Up for a challenge? Nordic Valley resident Clay Crosland climbs Mt. Everest in Ogden Valley
By Dave Martin
On the mourning of December 26, Nordic Valley resident Clay Crosland completed the kind of challenge our inner child is usually coaxing many of us to take on in these first days of January. Joined by longtime friend Chad Booth and his son Taylor, Clay made his record 300th ascent of the year up a little known trail that intercepts the Skyline trail midway between North Ogden Divide and Wind Surfer Beach trail heads. What Clay didn't know..., Chad had already secretly made the climb to the top in advance of going up with him, to setup a congratulatory display of balloons. There might have been a bottle of champagne uncorked too. Just speculation.
Clay and Hope Crosland with dog Hardy.
Earlier last September, on the same trail, I happened upon Clay, cranking out ascent number 200. To appreciate the gravity of this impressive feat, some background on the trail itself would be illuminating. First, you won't find this trail on any map. Lacking a formal name, it's most appropriately known by not-so endearing adjectives like brutal, merciless, hellacious.... Those who use the trail, and few there be, regard it with a certain love-hate. Having hiked it many times over the years, I can attest that Clay is one in a handful I've ever encountered. Those who stumble across it usually do not follow it to its end and never return for a second attempt.
Though the trail is short, a mere 1.5 miles, what it lacks in distance is more than made up for in elevation gain—nearly 2,000 feet of relentless 23% grade; in other words, it is tortuously steep.
I asked Clay what prompted him to take on such an ambitious pursuit, and was surprised as he described how a short lunch-break workout had morphed into, as Clay put it, “an obsession.” According to Clay, it all unofficially started three years earlier when the close proximity of the trail to his home in Nordic Valley conveniently lent itself to an opportunity right after a daily conference call for a short, rigorous exercise session, often made with his two dogs Steve and Hardy. Clay usually completed a round trip within an hour and fifteen minutes. After he'd racked up a few dozen initial climbs, he thought he might try and knock out 200 before year's end (2016). He finished with 210, along with an addiction that was not soon to be broken.
In 2017 he pushed harder, completing 280 climbs. By this time, out of necessity and with the fortunate and continued buy-in of his supportive, if not occasionally skeptical, wife Hope, Clay kept the count going with more arduous winter climbs on snowshoes, carrying with him back country skis for endorphin-filled descents.
On one occasion, a fatal injury to his dog Hardy nearly resulted. Bounding in a tight arc around Clay while making their descent together, Hardy caught a ski tip, severely slicing an artery and severing tendons in his front upper leg. With the quick application of a tourniquet from a spare shirt in his pack, Clay ditched his skis and slogged down the hill, Hardy against his chest, leaving a trail of blood in the snow behind him. With life-saving-time down to the wire, critical veterinary intervention allowed Hardy to survive the day, only to find his way back into mischief a few weeks later.
By September 2018, Clay had topped 200 and was on pace for 300 on the year and thought, “why not?” This put a tighter squeeze on available time and daily commitments to work and family. Integrating his climbs into extended periods away for vacation and business trips became tricky. To adjust for this, he began logging longer sets of consecutive daily climbs, including a challenging 80-day streak. He also made several two-in-one day climbs along with a quad-crushing triple back-to-backer Clay described as “brutal.”
“When you are daily frequenting a single trail like this, you become fully aware of who and what is using the trail along with you from the tracks left in the dirt and snow,” Clay observed. With regularity, he had noticed, the presence of larger, more disconcerting mountain lion imprints, never actually catching a glimpse of the elusive cat. That all changed on an April morning when his dog Hardy picked up on a fresh scent. The chase was on with Clay shortly catching up to Hardy, barking at the hissing and obviously annoyed feline treed just 20' above them in the air. After snapping off a few nervous pictures to document the episode with his smart phone, Clay cautiously backed himself and Hardy out in tense retreat. Needing no further motivation than this experience provided, Clay thought it advantageous to holster a canister of bear spray on future climbs. Fortuitous, since another encounter would be soon in coming.
Last September, at about the same time Nordic Valley residents were reporting news of a mountain lion(s) making off with family pets, Clay was on the mountain again, just starting his descent, this time without the company and protection of Hardy. Noticing motion in his peripheral, Clay stopped to figure out what was moving up the hill so quickly towards him He soon realized it was not one, but two mountain lions, absorbed in play, bumping and swatting at each other, completely unaware of their impending intercept. Adrenalin mounting, and knowing they were soon to be occupying the same space, Clay let out a stop-you-in-your-tracks “get the ---- out of here!” Without even looking up to see the source of the sound, the cats whirled and disappeared into the undergrowth in front of him. “After recovering my wits, the rest of my descent went painfully slow, triple checking every bend in the trail. I wanted to be down and out of there! It was probably my slowest descent on record.”
Given the perceived risk of such encounters, I was surprised when Clay so blithely shifted to the real payoff for his daily routine. “It's hard not to be awestruck by the view at the top,” says Clay. Whether under a full moon of several of his night climbs, or in the dappled light of morning sun, “it's always stunning.” About five years ago, Clay started snapping pictures of majestic Mount Ogden in the distance from a fixed vantage point on the Skyline Trail summit. He eventually produced hundreds of sequenced shots giving an amazing, seasonal time-lapse of the peak. At the risk of losing a best-kept-secret, Clay generously shares Mount Ogden's journey through time at <http://bit.ly/firetraipics>
Anyone acquainted with Clay, knows he's not big on, or comfortable with, a lot of attention and notoriety. He's one of the most unassuming, adventure-loving Ogden Valley locals you'll meet. He casually describes the whole undertaking as “no big deal,” and when asking him about sharing his experience, with some reservation, he questioned if there was really “any substance to the whole thing, certainly not a newsworthy achievement.” I assured him otherwise. Between 2016 and 2018, Clay made 969 ascent/descents—an accumulative total of 840 miles, 570,000 vertical feet, the equivalent of climbing Mt Everest from sea level just shy of 20 times.
Maybe this isn't a big, front-page first-place in an international competition like XTERRA or SPARTAN by a high-achieving local athlete, but what Clay does shows, and inspires, is what many of us, with some perseverance, are capable of accomplishing in an hour or two out their own back door each day right here on the beautiful trails of Ogden Valley. And, in case you noticed and are wondering....Yes and yes. Clay was only 31 documented climbs short of an even 1000 in his otherwise humble trail odyssey. He says, “I'm just glad it's over. The next milestone of 1000 should come pretty easy.”
