Tollgate Canyon Culvert Replacement, Will continue on Monday the 19th
Expect delays...
Hi All,
In cooperation with the County Department Public Works Department, we are replacing the main culvert at the bottom of Tollgate Canyon. This spring's high level of runoff damaged one of the two small old culverts and we came close to losing our access completely as the water threatened to overtop the roadway. The County came to our aid and installed a temporary overflow culvert that ensured our access through the spring and summer.
Now that traffic is lessened and the streamflow is down, it's time to put in a permanent solution. This is a substantial undertaking which will again be made easier by the generous aid of the County. Starting on Monday the 12th, please expect some delays at the bottom of Tollgate Canyon and help Jody and the County crews keep this project safe for workers and drivers alike.
Spring Parking Lot Cleanup Plans:
Vehicles will be towed.
Starting on June 15th, 2011, the Owners Association plans to begin a cleanup of the two parking lots at the bottom of Forest Meadow Drive. These lots are the property of the Owners Association and are intended for the benefit of the ranch owners. They have, however, over the last few years become a dumping ground for vehicles, equipment and junk that may or may not belong to ranch owners. The association, therefore, plans to begin removing vehicles on June 15th that are not displaying a Pine Meadow Ranch parking sticker. Stickers are available to ranch owners and neighboring donors by contacting Carol. office@pinemeadowranch.org.
Back to Winter! April 26th.
Always exciting this time of year... After getting past our first round of snowmelt flooding with moderate damage, we have 12" of new snow this morning. Remember that winter driving conditions are possible on the Ranch until about June, and that these late season storms create some of the most challenging conditions of the year.
Flooding, Monday, April 18th, 6:00 PM
A record snowpack, rapid warming and an inch of rain have created flood conditions in Tollgate Canyon. Similar flooding is taking place in other areas of Summit County as well. At this time, Jody is working on sandbagging areas of particular concern for continued access. If you are able, please consider coming to the winter parking lot/gravel pit and helping to fill sand bags. This will be a herculean task and Jody cannot do it alone.
The culverts that pass under the main access at the bottom are flowing through, though not at an adequate volume for the water coming down the canyon. Please be aware that there is a possibility of losing access to Tollgate Canyon if the waters continue to rise. We are doing everything that we can to manage this situation, but the outcome is largely dependent on weather and timing.
Lastly, remember that floodwaters are very powerful and create a serious hazard. Please keep a safe distance.
If you have questions about what you can do to help, feel free to email me.
Hutch
Important Notice from the Pine Meadow Mutual Water Company
Due to many leaks on the ranch we are unable to put water into our storage tanks and they are now empty. Crews will be shutting down all areas in order to fill the tanks. The tanks must be filled to create water pressure so that at a later date the crews can turn lines back on systematically and find the leaks. We are sorry for the inconvenience and will restore water as soon as we can. As we turn lines on we will post on the website ( www.pinemeadowwater.com ) when they are coming back on.
The spigot at Bobcat Springs , on the south side of the building, is on and owners may fill water containers there.
Thank you for your understanding.
the water manager.
WILD in Tollgate Canyon
Wildlife Conservation in the 21st Century is the title of this year’s Wallace Stegner Center Symposium at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. The Symposium took place March 11th and 12th, 2011. The Legal and Scientific Communities were well represented by several outstanding individuals and world wide organizations. These will be listed at the end of this article. Harvey Locke, the event’s final Keynote speaker, Vice President of the world wide organization: Conservation Strategy Wild Foundation has spearheaded the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) project.
Three major points were identified and made salient by the distinguished speakers and panelists.
- Biodiversity, in intact and connected ecosystems on half the Earth’s surface is necessary for the survival of Homo sapiens in the foreseeable future.
The Y2Y Project is nearing completion. It is the first of its kind in the world. The “Spine of North America” is the Canadian and American Rockies. It is here that the greatest potential for “Connectivity” between vast tracks of wilderness (1,990 miles) exists on the North American continent and currently in the world!
What does this have to do with Tollgate Canyon? 42 degrees latitude near Cokeville, Wyoming is the most southerly boundary of Y2Y. 66 degrees latitude at the Arctic Circle is the farthest northerly boundary. Tollgate Canyon is approximately 42 degrees latitude and 111 degrees longitude. As the crow flies, our canyon is approximately 260 miles from West Yellowstone.
