A management and development plan for Burraston's Ponds Wildlife and Recreation area has been formulated and is ready for the signatures of the Juab County Commission.
John Fairchild and Doug Sakaguchi, representing the Division of Wildlife Resources, told commissioners the committee, which includes citizens, had been highly effective. "The input from the two members of the committee representing the school board has been great," Fairchild said."The draft reflects the concerns the committee had when it first started," said Fairchild. "The first goal, to provide a safe, enjoyable outdoor recreational experience for the public, is the greatest concern."
In order to do that, he said, the committee wanted to greatly reduce the use of Burraston Ponds as a destination spot for illegal activities and to accomplish the goal by the fall of 1996.
"We would like to promote the establishment of a Juab County ordinance that prohibits the use of alcohol within the recreation area," said Fairchild. He said he has checked with the state attorney general's office and found there was not a lot of case law that would support the action on either side. However, he said, it was the general opinion that such laws were feasible.
State land could not be targeted and could not be treated differently than other state lands in the county, he said.
Commissioner Joseph Bernini said the county already has an ordinance on the books that prohibits the use of alcohol at any public assembly.
Commissioners agreed they would have the county attorney research the current law and draw up an ordinance that would make it possible to control the drinking crowd at Burraston's and at other recreation sites in the county.
"After the Memorial weekend our sheriff suffered through," said Commissioner Ike Lunt. "I think our sheriff would go along with anything that would give him some control over the rowdy crowd." Lunt was referring to an incident at Yuba Lake in which visitors trashed the area after police made several arrests.
"We need to get our law enforcement group with your sheriff and form and action plan," said Fairchild. "We need to develop an action plan with the Juab County sheriff to address law enforcement needs."
The committee also wants to minimize joyriding, restrict motor vehicle access to the main road and eliminate the loop around the ponds.
"We want to encourage participation of local school groups in special projects at Burraston's," he said.
The second objective of the committee was to complete construction of features identified in the site development plan by the year 2000. "We want to upgrade the main road from an improved dirt road to a hard surface road by August 1995," he said.
Lunt said the huge rocks that had been placed by road crews to restrict travel around the ponds had been moved Memorial Day weekend.
Wheelchair access will also need to be made, said Fairchild.