<Clay and Hope Crosland with dog Hardy.jpg>
Relatively easy, I suppose. Just another climb up Mount Everest. And, yes, he's going to spread those climbs out over a few more days, maybe even a couple of weeks, in his pursuit of that final 1000. But then, knowing Clay, I'm willing to wager 2019 brings another record. Any takers?
Have those balloons ready Chad!
By Dave Martin
On the mourning of December 26, Nordic Valley resident Clay Crosland completed the kind of challenge our inner child is usually coaxing many of us to take on in these first days of January. Joined by longtime friend Chad Booth and his son Taylor, Clay made his record 300th ascent of the year up a little known trail that intercepts the Skyline trail midway between North Ogden Divide and Wind Surfer Beach trail heads. What Clay didn't know..., Chad had already secretly made the climb to the top in advance of going up with him, to setup a congratulatory display of balloons. There might have been a bottle of champagne uncorked too. Just speculation.
Clay and Hope Crosland with dog Hardy.
Earlier last September, on the same trail, I happened upon Clay, cranking out ascent number 200. To appreciate the gravity of this impressive feat, some background on the trail itself would be illuminating. First, you won't find this trail on any map. Lacking a formal name, it's most appropriately known by not-so endearing adjectives like brutal, merciless, hellacious.... Those who use the trail, and few there be, regard it with a certain love-hate. Having hiked it many times over the years, I can attest that Clay is one in a handful I've ever encountered. Those who stumble across it usually do not follow it to its end and never return for a second attempt.
Though the trail is short, a mere 1.5 miles, what it lacks in distance is more than made up for in elevation gain—nearly 2,000 feet of relentless 23% grade; in other words, it is tortuously steep.
I asked Clay what prompted him to take on such an ambitious pursuit, and was surprised as he described how a short lunch-break workout had morphed into, as Clay put it, “an obsession.” According to Clay, it all unofficially started three years earlier when the close proximity of the trail to his home in Nordic Valley conveniently lent itself to an opportunity right after a daily conference call for a short, rigorous exercise session, often made with his two dogs Steve and Hardy. Clay usually completed a round trip within an hour and fifteen minutes. After he'd racked up a few dozen initial climbs, he thought he might try and knock out 200 before year's end (2016). He finished with 210, along with an addiction that was not soon to be broken.
In 2017 he pushed harder, completing 280 climbs. By this time, out of necessity and with the fortunate and continued buy-in of his supportive, if not occasionally skeptical, wife Hope, Clay kept the count going with more arduous winter climbs on snowshoes, carrying with him back country skis for endorphin-filled descents.
On one occasion, a fatal injury to his dog Hardy nearly resulted. Bounding in a tight arc around Clay while making their descent together, Hardy caught a ski tip, severely slicing an artery and severing tendons in his front upper leg. With the quick application of a tourniquet from a spare shirt in his pack, Clay ditched his skis and slogged down the hill, Hardy against his chest, leaving a trail of blood in the snow behind him. With life-saving-time down to the wire, critical veterinary intervention allowed Hardy to survive the day, only to find his way back into mischief a few weeks later.
By September 2018, Clay had topped 200 and was on pace for 300 on the year and thought, “why not?” This put a tighter squeeze on available time and daily commitments to work and family. Integrating his climbs into extended periods away for vacation and business trips became tricky. To adjust for this, he began logging longer sets of consecutive daily climbs, including a challenging 80-day streak. He also made several two-in-one day climbs along with a quad-crushing triple back-to-backer Clay described as “brutal.”
“When you are daily frequenting a single trail like this, you become fully aware of who and what is using the trail along with you from the tracks left in the dirt and snow,” Clay observed. With regularity, he had noticed, the presence of larger, more disconcerting mountain lion imprints, never actually catching a glimpse of the elusive cat. That all changed on an April morning when his dog Hardy picked up on a fresh scent. The chase was on with Clay shortly catching up to Hardy, barking at the hissing and obviously annoyed feline treed just 20' above them in the air. After snapping off a few nervous pictures to document the episode with his smart phone, Clay cautiously backed himself and Hardy out in tense retreat. Needing no further motivation than this experience provided, Clay thought it advantageous to holster a canister of bear spray on future climbs. Fortuitous, since another encounter would be soon in coming.
Last September, at about the same time Nordic Valley residents were reporting news of a mountain lion(s) making off with family pets, Clay was on the mountain again, just starting his descent, this time without the company and protection of Hardy. Noticing motion in his peripheral, Clay stopped to figure out what was moving up the hill so quickly towards him He soon realized it was not one, but two mountain lions, absorbed in play, bumping and swatting at each other, completely unaware of their impending intercept. Adrenalin mounting, and knowing they were soon to be occupying the same space, Clay let out a stop-you-in-your-tracks “get the ---- out of here!” Without even looking up to see the source of the sound, the cats whirled and disappeared into the undergrowth in front of him. “After recovering my wits, the rest of my descent went painfully slow, triple checking every bend in the trail. I wanted to be down and out of there! It was probably my slowest descent on record.”
Given the perceived risk of such encounters, I was surprised when Clay so blithely shifted to the real payoff for his daily routine. “It's hard not to be awestruck by the view at the top,” says Clay. Whether under a full moon of several of his night climbs, or in the dappled light of morning sun, “it's always stunning.” About five years ago, Clay started snapping pictures of majestic Mount Ogden in the distance from a fixed vantage point on the Skyline Trail summit. He eventually produced hundreds of sequenced shots giving an amazing, seasonal time-lapse of the peak. At the risk of losing a best-kept-secret, Clay generously shares Mount Ogden's journey through time at <http://bit.ly/firetraipics>
Anyone acquainted with Clay, knows he's not big on, or comfortable with, a lot of attention and notoriety. He's one of the most unassuming, adventure-loving Ogden Valley locals you'll meet. He casually describes the whole undertaking as “no big deal,” and when asking him about sharing his experience, with some reservation, he questioned if there was really “any substance to the whole thing, certainly not a newsworthy achievement.” I assured him otherwise. Between 2016 and 2018, Clay made 969 ascent/descents—an accumulative total of 840 miles, 570,000 vertical feet, the equivalent of climbing Mt Everest from sea level just shy of 20 times.
