Utah Code § 23A-6-403

Current through the 2024 Fourth Special Session

Section 23A-6-403 - State-owned lands authorized for use as wildlife management areas, fishing waters, and for other recreational activities

(1) The Wildlife Board may use any and all unsurveyed state-owned lands below the 1855 meander line of the Great Salt Lake within the following townships for the creation, operation, maintenance and management of wildlife management areas, fishing waters and other recreational activities:

Township 2 South, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 2 South, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 1 South, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 1 South, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 1 South, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 1 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 1 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 2 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 2 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 2 North, Range 1 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 3 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 3 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 3 North, Range 1 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 4 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 4 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, and 24, Township 4 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 5 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 5 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, and 12, Township 5 North, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 6 North, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 6 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 6 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 7 North, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 7 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 7 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 7 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 8 North, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 8 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 8 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 8 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 9 North, Range 5 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 9 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 11 North, Range 11 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 11 North, Range 10 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 11 North, Range 9 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 11 North, Range 8 West, S.L.B. and M.; North 1/2 of Township 10 North, Range 10 West, S.L.B. and M.; North 1/2 of Township 10 North, Range 9 West, S.L.B. and M.; North 1/2 of Township 10 North, Range 8 West, S.L.B. and M.

(2)

(a) The Wildlife Board shall establish a wildlife management area known as the "Willard Spur Waterfowl Management Area" on the unsurveyed state-owned lands below the 1855 meander line of the Great Salt Lake in Sections 26, 35, 36 of Township 8 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 8 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Sections 1, 2, 11, 12 of Township 7 North, Range 4 West, S.L.B. and M.; Township 7 North, Range 3 West, S.L.B. and M.; Sections 20, 21, 29, 30, 31 of Township 8 North, Range 2 West, S.L.B. and M., except for the following:

(i) lands within the May 14, 2019, boundaries of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge;

(ii) lands within the May 14, 2019, boundaries of Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area;

(iii) lands within the May 14, 2019, boundaries of Willard Bay Reservoir; and

(iv) lands within the May 14, 2019, boundaries of state mineral leases.

(b) The division shall execute a memorandum of understanding with the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands recognizing the division's use of the state-owned lands described in Subsection (2)(a) as a wildlife management area.

(c) The division shall manage the state-owned lands described in Subsection (2)(a) as a wildlife management area and consistent with:

(i) the beneficial purposes identified in Subsection (2)(d); and

(ii) a management plan created consistent with the procedures in this chapter for a management plan.

(d) The division shall manage the Willard Spur Waterfowl Management Area for the following beneficial purposes:

(i) propagating and sustaining waterfowl, upland gamebirds, desirable mammals, shorebirds, and other migratory and nonmigratory birds that use the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem's surrounding wetlands;

(ii) preserving and enhancing the natural function, vegetation, and water flows under existing or acquired water rights to provide productive habitat for the species listed in Subsection (2)(d)(i);

(iii) providing recreational opportunity for traditional marsh-related activities, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing; and

(iv) providing public access in the management area for purposes of hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing, including access with airboats and other small watercraft.

(e) The division shall provide the habitat, recreational opportunities, and public access described in Subsection (2)(d) without construction or use of an impounding dike, impounding levee, or other impounding structure.

(f) Notwithstanding the purposes identified in Subsection (2)(d), the division may not prohibit year-round public airboat and small watercraft access in the management area except in selected areas during limited periods of time to protect habitat, nesting birds, or vulnerable wildlife.

Utah Code § 23A-6-403

Renumbered from § 23-21-5 and amended by Chapter 103, 2023 General Session ,§ 157, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by Chapter 141, 2019 General Session ,§ 2, eff. 5/14/2019.

Amended by Chapter 60, 1975 General Session