San Juan County Commission visits with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area officials

Members of the San Juan County Commission spent time talking about Lake Powell, public health and heard from the PAC at their latest meeting.
Members of the San Juan County Commission received a report from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at their April 1 meeting.
Superintendent Michelle Kerns shared in her report that the water elevation at Lake Powell will allow the boat ramps at Bullfrog and Halls Crossing to be operational for the season. In addition ferry operations between the two areas will start on May 26th and are anticipated to run through October.
Kerns reported that last year the Glen Canyon Recreation Area had 4.7 million visitors generating $540 million in economic benefit to Utah and generating 6,500 jobs in the state.
Kerns also shared that Halls Crossing should have about 25 employees this year, noting that they’ve been recovering their presence there after Covid-19 pandemic and low water elevation saw an exodus of staff. Despite that some covid disaster relief funds from 2022 and 2023 are being used to address concerns including a sustainable ramp location at Hite aimed at helping launch paddlecraft, kayaks and smaller boats on the river.
“We will be working this summer on an environmental assessment of that area. And the selected location is near the bridge on the Hite side. Access would be going down the Hite access road then down to a newly constructed road to the new sustainable ramp for river takeout. We are excited about that project to attract a commercial operator back at Hite.”
Kerns shared that efforts to secure a contract for Hite has failed three times with Kerns noting a large reason relating to access to the water being a limiting factor for earning potential. Kerns also noted that a lack of access to commercial power both at Hite and Halls Crossing are a challenge to operations in the area, and that a partnership project to bring electrification to the area would be a huge improvement.
Kerns also asked the county to increase its promotion of the area through signage and website promotion.
Kerns and deputy superintendent Heidi Grigg also answered questions by commissioner Lori Maughan about the state of facilities at Halls Crossing compared to services at Bullfrog, particularly the state of the campgrounds and the lack of fuel services.
Kerns shared that concessionair Aramark is hiring specifically for Halls Crossing with plans of taking care of the campground area. Grigg shared that the marina fueling decisions at Bullfrog and Halls crossing are driven by financial feasibility, but shared they’d be happy to discuss concerns with Aramark.
Administrator Mack McDonald noted one thing the county would like to see more of is opportunities for Native American vendors at Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Particularly opportunities in San Juan County including the north up in Hite and down at Rainbow Bridge.
“We just need to have that guarantee and work towards a guarantee of people going out to that side of the lake so that there are people there, you know, to sell too.”
Grigg shared that they are in contact with local tribes about permit opportunities that allow small businesses to operate within the park.
“We have all sorts of different service types that can be applied for and even if there's a service type that they're interested in that we don't have yet, we can even look at that. But there's things like food trucks that we've already have a permit available for and so if anybody is interested in a small business out there, they just need to contact us and we can put them in contact with the right person.”
McDonald added that the parks efforts to reopen Hite is an important part of that revitalization noting another entry/exit point into the river and Lake Powell offer opportunity for river rafting businesses operating in the county.
Related to connecting Hite and Hall Crossing to the Utah grid, McDonald added the project would also be of interest to the county noting that Cal Black airport operates exclusively on solar power. Kerns shared that seven years ago estimates had been $1 million a mile to bring BullFrog and Hite into the Utah grid, both entities agreed the upgrade in power infrastructure would be beneficial to the area and agreed to continue to look for opportunities to bring power to northern Lake Powell.
During the public comment portion of the meeting members of the commission also heard from Shannon Brooks about the work of the Public Awareness Committee of Citizens (PAC). The group came about following the six month delay of the updated county land use ordinance to aid in communication between the county and residents. While the county has hosted over 10 hearings Brooks shared their group has also held a series of meetings in addition to meeting with county administrators Brooks shared they’ve met 10 times with about 100 families, in addition the group has spent about 40 hours researching and reviewing the land use ordinance, about 5-10 hours of communication and additional hours into planning and administering meetings. The group has also launched a survey for unincorporated areas in the county. Brooks also shared a report with the commission stating they’ve found inconsistencies between the 2025 proposed ordinance and the county’s existing general plan.
During their meeting members of the commission also approved standard agreements with a variety of organizations.
Related to the county health department the commission approved a memorandum of understanding for streamlining sharing information between different state and local health entities, particularly during public health emergencies. Another agreement was approved to allow county staff to attend training and workshops related to response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) commonly known as bird flu.
Another agreement between the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and the county public health department related to general Provisions and business associate agreements between the entities.
At the meeting members of the commission also approved an agreement between Utah State University Extension Services and the county. The renewed five-year contract was essentially the same as the previous one with updated budget allocations. County USU Extension Services director Reagan Wytsalucy explained the role of the extension office as a land-grant institution including providing education and outreach in agriculture, family and consumer sciences. The program is run on a cost-sharing agreement between USU and the county.
Among highlights of the USU Extension offices work included securing $3.3 million in grant funding over Wytsalucy’s past six years as director.
At the meeting members of the commission also approved the purchase of a used truck for the county road department. The peterbilt truck will be used to address inspection needs and is being bought with existing funds.