Maybe this isn't a big, front-page first-place in an international competition like XTERRA or SPARTAN by a high-achieving local athlete, but what Clay does shows, and inspires, is what many of us, with some perseverance, are capable of accomplishing in an hour or two out their own back door each day right here on the beautiful trails of Ogden Valley. And, in case you noticed and are wondering....Yes and yes. Clay was only 31 documented climbs short of an even 1000 in his otherwise humble trail odyssey. He says, “I'm just glad it's over. The next milestone of 1000 should come pretty easy.”
<Clay and Hope Crosland with dog Hardy.jpg>
Relatively easy, I suppose. Just another climb up Mount Everest. And, yes, he's going to spread those climbs out over a few more days, maybe even a couple of weeks, in his pursuit of that final 1000. But then, knowing Clay, I'm willing to wager 2019 brings another record. Any takers?
Have those balloons ready Chad!
Ogden Valley Balloon Festival 2018. Photos courtesy of Bruce Grandin, Nichole Kroening, Dennis Montgomery, OC Budge, and Justin McFarland.
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Trinitie Lopshire of Liberty with her horse Huckelberry.
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Liberty Youth to Compete at National High School Finals Rodeo in July
Trinitie Lopshire, who just completed her 10th-grade year at Weber High School, has earned a position on the Idaho State National High School Rodeo Team and will travel with fellow treammates to Rock Springs, Wyoming July 15-21 to compete at the 70th-annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in breakaway roping. To earn this spot, Trinitie has competed throughout the school year, finishing in the top four of the state.
Featuring more than 1,650 contestants from 43 states, 5 Canadian Providences, Australia, and Mexico, the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $200,000 in prizes, NHSFR contestants will also compete for more than $350,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named the NHSFR World Champion.
Regarding the state finals, Trinitie “Going into state finals, I wasn’t in a very good spot. I knew I had to go for it and rope my calves fast. I caught all 4 calves and placed third in the average. I also placed fourth in the third-go and second in the short-go. My horse Huckelberry is 20 years old, and I have been competing off of him since I was 9. This is probably my last season roping off of him before we retire him. So, making it to Nationals is super special to me.”
Trinitie has been competing in rodeo since she was 5 years old. She has competed in Jr. High Rodeo for three years and this is her second year in High School Rodeo. This is her first year competing for the state of Idaho. She decided to switch states because when competing in Utah, you miss more than four times as much school as you do competing in Idaho.
Trinitie is the daughter of Travis and April Lopshire of Liberty, and her grandparents are Kelly and Joan Wangsgard of Huntsville.
Trinite is currently raffling off a basket of items donated by local businesses to help her and her horse “Huckleberry” get to and compete at the NHSFR. If you would like more information or to purchase a ticket, you can contact her at cowgirltrin1@gmail.com or you can call/text 801-710-5997.
Trinitie Lopshire, who just completed her 10th-grade year at Weber High School, has earned a position on the Idaho State National High School Rodeo Team and will travel with fellow treammates to Rock Springs, Wyoming July 15-21 to compete at the 70th-annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in breakaway roping. To earn this spot, Trinitie has competed throughout the school year, finishing in the top four of the state.
Featuring more than 1,650 contestants from 43 states, 5 Canadian Providences, Australia, and Mexico, the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $200,000 in prizes, NHSFR contestants will also compete for more than $350,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named the NHSFR World Champion.
Regarding the state finals, Trinitie “Going into state finals, I wasn’t in a very good spot. I knew I had to go for it and rope my calves fast. I caught all 4 calves and placed third in the average. I also placed fourth in the third-go and second in the short-go. My horse Huckelberry is 20 years old, and I have been competing off of him since I was 9. This is probably my last season roping off of him before we retire him. So, making it to Nationals is super special to me.”
Trinitie has been competing in rodeo since she was 5 years old. She has competed in Jr. High Rodeo for three years and this is her second year in High School Rodeo. This is her first year competing for the state of Idaho. She decided to switch states because when competing in Utah, you miss more than four times as much school as you do competing in Idaho.
Trinitie is the daughter of Travis and April Lopshire of Liberty, and her grandparents are Kelly and Joan Wangsgard of Huntsville.
Trinite is currently raffling off a basket of items donated by local businesses to help her and her horse “Huckleberry” get to and compete at the NHSFR. If you would like more information or to purchase a ticket, you can contact her at cowgirltrin1@gmail.com or you can call/text 801-710-5997.
Huntsville Observatory Receives Crowning Dome
On Friday, May 25, the Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) dome made its final landing atop the Compass Rose Lodge Silo. The 14-foot, 6-inch-diameter dome eclipsed the sun from viewers below while hoisted by crane along its flight path and finally into place.
“Installation of the observatory dome is a giant step towards the realization of the HALO Observatory,” said Jeff Hyde, Huntsville Square Owner. “The observatory will serve as an amenity for hotel visitors and the community alike. It’s an exciting project for our team and unlike anything we’ve done before.”
The Dome, manufactured by Ash Manufacturing in Plainfield, Illinois, operates via three built in motors. The azimuth motor rotates the dome horizontally 360 degrees, while the other two motors operate the upper and lower shutter doors of the dome that open to expose HALO’s telescope to the night sky.
HALO Observatory will house an advanced telescope fixed atop a motorized mount allowing the system to track celestial objects with a great degree of accuracy. The 16-inch aperture Ritchey-Chretien style telescope is built with hyperbolic shaped mirrors like the Hubble Space Telescope, which offers an exceptional flat view of objects, avoiding image distortions introduced by many amateur telescopes. With imaging equipment, the observatory will excel at capturing images of elusive deep sky objects, including nebulae and galaxies other than our own Milky Way.
“We are passionate about nature,” said Dakota Hyde, Huntsville Square Manager. “Ogden Valley offers a myriad of opportunities to experience nature in ways unique from most places. Likewise, we believe the night sky is an important extension of nature that few people today truly experience. That’s a far cry from the experience of our ancestors’, whose lifecycles hinged around the seasonal dance of constellations across the night sky.”
According to a global atlas of light pollution produced in 2016 by Italian and American scientists, 80 percent of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way at night from their homes.
“We want to be a part of preserving the natural atmosphere Ogden Valley offers, including the dark sky, for current and future generations,” Dakota said. “It’s breathtaking for many to view the Milky Way for the first time. It’s equally as awe inspiring to first witness a galaxy millions of miles away through a telescope that would not be easily visible under more light polluted skies.”
