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Wealthy Utah landowners suddenly cut off access to world renowned river as they go to war with fishermen trespassing on their land for the last decade

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Wealthy Utah landowners suddenly cut off access to world renowned river as they go to war with fishermen trespassing on their land for the last decade


Landowners are blocking public access to a renowned river known for its fishing – because of anglers they say are trespassing on their property by standing in the river to cast.

The controversy surrounds a stretch of the Lower Provo River in Utah, some 50 miles from Salt Lake City.

There, fishermen have operated undeterred for years, due to a 2010 statute that allowed them to float on rivers but forbade them from setting foot on the riverbeds.

But law enforcement in Wasatch County rarely enforce that stipulation – spurring people like Steve Ault, a relative of a former governor who owns 3,000 acres along the river, to formally request a shift in the county line so his property sits elsewhere.

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In interviews administered both this and last week, the 70-year-old complained about fishermen repeatedly accessing his land, and a lack of law enforcement he said is to blame.

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The controversy surrounds a stretch of the Lower Provo River in Utah , some 50 miles from Salt Lake City. There, fishermen have operated undeterred for years, due to a 2010 statute that allowed them to float on rivers but forbade them from setting foot on the riverbeds.

But law enforcement in Wasatch County rarely enforce that stipulation - spurring people like Steve Ault, a relative of a former governor who owns 3,000 acres along the river, to formally request a shift in the county line so his property sits elsewhere

But law enforcement in Wasatch County rarely enforce that stipulation – spurring people like Steve Ault, a relative of a former governor who owns 3,000 acres along the river, to formally request a shift in the county line so his property sits elsewhere

He’s trying to shift the county line such that his property resides in Utah County — not Wasatch — with hopes that county’s Sheriff’s Office will do something about it.

Speaking to both The Salt Lake Tribune and Fox 13, he said he does not necessarily mind people fishing on his land – he just wants to charge them an access fee.

‘If you take [a state coalition that won a legal battle for public access to the river in 2017], and apply this to any other private property owner, you wouldn’t want people in your backyard and have a right to be there,’ Ault told the Tribune. 

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‘You would never allow someone to walk through your yard to get to a gate that goes to a park, right?’  he said, slamming the Utah Stream Access Coalition as ‘the Utah Socialist Access Coalition.

‘But that’s a very similar situation here.’ 

‘We can own property here, and we can have businesses, and we can do things that they can’t in other parts of the world, and yet,’ he continued, 

‘[But] there’s groups and individuals that would take that away.’

Ault is the brother-in-law to former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who served as the 17th governor of the red state from 2009 to 2021.

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Speaking to both The Salt Lake Tribune and Fox 13 , he said he does not necessarily mind people fishing on his land - he just wants to charge them an access fee

Speaking to both The Salt Lake Tribune and Fox 13 , he said he does not necessarily mind people fishing on his land – he just wants to charge them an access fee

During his tenure, the Utah Stream Access Coalition won a suit against the state – one that found that this particular stretch of river was ‘navigable’ and thus public, due to local laws. 

By the state’s definition, ‘navigable’ means a waterway that is large enough to be used to transport goods and people, which the coalition believes it is.

The Utah divisions of Forestry, Fire and State Lands and Wildlife Resources, however, has yet to confirm their belief – a hindrance compounded by the fact the state last year passed a law that would punish anglers who access rivers that run through private land.

But that’s only if local officials actually enforce the law – something Ault says is not happening.

Instead, he said he’s been force to post ‘no trespassing’ signs about his sprawling property, despite living in a home dozens of miles away.

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To ensure no one is getting the best of him, he has hired a security guard – one he said finds his signs trashed just about every week, tattered and in need of a replacement.

He further claimed to the Tribune that the guard also routinely finds trash left behind by people they suspect are anglers, due to the the abundance of trout in the area, and the fact that the route that straddles the river is somewhat less traveled.

Ault is the brother-in-law to former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who served as the 17th governor of the red state from 2009 to 2021

Ault is the brother-in-law to former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who served as the 17th governor of the red state from 2009 to 2021

To ensure no one is getting the best of him, Ault said he has hired a security guard - one he said finds his signs trashed just about every week, tattered and in need of a replacement. Pictured, a fisherman standing in the river to cast, which is technically illegal

To ensure no one is getting the best of him, Ault said he has hired a security guard – one he said finds his signs trashed just about every week, tattered and in need of a replacement. Pictured, a fisherman standing in the river to cast, which is technically illegal

It’s even more empty now, after a Utah Department of Transportation contractor razed hundreds of trees last year to make room for a state-sanctioned trail that has yet to be built.

In an interview with the local Fox affiliate this past Wednesday, Ault said he has taken issue with this as well – claiming to own portions of the property that were dug up.

‘It’s the worst, in my opinion, one of the worst environmental disasters this state has ever seen,’ Ault told the outlet. 

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Recalling how he was ‘in shock’ after stumbling across the demolition, he said it had been his for almost forty years.