The only major barrier between Tollgate Canyon and the southern boundary of this mega ecosystem is Interstate 84. If one travels due North from Tollgate Canyon to Morgan Utah, and beyond, one finds oneself in Yellowstone Park, the oldest and arguably the most bio diverse park in the world.
As residents in and visitors to Tollgate Canyon, our careful stewardship of this land has in the past been significant and is now critical. Our By-laws strictly limit fencing types and do not allow for fencing of the perimeter of lots. There is sound reasoning for this. There is no hunting, fishing or trapping permitted and no paved roads. Our small piece of semi-wilderness now has more inherent as well as aesthetic value than ever before.
Distinguished Speakers presenting and Panelists participating at the 2011 Wildlife Conservation Symposium:
Conservation Photographer, Florian Schultz; Peter Alagona, Assistant Professor History and Environmental Studies UC Santa Barbara; Jodi Hilty, North America program director Wildlife Conservation Society; Anthony Barnosky Professor of Integrative Biology UC Berkley; Michael Soule Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies UC Santa Cruz; Robert Keiter Distinguished Professor S.J. Quinney College of Law, Director of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment U of U; Kirk Robinson Executive Director, Western Wildlife Conservancy; Jim Karpowitz Director, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Mike Linnell State Director, Utah Wildlife Services; Allison Jones; Conservation Biologist, Wild Utah Project; Don Peay founder of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife;John Loomis Professor, Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics Colorado State University; Dale Goble; Schimke Distinguished Professor of Law, Univ. of Idaho; Holly Doremus Professor Boalt School of Law, UC Berkley; Larry Crist Utah Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Rick Danvir Wildlife Manager Deseret Land & Livestock; Bill Hopkin Director, Utah Grazing Improvement Program, UT dept of Agriculture and Food; Elain York West Desert Regional Director, The Nature Conservancy; Harvey Locke Vice President for Conservation Strategy Wild Foundation.
To Be Continued…
By Catarina Blais
Major snow removal work over the next few days.
Starting today, Friday the 28th of January, there will be major snow management going on from the winter parking lots down to Oil Well Road into next week. Expect the road to be one lane only at times and for the grader and a bulldozer to be operating. Remember that these operators are focused on the task of snow management and may not be aware immediately as you approach them. Therefore, when you encounter this work in the road, STOP, wait, and be sure that you are seen by the operators before you proceed. Being backed over by a bulldozer is bad for anyone's day.
Thanks everyone and be safe.
Wildlife Concerns in Tollgate Canyon
Tollgate residents and visitors are fortunate and privileged to experience sightings of many species of wildlife here in the canyon. The sight of an Elk herd is always a thrill. And Knowing they are protected on the Ranch makes the experience all the more meaningful any time of year.
Winters are difficult for the animals; however both the Department of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Protection Society have concerns about people feeding the Elk and the deer.
Some folks may not be aware that the deer will eventually die of malnutrition from eating a diet of hay or straw. They are inherently lazy, especially the young bucks and will not forage for the vegetation they require to survive the winter if they are being fed anything other than their natural diet. Scott McFarlane from the Department of Wildlife Resources stated in a recent phone conversation, “…look at the deer that are being fed hay next to the ones that are foraging on their own and in just a couple of weeks you will notice that the hay fed deer have lost weight and are doing poorly, while those eating in the wild look healthy.”
The problem with feeding the Elk lies in the fact that they become fearless of cars and stand in the road, as do the deer. The benevolent individual(s) who have been feeding those animals on lower Forest Meadow Road in the slippery section below the storage units were obviously unaware of these consequences.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Wildlife here in Tollgate you can contact the Wildlife Protection Society: Catarina Blais – the area volunteer coordinator at 801.860.9804; www.wildlifeprotectionsociety.com. For elsewhere in the state contact the Department of Natural Resources at 801.538.4816 or at www.wildlife.Utah.Gov
Thank you on behalf of the animals for respecting their natural state and habitat.
Happy Holidays to all of our Ranch Members and guests.