The HALO Team plans to have multiple telescopes onsite that will be available during star parties and other public events.
Construction of the HALO and Compass Rose Lodge is expected to be completed before the year’s end.
For more information, visit <www.compassroselodge.com>
On Friday, May 25, the Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) dome made its final landing atop the Compass Rose Lodge Silo. The 14-foot, 6-inch-diameter dome eclipsed the sun from viewers below while hoisted by crane along its flight path and finally into place.
“Installation of the observatory dome is a giant step towards the realization of the HALO Observatory,” said Jeff Hyde, Huntsville Square Owner. “The observatory will serve as an amenity for hotel visitors and the community alike. It’s an exciting project for our team and unlike anything we’ve done before.”
The Dome, manufactured by Ash Manufacturing in Plainfield, Illinois, operates via three built in motors. The azimuth motor rotates the dome horizontally 360 degrees, while the other two motors operate the upper and lower shutter doors of the dome that open to expose HALO’s telescope to the night sky.
HALO Observatory will house an advanced telescope fixed atop a motorized mount allowing the system to track celestial objects with a great degree of accuracy. The 16-inch aperture Ritchey-Chretien style telescope is built with hyperbolic shaped mirrors like the Hubble Space Telescope, which offers an exceptional flat view of objects, avoiding image distortions introduced by many amateur telescopes. With imaging equipment, the observatory will excel at capturing images of elusive deep sky objects, including nebulae and galaxies other than our own Milky Way.
“We are passionate about nature,” said Dakota Hyde, Huntsville Square Manager. “Ogden Valley offers a myriad of opportunities to experience nature in ways unique from most places. Likewise, we believe the night sky is an important extension of nature that few people today truly experience. That’s a far cry from the experience of our ancestors’, whose lifecycles hinged around the seasonal dance of constellations across the night sky.”
According to a global atlas of light pollution produced in 2016 by Italian and American scientists, 80 percent of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way at night from their homes.
“We want to be a part of preserving the natural atmosphere Ogden Valley offers, including the dark sky, for current and future generations,” Dakota said. “It’s breathtaking for many to view the Milky Way for the first time. It’s equally as awe inspiring to first witness a galaxy millions of miles away through a telescope that would not be easily visible under more light polluted skies.”
The HALO Team plans to have multiple telescopes onsite that will be available during star parties and other public events.
Construction of the HALO and Compass Rose Lodge is expected to be completed before the year’s end.
For more information, visit <www.compassroselodge.com>
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Causey Reservoir Added to List of Utah Water Bodies Advisory List for Fish Consumption
An advisory warning jointly released April 23, 2018 by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Quality, Utah Department of Health/Environmental Epidemiology Program, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Resource announced that Causey Reservoir, located east of Huntsville Town, had been added to the state’s list of waterbody’s that have a fish consumption advisory warning. An announcement for Pineview Reservoir was issued in January 2017.
Two additional Utah water bodies were added in April of this year—Minersville Reservoir in Beaver County, and Navajo Lake in Kane County.
The three new locations were added to Utah’s Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory list after state officials found elevated levels of mercury in tissue from specific species of fish in these waterways.
At Causey Reservoir, the advisory is for brown trout. Pregnant women and children under the age of 6 are advised to avoid any 4-oz. serving in any given month; women of child-bearing age and children between the ages of 6 and 16 are advised to ingest no more than two 8-oz. servings within a month; and adult women past childbearing age and men older than 16 are advised to ingest no more than six 8-oz. servings within a month’s time.
An 8-ounce serving of fish is equivalent to the size of two decks of playing cards. According to an analysis completed by the Utah Department of Health, eating more than the amounts noted in the advisories over a long period of time could result in an intake of mercury that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health recommendations.
Pineview Reservoir’s advisory is for smallmouth bass.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be transformed into methyl mercury, a toxic form found in some natural waters. Those most vulnerable to the effects of mercury toxicity include women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant; nursing mothers; and young children.
Chronic exposure to low concentrations of methyl mercury may result in neurological effects in the developing fetus and children. Any health risks associated with eating fish from the fish advisory areas are based on long-term consumption and are not tied to eating fish occasionally.
Eating fish remains an important part of a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends that individuals eat at least two fish or seafood meals weekly. There is no health risk associated with mercury in the water for other uses of the waterways, such as swimming, boating, and waterskiing.
After testing hundreds of water bodies, health officials have found that fewer than 10% of Utah’s tested waters have fish with elevated levels of mercury in their tissue. Not all water bodies have been tested, and further testing may result in additional advisories.
Utah fish consumption advisories are issued in partnership between the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. For more detailed information, please visit <www.fishadvisories.utah.gov>
What is mercury?
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil and originates in the earth's crust. It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, and as a result of human activity.
Human activity is the main cause of mercury releases, particularly coal-fired power stations, residential coal burning for heating and cooking, industrial processes, waste incinerators, and as a result of mining for mercury, gold, and other metals. (World Health Organization Fact Sheet, January 2016)
Why should I care about mercury?
Exposure to mercury—even small amounts—may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. Mercury is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. (World Health Organization Fact Sheet, January 2016)
People are mainly exposed to mercury in its methylated form when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound. Waterfowl also bioaccumulate mercury in their tissues and have the potential to pose a health risk when consumed.
Which waters are tested for mercury?
Utah has been sampling fish tissue for mercury analysis since 2005 to determine locations where fish have high methylmercury concentrations. The Division of Water Quality partners with Division of Wildlife Resources and Department of Health for issuing fish consumption advisories where appropriate.
DWQ staff has developed an annual fish sampling plan. Sampling criteria currently include:
For a complete list of all Utah Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories, please visit <www.fishadvisories.utah.gov>
An advisory warning jointly released April 23, 2018 by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Quality, Utah Department of Health/Environmental Epidemiology Program, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Resource announced that Causey Reservoir, located east of Huntsville Town, had been added to the state’s list of waterbody’s that have a fish consumption advisory warning. An announcement for Pineview Reservoir was issued in January 2017.
Two additional Utah water bodies were added in April of this year—Minersville Reservoir in Beaver County, and Navajo Lake in Kane County.
The three new locations were added to Utah’s Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory list after state officials found elevated levels of mercury in tissue from specific species of fish in these waterways.
