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The following is a rather lengthy discussion answering these commonly asked questions about access to and management of the middle Provo River corridor: Q:Why are there only seven access sites and where does the Mitigation Commission get its authority for this limitation? Q:If the PRRP corridor is public land, why can't I do what I want on it and enter it where I want? Q:Why is there so much distance between some sites, while others are so crowded? Q:Can the public or river guides strike deals to gain access to the corridor through private property? Q:What is up with the "NO ACCESS" signs--why can't I park where I used to? Q:Who will ultimately manage the corridor?

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A: The plan approved by the 1997 Environmental Impact Statement for the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP) (and even for the Bureau of Reclamation’s approved plan for angler access dating back to 1987), called for seven (7) identified parking and public access sites. The reasons for this include: 1) controlling public access to seven sites will eliminate or at least reduce potential conflicts with private landowners who own property adjacent to the corridor by eliminating trespass across their property to reach the public corridor (the public, especially local landowners, raised this as a major concern when the PRRP was being planned); 2) controlling access to the seven identified sites provides greater control over trash and litter pickup, and sanitary facilities; 3) limiting access sites and number of parking spaces will limit the number of persons using the corridor at any time to help control overcrowding and help to reduce impacts on sensitive wildlife species and their habitats. We recognize that for awhile, at least, some of the adjustments that people using the corridor will need to make may seem burdensome. We have waited until now to emphasize limitations on access sites in particular, because we did not have all approved access sites in place. [Click here to link to photos of our Angler Access sites]

A: While the PRRP corridor is public land, this doesn’t mean the public has a right to access or use the property in any manner they choose. The government agency with responsibility for the land (in this case, the Mitigation Commission) has the right, and is required by law, to manage the lands in a manner consistent with that agency’s mission. To help illustrate this point, consider some examples: U.S. Highway 40 is public land; yet, the public is not allowed to gain access to or from, nor use the highway, for whatever purposes they desire. Use of these lands is tightly regulated and enforced. Wasatch County playgrounds, school grounds and parks are public lands; yet, the public is not allowed to play golf, shoot archery or consume alcohol on those grounds. For many years and even generations, recognized public uses of highways and playgrounds, school grounds and parks have become well-established. What we have established and are striving to complete along the Provo River is a new type of public facility in many respects. It is not a parkway corridor (though parkways are also highly regulated, particularly with respect to access points), nor is it a multiple-use property, such as one might expect from lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is a habitat area, designed, constructed and managed to provide aquatic, riparian and terrestrial habitats to replace those lost elsewhere through development of the Central Utah Project, which brings water to Heber Valley and the Wasatch Front. Public uses that are compatible with those objectives, such as angling and wildlife watching are allowed and encouraged; however, those uses are regulated. And one of the few tools available to regulate the amount of use and type of use is limiting access points by location and by number of parking spots.

A: The longest distance between parking lots/access points is less than 3 ½ miles (from the proposed Midway Lane North site to the River Road South site - see map - therefore to reach the midpoint from either end is just over 1 ½ miles). For those willing to walk a little farther, a more secluded/less crowded experience will be the reward.

A: In most cases in the land purchase contracts with landowners who now abut or surround the PRRP corridor, we have eliminated direct access to the river. Furthermore, guides will not be able to strike deals with private landowners to gain direct access to the corridor, and a private individual cannot gain access to the river by paying a fee, nor by asking permission of an adjacent private landowner; the private landowners do not have the rights to grant such permission. In a few instances, we have agreed to allow access from private property to the corridor: this access is limited to immediate family or guests, for non-commercial purposes, and the right to access the corridor terminates upon sale of the property to a non-family member. In only one instance, the Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast was allowed to have access to the corridor for clients, because this was an existing commercial enterprise using the river corridor before or at the time the river restoration project was implemented.(Also, this facility is located on the southern end of the above referenced 3 1/2-mile stretch, so it has no advantage in reaching the more secluded river section.)

A: In taking measures to fulfill our commitments to control access, we recently posted "No Access" signs at several of the most commonly used non-approved access sites in an effort to educate and inform public users of approved corridor parking and entry locations. This was also partly because of a request by Wasatch County to address a particularly troublesome spot in the "North Fields" area that has been used by anglers. The County has had numerous complaints from local landowners along this road about parking that blocks access to lands, causes damage to fences from cars turning around on narrow dirt roads, and trash and litter. Regarding local law enforcement on county roads, we have no direct authority over parking on County roads. Wasatch County has authority over County roads and is responsible for taking formal actions to close those public areas to parking, which would allow them to issue citations for parking along those roads.

A: The Mitigation Commission proposes to develop a corridor management operating agreement with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and possibly other entities. The operating agreement will reiterate mitigation objectives and requirements for management and public access as partial mitigation for Central Utah Project and other federal reclamation projects. The operating agreement(s) will also specify management costs and will commit funding sources to support ongoing project development, operation, maintenance and management. Funding sources and management, operation and maintenance assistance may include one or more of the following: user fees, volunteer efforts (such as a Riverkeeper program), Mitigation Commission funds, state or local funds, and private donations.

As part of President Obama’s plan to help stimulate the lagging economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed in February, 2009. Funds provided to the Mitigation Commission from the Recovery Act accelerate the opportunity to perform needed maintenance and repair parking areas and related facilities along the PRRP. Other funded activities will include repairing fencing and weed control at constructed parking areas and along restored river reaches.

We appreciate the public's support of the PRRP and hope we are developing a project that will balance the needs for fish and wildlife habitat and the need for public access in a satisfactory manner.