McDonald Basin is a popular hunting and recreation area west of Tabby Mountain where the principal economic uses of the property have been forestry and grazing. The main access road to McDonald Basin crosses Red Creek, and so when a new beaver dam built near the creek crossing significantly raised the water level, it resulted in a large cut bank that made it unsafe to travel the road. Trust Lands removed the dam to lower the water to its historic levels and installed animal-safe deterrents to ensure any new beaver dams would be built further downstream. After acquiring the necessary permits, Trust Lands stabilized the cut bank and repaired the road using natural materials. The repaired road now allows for safe access to the area for recreation, maintenance, and economic uses.
Penstemon Conservation Agreement
A multi-agency Utah conservation team is working to protect two species of penstemon found in the Uinta Basin, Graham’s and White River beardtongue. The team includes representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Utah Public Lands Policy Coordination Office, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, School and Institutional Trust Lands