At Causey Reservoir, the advisory is for brown trout. Pregnant women and children under the age of 6 are advised to avoid any 4-oz. serving in any given month; women of child-bearing age and children between the ages of 6 and 16 are advised to ingest no more than two 8-oz. servings within a month; and adult women past childbearing age and men older than 16 are advised to ingest no more than six 8-oz. servings within a month’s time.
An 8-ounce serving of fish is equivalent to the size of two decks of playing cards. According to an analysis completed by the Utah Department of Health, eating more than the amounts noted in the advisories over a long period of time could result in an intake of mercury that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health recommendations.
Pineview Reservoir’s advisory is for smallmouth bass.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be transformed into methyl mercury, a toxic form found in some natural waters. Those most vulnerable to the effects of mercury toxicity include women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant; nursing mothers; and young children.
Chronic exposure to low concentrations of methyl mercury may result in neurological effects in the developing fetus and children. Any health risks associated with eating fish from the fish advisory areas are based on long-term consumption and are not tied to eating fish occasionally.
Eating fish remains an important part of a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends that individuals eat at least two fish or seafood meals weekly. There is no health risk associated with mercury in the water for other uses of the waterways, such as swimming, boating, and waterskiing.
After testing hundreds of water bodies, health officials have found that fewer than 10% of Utah’s tested waters have fish with elevated levels of mercury in their tissue. Not all water bodies have been tested, and further testing may result in additional advisories.
Utah fish consumption advisories are issued in partnership between the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. For more detailed information, please visit <www.fishadvisories.utah.gov>
What is mercury?
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil and originates in the earth's crust. It is released into the environment from volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, and as a result of human activity.
Human activity is the main cause of mercury releases, particularly coal-fired power stations, residential coal burning for heating and cooking, industrial processes, waste incinerators, and as a result of mining for mercury, gold, and other metals. (World Health Organization Fact Sheet, January 2016)
Why should I care about mercury?
Exposure to mercury—even small amounts—may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. Mercury is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern. (World Health Organization Fact Sheet, January 2016)
People are mainly exposed to mercury in its methylated form when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound. Waterfowl also bioaccumulate mercury in their tissues and have the potential to pose a health risk when consumed.
Which waters are tested for mercury?
Utah has been sampling fish tissue for mercury analysis since 2005 to determine locations where fish have high methylmercury concentrations. The Division of Water Quality partners with Division of Wildlife Resources and Department of Health for issuing fish consumption advisories where appropriate.
DWQ staff has developed an annual fish sampling plan. Sampling criteria currently include:
- Sampling when a current consumption advisory is greater than 5 years old
- Sampling when there is no advisory but the existing data are greater than 5 years old
- Sampling to address uncertainties from previous years data
- Sampling waterbodies that have no mercury data
For a complete list of all Utah Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories, please visit <www.fishadvisories.utah.gov>
The Valley Chordettes 2017 Christmas Concert: "Believe"
The Chordettes are thrilled to present their 2017 Christmas concert series. This year’s performances will held be at The Hearthside, 5612 E. 2200 N., in Eden. Save the dates—December 10 and 11—for a magical evening of Christmas songs, old and new. Both performances will begin at 7:00 p.m.
This year’s program is centered on favorite Christmas Movie Musical tunes. The theme "Believe" is taken from the movie "The Polar Express." Other favorites will include "White Christmas," "Welcome Christmas," and "Somewhere in My Memory," to name just a few. The Chordettes will also perform many traditional carols as the program turns to the true meaning of Christmas.
For anyone interested, the Chordettes will also perform at the LDS Church History Museum, located just west of Temple Square in Salt Lake City. They will present a shortened version of their program in Salt Lake Friday, December 8 at 4:00 p.m. in the lobby of the museum located at 45 N. West Temple.
The Chordettes have performed their annual Christmas concert since 1981. Women of all ages and walks of life join together to share their love of music and the Christmas season. The group starts rehearsals in mid-September. There are no auditions and members even pay annual dues to help cover the cost of new music, printing, and advertising. Chordette pianist Joyce Montgomery is one of the original members, and is still going strong at 86 years young! She is such an inspiration to the choir, as well as helping us all sing on key.
The Chordettes would like to give a special thanks to Dave and Ruth Martin, owners of The Hearthside, for allowing the group to perform their concerts each year at this beautiful, historic venue.
The Chordettes are thrilled to present their 2017 Christmas concert series. This year’s performances will held be at The Hearthside, 5612 E. 2200 N., in Eden. Save the dates—December 10 and 11—for a magical evening of Christmas songs, old and new. Both performances will begin at 7:00 p.m.
This year’s program is centered on favorite Christmas Movie Musical tunes. The theme "Believe" is taken from the movie "The Polar Express." Other favorites will include "White Christmas," "Welcome Christmas," and "Somewhere in My Memory," to name just a few. The Chordettes will also perform many traditional carols as the program turns to the true meaning of Christmas.
For anyone interested, the Chordettes will also perform at the LDS Church History Museum, located just west of Temple Square in Salt Lake City. They will present a shortened version of their program in Salt Lake Friday, December 8 at 4:00 p.m. in the lobby of the museum located at 45 N. West Temple.
The Chordettes have performed their annual Christmas concert since 1981. Women of all ages and walks of life join together to share their love of music and the Christmas season. The group starts rehearsals in mid-September. There are no auditions and members even pay annual dues to help cover the cost of new music, printing, and advertising. Chordette pianist Joyce Montgomery is one of the original members, and is still going strong at 86 years young! She is such an inspiration to the choir, as well as helping us all sing on key.
The Chordettes would like to give a special thanks to Dave and Ruth Martin, owners of The Hearthside, for allowing the group to perform their concerts each year at this beautiful, historic venue.
