Project to address ongoing issues in Pack Creek after 2021 fire

by David Boyle
News Director
San Juan County Commissioners approved contracts and loans for the Pack Creek watershed, made an agreement to allow high school students to ride-along with EMT’s, and sent comments to the US Forest Service at their September 16 meeting
For the watershed protection project in Pack Creek, the county is the recipient of a $1.4 million grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The project is related to a 9,000-acre wildfire on the north side of the La Sal mountains in 2021. Dubbed the Pack Creek fire, it scarred the Pack Creek community and led to several strong flooding events in the years since then.
The project from NRCS is designed to address Watershed Protections in the area, especially the Pack Creek community in northern San Juan County.
County Administrator Mack McDonald explains that part of receiving the grant for the project is a 25 percent match. McDonald notes that some of the project will include county roads and flood mitigation protecting a county bridge. Additionally the use of trees burnt in the project can also count as part of the in-kind match by the county.
Items listed in the bid include rock walls, 3-step and 4-step grade control, low water crossing, irrigation structure and more. McDonald said the projects will benefit the community and the county.
“In the end, all of these measures that are put into place really go to protect the community’s water system which is on an aquifer replenishment system,” said McDonald.
“If we can get it to where it mitigates and stops eroding the spring bed as much as possible, protects the road coming across, and protects the bridge below, we feel these projects are a win-win (for the community and the county).”
While 25 percent of the total project is made up of a local match, the county will not be contributing to the local match alone.
San Juan County will pay 25 percent of the match, with the Pack Creek Water Company to cover the remaining 75 percent. The staff report notes that the project not only includes county work, but community projects as well.
As a result, the county approved a loan to the Pack Creek Water Company so water users could cover the estimated $255,979 for the Pack Creek Emergency Watershed Protection Community projects.
McDonald added that as the project goes forward, the county hopes that mitigation efforts can decrease the amount owed.
The funds will come from a county road investment fund that will be paid back over the course of five years. McDonald added the amount loaned shouldn’t be too large to hold up other county repair projects.
During the public hearing held for the loan, McDonald explained the water company has the best capacity to bill citizens rather than incur a tax assessment on the project.
Pack Creek Water Company board member Holly Sloan shared support of the loan to move the project forward, noting it is fortuitous that the water company can manage the payments.
“Nobody is happier than the water company board that after four years maybe we’re going to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Sloan.
“One of the unfortunate things that happened was nobody’s fault in this room. I was looking at the documents four years ago when the NRDS did their initial assessment.
“Almost all the work back then was focused on restoring the creek and stopping the erosion. Well four years of floods have really shifted that and now there’s a significant amount of the project that’s repairing damage.
“... For the water company, it’s a little disheartening ...that less of the project is focused on actually stopping the erosion. So this is going to be something the water company is going to have to look at when the project is done. Ask have we made enough progress? We may need to think of alternatives down the road, but we are so glad this is going forward.”
Sloan added that the board has been in communication with the community as the agreement has moved forward.
As part of the meeting, the commission approved contracts with Redoubt Restoration to perform the work on the project. The contractor just finished a job in Colorado and is already mobilized and scheduled to begin this week in order to complete the work before winter.
Members of the commission also approved an agreement with the school district to allow High School students to have ride-along experiences with Emergency Medical Technicians as part of a course the schools are offering.
McDonald shared the county concerns regarding liability but noted the mutual benefits for the schools and county for the program to exist. An interlocal agreement would have the school district have liability with the program with the county covering the costs for personal protective gear for students and the school district covering costs to access the county pager system.
Members of the commission also approved a comment letter on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the forest service detailing guidance for the management of old-growth forests.
San Juan County’s comments were written by county Public Lands Coordinator Nick Sandberg with input received from the state of Utah’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office (PLPCO).
Two main concerns outlined in the letter are that the old-growth management not override or hinder active forest management, and that the forest plans coordinate with county plans.
Members of the commission approved the comment letter.