With the fourth largest December snowfall since 1975, road conditions are "full winter" on the Ranch. Please come prepared with snow tires and chains available. We've had several days of "chains required" driving already to maneuver around drivers blocking the road who've come less prepared for winter. How could summer be winding down already; seems like it just started....
Here's what's new on the website, and on the Ranch:
- Chipping crews are on the Ranch thanks to our Federal Fire Grant money.
- Architectural guidelines are now posted online. The building guidelines from 2002 have been massaged to reflect some more materials choices, but are substantially the same and continue to maintain the spirit of the mountain aesthetic. Remember that all construction must be pre-approved by the Owners Association.
- Summit County's outside lighting ordinance is excerpted and posted. Our night sky is a critical part of the mountain experience for us and for wildlife. Please understand light pollution and light trespass and be a good neighbor.
- Vehicle trespassing, noise and speed has been a problem on the Ranch. Rules and Regulations 4.9 "Trespassing on Individual Private Property. The roads within the Ranch are the only authorized areas for use by any motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, motorcycles, etc." If it's not a road or it's not yours, you are trespassing. Reckless, destructive and noisy activity may be fined by the HOA.
- The Ranch has purchased a Cat roller for our roads. This will save us the $4000+ dollars spent yearly on a 1 week rental, and allow Jody to even better care for our roads.
- Summit County HOA meetings will be held on Ranch through the summer. June, August and maybe October at the Ranch Manager's office on Arapahoe.
Thanks all,
Spring is finally making it's way to 8000', with summer surely close behind.
It's a beautiful week on the Ranch. Wildflowers are all coming into bloom and our hummingbirds are drinking a quart a day from the feeders on the deck. It's a Sunday morning that reminds us how lucky we are to have this special place....
Here's what's new on the website, and on the Ranch:
- Ranch documents are finally up to date. Thanks for your patience through the winter on that.
- Architectural guidelines are now posted online. The building guidelines from 2002 have been massaged to reflect some more materials choices, but are substantially the same and continue to maintain the spirit of the mountain aesthetic. Remember that all construction must be pre-approved by the Owners Association.
- Summit County's outside lighting ordnance is excerpted and posted. Our night sky is a critical part of the mountain experience for us and for wildlife. Please understand light pollution and light trespass and be a good neighbor.
- Vehicle trespassing is already a problem this spring on the Ranch. Rules and Regulations 4.9 "Trespassing on Individual Private Property. The roads within the Ranch are the only authorized areas for use by any motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, motorcycles, etc." If it's not a road or it's not yours, you are trespassing.
- A summer projects list is posted, and will continue to be updated. Mag water treatment for main roads is scheduled for June 23rd. Expect road closures, including a 24 hour closure of Tollgate Canyon above Oil Well. This closure allows the treatment to soak in and last through the summer. Early traffic can reduce the effectiveness of the thousands of dollars invested.
- The Ranch has purchased a Cat roller for our roads. This will save us the $4000+ dollars spent yearly on a 1 week rental, and allow Jody to even better care for our roads.
- Summit County HOA meetings will be held on Ranch through the summer. June, August and maybe October at the Ranch Manager's office on Arapahoe.
Thanks all,
Enjoy your summer on the Ranch.
Hutch
Fall Reminders for 2009
If you use the ranch all winter, it's time to put your snow tires on and put the chains in your trunk. Driving here in the winter on inappropriate tires endangers you and your neighbors.
If you have a camp trailer on the ranch, it's time to get it down and into storage. The roads will be getting slick, and a trailer left on the ranch with our snowfall will likely be crushed.
If you intend to plow snow on ranch roads this winter, now is the time to coordinate your routes, sign your annual PMROA required understanding of rules and regulations, mark hydrants, electrical and culverts and document your proof of insurance for the board. Refer to the plowing agreement.
Remember, these early storms are the slickest of the season on our roads. SLOW down, give yourself extra time, and give the other car plenty of room.
If you store a trailer or machines in the winter parking lot, be sure they have Pine Meadow Ranch stickers on them, and please keep them back far enough so that Jody and the water company have working room.
CodeRED Warning System
Please visit the Summit County Sheriff's website and sign up for CodeRed. This is a reverse 911 program that lets the sheriff and fire departments notify
YOU in an emergency that impacts Tollgate Canyon users.
http://www.summitcountysheriff.org/community/codered/codered.html