Thank You Ogden Valley for Supporting This Year’s 5th-annual Snowcrest Halloween Carnival
The Snowcrest PTO Halloween Carnival was a remarkable success. The support from the community was exceptional and made for a spirited event. While this evening community event was full of entertainment and fun, it also helped raise over $4,300 including sponsorships and carnival sales. These funds are used for Snowcrest PTO activities, including student scholarships, funding for the science fair, classroom enhancements, and club or department grants—to name just a few. Student Council members, cheerleaders, club members, and other students were a driving force behind this event. They organized many of the booths, helped set up and take down the event needs, and, of course, spent two hours scaring visitors in this year’s spook alley! Staff from Waypoint Academy in Huntsville also came and brought their extraordinarily talented students with them to create the scary faces for each student in the Haunted Hallway. We appreciated their efforts, and also the parent volunteers who staffed the booths and pitched in to help wherever they were needed. We could not have done it without all the extra help. Also, thanks to Principal Hardy and the custodial staff at Snowcrest for all their extra time and effort towards making the event a success. A special “thank you” goes to the many local businesses and individuals who sponsored the carnival. It was their contributions that really made this event possible. This year’s sponsors included: Ashlie Roe-Citywide Home Loans; Blacksmith Village; Ogden Valley Homes; Iverson & Burton Dental, LLC; Lance A. Albrechtsen, DDS; David K. Wayment, DDS; Post Construction Company; Simply Eden; Utah Eye Centers; Arrow Disposal; Bachison Family; Attorney Kristopher Greenwood; Shepherd Orthodontics; Wolf Creek Resort; Envision Homes, Inc.; Century 21 Gage Froerer; High Altitude Kids; River Pointe Management; Zimbi Dental; Emie James; and Mountain Luxury Real Estate. Thanks again to all! Snowcrest PTO |
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Living for Today: Huntsville monks move on
By Alex Harrington,
Intermountain Catholic
Four years ago, Father Brendan Freeman, who was the 11th abbot of New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, retired after 30 years as abbot. He didn’t experience the retired life for very long, however. Fr. Brendan was reappointed as the superior of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, an abbey that is experiencing its final days. The abbey will close on August 31, 2017.
Fr. Brendan’s duties as a superior were clear straight away—he was to make sure the seven monks, many of whom are at least 80 years old, were cared for, and he was to negotiate the sale of the abbey. The abbey is closing because there are no young monks to run it.
That vocations are declining is “a crisis in religious life right now,” Fr. Brendan said. The hardest part of taking over as superior of the abbey in 2013, was experiencing the pain of losing a home along with the Huntsville monks, he said.
“I can understand what these men are going through. It’s like taking your heart out, in a way,” Fr. Brendan said.
It has been a challenge to witness the monks having to say goodbye to the place where many of them have spent their entire lives, Fr. Brendan said. However, “there’s a goodness in it” as well, he said. God’s will moves through all things, and if it is part of his plan that the abbey closes, then that is what needs to happen, Fr. Brendan said.
“The men here are very dedicated to the Trappist life” and each of them have done everything in their power to support the monastery, he said. If each monk gave his best effort to keep the Trappist spiritual way of life alive, there’s no shame in accepting that this is all meant to be, Fr. Brendan added.
Getting to know the other monks over the past four years also has been a blessing, he said. When he first arrived, he felt nervous, like he was a novitiate all over again, he said, but “the monks have been very good to me. I’ve grown to love these guys.”
Each one’s faith and spirit never faltered even during the difficult transition, he said. When the abbey closes, the monks who now live there will move to St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City, so they can stay together, Fr. Brendan said.
Even as the time draws closer for the abbey to close, “it gets better every day, I can honestly say that,” said Father Patrick Boyle, who arrived there in 1950. Now 89, he runs the abbey’s book shop, and stands up to warmly greet guests. He smiles at visiting children, and jokes, “Do you know the difference between a monk and a monkey?”
They laugh before he even gets to the punch line.
He pulls in strangers for warm hugs, telling them that they are really not strangers to him at all.
“You are an image of Christ, so I know you and love you,” he often tells visitors.
Fr. Patrick received the call to the priesthood when he was 11, he said. When one of his teachers at the parochial school he attended in St. Louis asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up, Fr. Patrick told her, “’I’m going to be a priest.’ I remember it like it was yesterday. … I thought to myself, if I’m going to do something for God, I’m going to do it all the way.”
Through the years, Fr. Patrick’s plans shifted and he ended up deciding to become a monk in Huntsville. He recalls that when he drove up the winding country road that leads to the abbey, the landscape was bare. Now, enormous trees line the road.
There have been many other changes in the abbey as the years have gone by, but they are not to be feared, Fr. Patrick said.
“You know that saying, ‘roll with the punches?’” he asked. “I’m not threatened by the monastery closing” because his belief in Divine Providence has kept him from fretting about what could have been, he said. Also, his personal belief in the “sacrament of the now moment” has kept him strong, he said. “(I’m) not worrying about today. I’m not worrying about tomorrow. I am here, right now.”
The “living in the now moment” attitude is reflected in all the monks as they prepare to move, Fr. Brendan said. The loss of the monastery has not dampened the spirts of the monks or changed the great love they have for their community, for God and for each other, he said.
Note: This article is being reprinted by permission of Intermountain Catholic.
By Alex Harrington,
Intermountain Catholic
Four years ago, Father Brendan Freeman, who was the 11th abbot of New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, retired after 30 years as abbot. He didn’t experience the retired life for very long, however. Fr. Brendan was reappointed as the superior of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, an abbey that is experiencing its final days. The abbey will close on August 31, 2017.
Fr. Brendan’s duties as a superior were clear straight away—he was to make sure the seven monks, many of whom are at least 80 years old, were cared for, and he was to negotiate the sale of the abbey. The abbey is closing because there are no young monks to run it.
That vocations are declining is “a crisis in religious life right now,” Fr. Brendan said. The hardest part of taking over as superior of the abbey in 2013, was experiencing the pain of losing a home along with the Huntsville monks, he said.
“I can understand what these men are going through. It’s like taking your heart out, in a way,” Fr. Brendan said.
It has been a challenge to witness the monks having to say goodbye to the place where many of them have spent their entire lives, Fr. Brendan said. However, “there’s a goodness in it” as well, he said. God’s will moves through all things, and if it is part of his plan that the abbey closes, then that is what needs to happen, Fr. Brendan said.
“The men here are very dedicated to the Trappist life” and each of them have done everything in their power to support the monastery, he said. If each monk gave his best effort to keep the Trappist spiritual way of life alive, there’s no shame in accepting that this is all meant to be, Fr. Brendan added.
Getting to know the other monks over the past four years also has been a blessing, he said. When he first arrived, he felt nervous, like he was a novitiate all over again, he said, but “the monks have been very good to me. I’ve grown to love these guys.”
Each one’s faith and spirit never faltered even during the difficult transition, he said. When the abbey closes, the monks who now live there will move to St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake City, so they can stay together, Fr. Brendan said.
