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Show Salt Lake City Watershed Management Plan ' 99 Explanation: A coordinated effort between Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Bureau of Land Management Mines Division, and the Utah State Oil, Gas and Mining Division provides an increased awareness and knowledge for these agencies regarding proposed mining activities. There are several hundred mining claims that are still potentially active throughout the watershed. Salt Lake City would coordinate with the other affected jurisdictions and be prepared to address proposed mining operations. Large- scale rnining in the watershed is unlikely to occur in the future. If proposals for large- scale rnining are presented, Salt Lake City will have to re- address the issue at that time. • Recommendation: Reclamation of problem sites is necessary. Implementation: A schedule of site reclamation projects will be established by January 1, 2001. Explanation: Problem sites should continually be identified until they are eliminated. For example, the Forest Service has recently closed the Tanners Flat campground in Little Cottonwood Canyon for remediation. For health of the watershed and its users, these sites should be found and the problems mitigated as soon as possible. • Recommendation: Purchase mining rights. Implementation: Begin immediately after this plan is adopted. Explanation: The Watershed and Water Rights Purchase Fund was developed as a result of the 1988 Watershed Management Plan. It was established to purchase watershed property, water rights, and rnining claims throughout the Salt Lake City watershed area. The fund receives approximately $ 250,000 a year from a small fee that is part of each water bill. Purchasing mining rights is the only 100 percent effective method for avoiding potential water quality impacts from rnining. Page 75 |