Strawberry Ice!!!

[cat_man]

From http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/05-11/strawberry.php :

Last modified: Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Winter recreation access at Strawberry Reservior
Note: This news release is from the U.S. Forest Service.
Winter recreationists planning trips to Strawberry Valley will notice a change in the access to popular day-use areas. This winter season the Uinta National Forest has joined with Utah State Parks and Recreation, Blue Ribbon Fishery Advisory Council, Habitat Council, Utah Snowmobile Association, and Wasatch County to hire a contractor to plow snow and maintain recreation access. As a result of this new partnership, fees will not be charged this season.
There are nine parking areas in Strawberry Valley. Three are plowed for snowmobile access to the groomed trail system, two for access to cross-country ski trailheads, and four for ice-fishing access to Strawberry Reservior. Fees will not be collected at these sites this season, however, donations will be accepted that will be used to extend this service throughout this winter. Recreationists may leave donations in self-service tubes located at each site.
Restrooms will be maintained by the Forest Service and volunteers. Users should help keep restrooms clean and in serviceable conditions.
Over the past several years, parking areas and access routes were plowed through agreements with other agencies and a permit with a concessionaire. The permit with the concessionaire has expired and will not be issued until early next year. The new partnership will continue through this winter season and be re-evaluated for next year.
Before heading to a favorite winter recreation destination in Strawberry Valley, visit the Uinta National Forest Web site at [url "http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta/"]www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta[/url], or contact the Heber Ranger Ranger District at (435) 654-0470. Recreationists may also obtain the most current conditions, access availability, and services available at the Strawberry Visitor's Center, 435-548-2321.
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[kidsnme]

That is good news, now we just need it to freeze over and soon, I have some big cut's calling my name!!
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[ironworker]

that's a very nice suprise.
come on ice.
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[Theekillerbee]

That is excellent news! Of course the $4 fee was very reasonable in the first place, but still, free is even better!
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[MRJ]

Hey, $4.00 was cheap to get access to the ice, especially for those of us with "old bones". I support the donation idea to maintain or expand access. As it stands, there are too few places to get down to the ice which concentrates too many people in too small of an area. Thanks for the great report cat _man. Mr. J.
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[FishingWaters]

The removable of the fee is only because there in no vender to collect the fee. The previous vendor is no longer collecting fee and will not plow the parking lots. Federal law prohibits the parks department from collecting fees for use of public land. Now with that said the law allows a vender to lease the land and collect fee for improvements and maintenance. The $4.00 fee was paid to a vender to cover the cost of the snow removable and the cost to administrate labor to enforce parking. I understand that last year it cost the vender more to plow the lots than the money they collected. This was due to the fact that most users never paid the fee. The vender has no way of collecting the fee with out going to court. In order to go to court they would need to get your name and address. They are unable to do this because they don’t have the authority gain access to vehicle records. It would cost more than $4.00 to go to court and they have no other authority to enforce collection.

The federal government is trying to find money to cover the cost of plowing the parking areas. If there is no money found the lots may not get plowed all the time.

They have put bids out to a new vender to oversee the campgrounds and plow the parking lot in the winter. The new contracts won’t go in to effect until spring. With the new contact the cost could go up.

I guess this is why we need to pay the fee and encourage others to pay theirs also. So making a donation this winter will help cover the cost of plowing.

I would like see State Parks work with the Federal Government to come up with a day pass that can be used to at both State and Federal parks in Utah.
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[fishin4fun]

You really need to be careful with that kind of title! Scares some of us to death you know!! [] I was so excited to read where/what had ice!

I'm OK paying it since I'm a user of the plowed parking lots. I would rather not, but don't want the plowed lots taken away just to save a few dollars, etc. Good article and thanks for sharing!
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[CROSSINEYES]

GREAT NEWS .. WHERE ARE THE LOCATIONS OF THE PLOWED PARKING ACCESSES? SURE HOPE THEY GO TO THE BACK SIDE OF SOLDGER CREEK...
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[JoyRide1]

Maybe this map is still good for the plowed parking lots. [url "http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta/maps/maps/straw_win.pdf"]http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta/maps/maps/straw_win.pdf[/url]

I had to use the zoom feature to see what was what.
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[tomegun]

We should get together with Strawberry Anglers Association and have a tackle sale. This might help a little.

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[Hellsangler69]

I always pay or I wont go , but have seen many that don't or want to see if they can get away without paying . I just want the access to the water . At $4.00 a pop it is a steal at that rate . I wouldn't be surprise if the fee goes up when they do start charging .
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[cat_man]

Sorry fishin4fun, I just knew that topic would get people's attention!

Shameless, I know, shameless. [][cool]
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