Even as the time draws closer for the abbey to close, “it gets better every day, I can honestly say that,” said Father Patrick Boyle, who arrived there in 1950. Now 89, he runs the abbey’s book shop, and stands up to warmly greet guests. He smiles at visiting children, and jokes, “Do you know the difference between a monk and a monkey?”
They laugh before he even gets to the punch line.
He pulls in strangers for warm hugs, telling them that they are really not strangers to him at all.
“You are an image of Christ, so I know you and love you,” he often tells visitors.
Fr. Patrick received the call to the priesthood when he was 11, he said. When one of his teachers at the parochial school he attended in St. Louis asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up, Fr. Patrick told her, “’I’m going to be a priest.’ I remember it like it was yesterday. … I thought to myself, if I’m going to do something for God, I’m going to do it all the way.”
Through the years, Fr. Patrick’s plans shifted and he ended up deciding to become a monk in Huntsville. He recalls that when he drove up the winding country road that leads to the abbey, the landscape was bare. Now, enormous trees line the road.
There have been many other changes in the abbey as the years have gone by, but they are not to be feared, Fr. Patrick said.
“You know that saying, ‘roll with the punches?’” he asked. “I’m not threatened by the monastery closing” because his belief in Divine Providence has kept him from fretting about what could have been, he said. Also, his personal belief in the “sacrament of the now moment” has kept him strong, he said. “(I’m) not worrying about today. I’m not worrying about tomorrow. I am here, right now.”
The “living in the now moment” attitude is reflected in all the monks as they prepare to move, Fr. Brendan said. The loss of the monastery has not dampened the spirts of the monks or changed the great love they have for their community, for God and for each other, he said.
Note: This article is being reprinted by permission of Intermountain Catholic.
Tour of Utah Riders Make Their Way through Weber County August 1. Stage Two, from Brigham City to Snowbasin Resort, will begin Tuesday, August 1 10:30 AM - 3 PM. The race will cross into Weber County and the roads will begin to tilt upwards with the familiar North Ogden Divide. The racers can catch their breath as the road flattens out around Pineview Reservoir. But they won’t have much time to relax before the first mountain-top finish of this year’s Tour at Snowbasin Resort. Host of the men’s and women’s downhill, super G and combined competitions at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Snowbasin is perched on top of Old Snowbasin Road. For more information, and map of Tour’s route, visit <tourofutah.com>
Protecting Dark Skies in Ogden Valley
An important question is being put before the Weber County Commission June 27 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers at Ogden’s Weber Center. Namely, do we want a lighting ordinance that protects our dark skies? It is important that all interested Valley residents either attend the meeting or send their thoughts to the commissioners if they cannot attend. Comments can be sent to Commissioners Jim Harvey - jHarvey@co.weber.ut.us; Kerry Gibson - kgibson@co.weber.ut.us; and/or James Ebert - jebert@co.weber.ut.us.
We all wrestle with how to preserve our dark skies while also supporting future development. Residents recently participated in large numbers to assist in updating the Ogden Valley General Plan. During this process, the vast majority of residents expressed a strong desire for maintaining the rural character and dark skies of the valley, and the final adopted document reflects the importance of dark skies as a resource to help preserve our rural heritage and community character.
An important question is being put before the Weber County Commission June 27 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers at Ogden’s Weber Center. Namely, do we want a lighting ordinance that protects our dark skies? It is important that all interested Valley residents either attend the meeting or send their thoughts to the commissioners if they cannot attend. Comments can be sent to Commissioners Jim Harvey - jHarvey@co.weber.ut.us; Kerry Gibson - kgibson@co.weber.ut.us; and/or James Ebert - jebert@co.weber.ut.us.
We all wrestle with how to preserve our dark skies while also supporting future development. Residents recently participated in large numbers to assist in updating the Ogden Valley General Plan. During this process, the vast majority of residents expressed a strong desire for maintaining the rural character and dark skies of the valley, and the final adopted document reflects the importance of dark skies as a resource to help preserve our rural heritage and community character.
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Plans Move Forward for Construction of Inn Located at Huntsville Town Square
According to Dakota Hyde, representative for the Hyde family business Bonnie and Hyde, Inc., the business hopes to construct and open a new inn at the corner of 200 S. and 7400 E. in the center of Huntsville Town on a portion of the old Valley Elementary School property. The school was torn down in 2010. Since that time, Huntsville Town has steadily moved forward in their efforts to bring sustainable development to the historic town block.
In 2011, Huntsville Town representatives approached the Hyde family, owners of Huntsville Square, asking the Hydes to submit a development proposal for the southwest corner acre of the old elementary school property in the center of town. The Town Council and Planning Commission were desirous of a project that would benefit town residents, the Huntsville Library, Huntsville Park, and neighboring businesses. The Hydes began researching and planning a development that would satisfy these desires.
After much planning and cooperation with town representatives, the Hyde Family proposed a mixed-use commercial village for the property. Design elements and building materials of the project reflecting and echoing the rich architecture of historic Huntsville. Plans call for buildings in the project to total no more than 30% of the lot, leaving 70% of the property beautifully landscaped common area adorned with walkways, grass, trees, benches and other inviting features.
An Inn, the anchor business of the project, will offer 12 to 15 appointed rooms for nightly rental, with the rooms varying in size and amenities. Kitchenettes, fireplace features and comfortable furnishings will be included. The inn will house a fully-stocked coffee bar with specialty beverages, breakfast, and confections. The coffee bar will satisfy breakfast needs of guests, as well as the general public.
The Inn will also offer indoor and outdoor common areas, with meeting rooms available for rent. It will also have a sauna for guests to relax in after a long day skiing or enjoying one of many other recreational activities offered in the surrounding area.
In addition, shops in the project may include businesses such as a small café, bakery, brick oven pizza restaurant, ice cream parlor, salon, and gift shop. The project is designed to help preserve and enhance Huntsville’s traditional downtown center by providing a gathering place for the community; offer desired services and amenities closer to home; create part-time job opportunities for Huntsville’s youth; and enhance Huntsville’s vitality. According to the Hyde family, the project will beautify the property and enhance the community’s tax base.
