NUCC holds first meeting

A big thank you to all who participated in NUCC's first organizational meeting. The meeting was held April 17 at 8:00pm at Rockhaus...many thanks to Trevor for offering us space in his lobby.

Topics discussed focused primarily on the direction that founding members would like to see NUCC follow (it was also determined that the acronym for the coalition should be pronounced "nuke," which came complete with all expected, "let's nuke this and that" comments). Needed projects in and around Logan Canyon include:

~Development of a working relationship with local Forest Service managers
~Ongoing anchor and bolt replacement, and alternative funding sources sought (alternative to the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by a few dedicated local climbers)
~Trail maintenance and trash management to begin, in coordination with FS intent, after spring rains have ceased
~Potential future fundraisers

It was further agreed that our interests would be best served by becoming an Access Fund affiliate organization, and with the much-appreciated help of Charlie Boas and Diana Vernazza at the AF, the paperwork has been submitted and we are official! Many thanks to Charlie and Diana, and to the AF, for their support. We encourage all climbers in NUCC to become members of the Access Fund as well.

Also currently underway is the establishment of long-term monitoring to be done in the canyon to survey the threatened Primula (McGuire's Primrose) plant species. Led by Sylvia Denise Torti, and in tandem with the Forest Service, Utah State researchers, and local climbers, monitoring sites will be established to investigate potential climatic and human impacts on the presence of the flower in Logan Canyon. This will be an ongoing research study, and serves as a critical example of how local climbing interests can be better served by the presence of NUCC. A recent article in the Logan Herald Journal highlighted this research:

http://www.hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2008/05/09/news/news04.txt

Again, thanks to the climbers who attended the first meeting. More information on upcoming projects will soon be made available, so please bookmark our website!