the other hand we won't stand by and do nothing when it comes to public access to public lands," said BLM District Manager Deane Zeller.The BLM is caught in the middle of the dispute between private-land owners, who own 6,000 acres on the island, and recreationists. About 9,000 acres of Stansbury Island are public lands administered by the BLM.
Ranchers, who operate on both public and private lands, have petitioned Tooele County commissioners to close a major access road to the west side of the island, virtually eliminating recreation on half of the island.
"In all fairness, the majority of recreation has been on private land by people who don't know they are on private land," Zeller said. "And the private-land owners have legitimate complaints in many cases."
But, Zeller adds, the only access to the public lands is often on county roads that traverse private lands. And if Tooele County relinquishes control of the access road, the public is then denied access to public lands.
Tooele County commissioners, who held a public hearing earlier this week on the road closure, say they'd rather not have to make a decision - and want the BLM and landowners to resolve the matter.
"It's a tough decision. Hopefully the sides will get together," said Commissioner Ed St. Clair. "Both sides have good arguments. Philosophically I'm against closing roads, but we also have an obligation to protect private-property owners."
In recent years, Stansbury Island - accessible by a causeway on the south end of the Great Salt Lake - has become a mecca for recreationists. The island has crisscrossed trails, making it popular among thousands of off-highway motorists, mountain bikers, beachcombers, hikers, Scout troops, geology buffs and rock art enthusiasts.
Currently, one access road runs part way along the east side of the island, while a longer road runs the entire length of the west side. Both access roads are owned and maintained by Tooele County.
Landowners complain that recreationists ignore no-trespassing signs, damage animal forage and harass the livestock.
A particular problem, they say, is with people who camp at the water holes and wells on the barren island, preventing the cattle from drinking what little fresh water there is.
"There's no question the landowners have been taken advantage of," Zeller said. "But any time there is the potential for the public losing access to their land, we are opposed to it. Adamantly opposed."
Zeller would prefer a compromise with landowners, including the erection of no-trespassing and public information signs. But landowners say such attempts in the past failed, and they want nothing less than a closure.
Located only 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, Stansbury Island has become increasingly popular among urbanites who prefer the rugged solitude of the island in their own back yard. "It's probably the last wilderness area left close to Salt Lake," said BLM public affairs officer Glenn Foreman.
In recent years, the BLM has been deluged with calls for information about the island from recreationists. The BLM recently designated mountain bike trails on the island, and some officials have publicly called for the development of the island into a recreation destination.
"We think it is a very significant public resource," Zeller added. "It has unique opportunities, great vistas of the Wasatch Front, sand dunes, chucker hunting. It's really been discovered in the past four or five years."
Barring a compromise, St. Clair said commissioners will make a decision on closing the road sometime in September.