Benefits of Mixed-Use Development As pointed out by the Hydes, numerous studies and articles have been published recently by community governments, nonprofit community planning organizations, and business owners regarding the many benefits carefully planned mixed-use developments can provide a community, which includes the ability to:
Preserve & enhance of traditional downtown centers
Promote a sense of community
Create and protect public spaces for members of the community to gather
Enhance pedestrian and bicycle travel
Create job opportunities for locals
Make use of compact & energy-efficient designs that uses fewer resources
Generate less vehicular traffic than other commercial alternatives
Provide more revenue for a community on a per acre basis than other commercial alternatives
Enhance a community’s vitality
While Huntsville Town clerk/recorder Gail Ahlstrom states that Huntsville town officials have approved a conditional use permit for the new proposed development, structural, utility and design plans have not been finalized.
According to Dakota Hyde, representative for the Hyde family business Bonnie and Hyde, Inc., the business hopes to construct and open a new inn at the corner of 200 S. and 7400 E. in the center of Huntsville Town on a portion of the old Valley Elementary School property. The school was torn down in 2010. Since that time, Huntsville Town has steadily moved forward in their efforts to bring sustainable development to the historic town block.
In 2011, Huntsville Town representatives approached the Hyde family, owners of Huntsville Square, asking the Hydes to submit a development proposal for the southwest corner acre of the old elementary school property in the center of town. The Town Council and Planning Commission were desirous of a project that would benefit town residents, the Huntsville Library, Huntsville Park, and neighboring businesses. The Hydes began researching and planning a development that would satisfy these desires.
After much planning and cooperation with town representatives, the Hyde Family proposed a mixed-use commercial village for the property. Design elements and building materials of the project reflecting and echoing the rich architecture of historic Huntsville. Plans call for buildings in the project to total no more than 30% of the lot, leaving 70% of the property beautifully landscaped common area adorned with walkways, grass, trees, benches and other inviting features.
An Inn, the anchor business of the project, will offer 12 to 15 appointed rooms for nightly rental, with the rooms varying in size and amenities. Kitchenettes, fireplace features and comfortable furnishings will be included. The inn will house a fully-stocked coffee bar with specialty beverages, breakfast, and confections. The coffee bar will satisfy breakfast needs of guests, as well as the general public.
The Inn will also offer indoor and outdoor common areas, with meeting rooms available for rent. It will also have a sauna for guests to relax in after a long day skiing or enjoying one of many other recreational activities offered in the surrounding area.
In addition, shops in the project may include businesses such as a small café, bakery, brick oven pizza restaurant, ice cream parlor, salon, and gift shop. The project is designed to help preserve and enhance Huntsville’s traditional downtown center by providing a gathering place for the community; offer desired services and amenities closer to home; create part-time job opportunities for Huntsville’s youth; and enhance Huntsville’s vitality. According to the Hyde family, the project will beautify the property and enhance the community’s tax base.
Benefits of Mixed-Use Development As pointed out by the Hydes, numerous studies and articles have been published recently by community governments, nonprofit community planning organizations, and business owners regarding the many benefits carefully planned mixed-use developments can provide a community, which includes the ability to:
Preserve & enhance of traditional downtown centers
Promote a sense of community
Create and protect public spaces for members of the community to gather
Enhance pedestrian and bicycle travel
Create job opportunities for locals
Make use of compact & energy-efficient designs that uses fewer resources
Generate less vehicular traffic than other commercial alternatives
Provide more revenue for a community on a per acre basis than other commercial alternatives
Enhance a community’s vitality
While Huntsville Town clerk/recorder Gail Ahlstrom states that Huntsville town officials have approved a conditional use permit for the new proposed development, structural, utility and design plans have not been finalized.
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Frozen Surfaces, Heavy Rain, Warm Temperatures, and Melting Snow Contribute to Flooding in Ogden Valley
By Shanna Francis January 2017 ushered in heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and downright cold temperatures within the state—including Ogden Valley. The mountain community saw heavier than average snow levels, compared to recent years—its three resorts celebrating their good fortune. However, a February thaw blew in at the beginning of the month, bringing warmer than average temperatures, with Salt Lake City hitting a record-breaking 66 degrees Fahrenheit on February 9. Ogden Valley also experienced warmer than average days and nights during the opening of the month, along with higher than average rainfall—all combining to form the perfect storm (no pun intended). The result, heavy flooding throughout the valley—primarily in Eden and Liberty. In Liberty, the Sheep Creek area was hit especially hard, as was a subdivision along and west of 3300 N. on the road leading to Nordic Valley after a ditch bank gave way near a culvert. With the breach, a steady flow of high water continued to surge out of the river bed, heading downhill, flooding homes along its way as it moved into basements after quickly filling up window wells and other low points along foundations. With the Valley still cocooned in deep snow blanketing a still frozen, hibernating valley floor, the water had minimal options but to flow unrestrained, directed only by gravity and newly placed sandbags and freshly bulldozed and mounded terrain. In the Wolf Creek area in Eden, a few homes were flooded after running surface storm water emptied into exterior sewer manholes and drains, only to bubble up into homes through interior sewer drains—the surge of water, now building pressure within Wolf Creek’s now filled and over capacitated sewer lines. Once within the lines, the only reprieve for the rushing water was up though the home drains of the lowest lying homes on the system. A creek on Willowbrook Lane below the Patio Springs subdivision, easily jumped its banks—the now-shallow creek, not having been dredged for many years, unable to carry the unexpected rush of water. Barricades lined the side of the road where its shoulder has been eaten away by the torrent of water. Also in Eden, the Froerer Subdivision, Eden Acres, off of Highway 158 and the area behind and east of the Hearthside in the northeast border of Eden, experienced heavier than usual seasonal sheet flooding with ditches and canals unable to carry the heavy runoff—again, the water flowing across once empty fields into residential basements. Weber County Road Supervisor Scott Storey stated that between the heavy snowfall in January, followed by the heavy rains and accompanying February flooding, their department of about 14 county employees has been putting in a lot of extra-long hours between plowing and now responding to the flooding that has been taking place. “We take pride in what we do; we’ve been working hard to try and keep up.” Storey added that he knows of, at least, 25 homes that have been flooded within the last couple of weeks. The county has been supplying sandbags and sand, which can be accessed at the county sheds in Eden, down the hill behind Snowcrest Jr. High. Volunteers have been turning out to fill the sandbags, with flood victims, and potential flood victims, turning out to pick up the filled orange bags. The county has also using their time and heavy equipment to help shore up weak areas being overrun, such as the ditch breach in Liberty. |