‘We own the land underneath the railroad tracks up to the edge of the highway,’ he said, pointing across the river. ‘We own 1,4000 acres that way.’

The land in question, however, is the state’s property, right outside his purview. 

That said, a 3.5 mile-gap between two trail networks it was meant to link remains, as construction has been called off due to the a litany of suits over who decides access to certain areas of the river, including a contested ‘fisherman’s easement’.

The easement applies to one side of the waterway, while another questions the railroad route on the other.

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Both are being contested, with the latter seeing the trail project temporarily called off. 

Complicating matters, though, is a successful suit from the Utah Stream Access Coalition  against the state, which found that this particular stretch of river was 'navigable' and thus public, due to local laws

Complicating matters, though, is a successful suit from the Utah Stream Access Coalition  against the state, which found that this particular stretch of river was ‘navigable’ and thus public, due to local laws

Ault told the Salt Lake Tribune that his hired guard also routinely finds trash left behind by people they suspect are anglers, due to the the abundance of trout in the area, and the fact the area is relatively less traveled

Ault told the Salt Lake Tribune that his hired guard also routinely finds trash left behind by people they suspect are anglers, due to the the abundance of trout in the area, and the fact the area is relatively less traveled

The gap won’t be filled unless the court rules in UDOT’s favor, but Ault views it as a victory.

Gesturing to now naked section of the river where ‘spectacular pines and quaking aspen and just big, big old trees’ once grew, he said he is considering a lawsuit, but the damage is already done.

‘It will take ten generations before it is ever even close to looking the same,’ he told Fox 13.

Now, he’s turned his attention to the controversy surrounding public river access, hoping to protect the land from further desecration.

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He said the uncertainty stems largely from the Wasatch County attorney’s office, which prosecutes cases in the area.

They issued a statement this week saying the courts haven’t decided whether anglers accessing the land is technically trespassing, pointing to the multiple ongoing lawsuits. 

The county office still looks at cases individually on their own merits, the statement noted, saying that if cops and officials produce sufficient evidence, they would charge trespassers.

It's even more empty now, after a Utah Department of Transportation contractor razed hundreds of trees last year to make room for a state-sanctioned trail that has yet to be built, which was called off when people like Ault questioned its legality

It’s even more empty now, after a Utah Department of Transportation contractor razed hundreds of trees last year to make room for a state-sanctioned trail that has yet to be built, which was called off when people like Ault questioned its legality

Ault's request to redraw the county lines, meanwhile, has yet to be heard, as the state project remains in limbo

Ault’s request to redraw the county lines, meanwhile, has yet to be heard, as the state project remains in limbo

‘Wasatch County takes its responsibility to uphold the law very seriously,’ the office told The Tribune. 

‘However,’ they added, ‘we also take our ethical responsibility to not prosecute persons who may not be violating the law very seriously.’ 

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Meanwhile, the state Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands hired a river analyst  tasked with settling such disputes six years ago, but the Tribune reported that person has since been relieved.

In the meantime, now such determinations have been made, and the shores lining the stretch of the Lower Provo river remain marred either by unfinished construction or trash from visitors, Ault said. 

Layne Edwards, who owns Park City Fly Fishing Guides, said this has left people from both sides frustrated, with no swift solution in sight.

“We have folks that are paying us to take them on a guided trip, and we have a responsibility to provide them with a positive experience,” Edwards told the Tribune, noting how his agency has not had any clients seek a tour along the river in more than a year.

‘And the last thing that I would want our guests to experience would be a bunch of negative energy.

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He blamed the ‘no trespassing’ signs put up by property owners like Ault, and the ensuing conflicts it created between anglers and property owners. 

Ault’s request to redraw the county lines, meanwhile, has yet to be heard, as the state project – like local fishermen’s rights – remains in limbo.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Wasatch County Attorney for comment and further clarification on the current situation.

 

 

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Utah National Guard gets new, top-of-the-line Apache helicopters

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Utah National Guard gets new, top-of-the-line Apache helicopters


WEST JORDAN, Utah — The Utah National Guard has been serving the state since 1894 with roots dating back to the Minutemen of the 17th-century American colonies.

This weekend, they received quite the boost in the form of the Army’s most advanced attack helicopter.

“These aircraft are extremely fast compared to our other aircraft,” said Col. Patrick.

On Saturday, the Utah National Guard took their new Apache helicopters for a spin.

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“The flight went better than we could have hoped for. A little weather on the east coast, but after that, it wasn’t bad at all,” Patrick said.

The first four of 24 Apaches arrived early Saturday morning after they went under full inspection.

“They’ve got software on there that it’s like playing a video game. You just fly the video game and the airplane… is fast and smooth, which is the good thing, and so it’ll just hold the altitude and airspeed and just keep on trucking along. It’s pretty good,” Patrick said.

The first Apache helicopters arrived in Utah back in 1992.

“It just continues the legacy of the air pirates and what we bring to not only Utah, but really to the global fight and security, really,” Patrick added.

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The colonel calls it a major step forward.

“What a great day for Utah as we advance into the next couple decades of combat operations and what we can provide to, you know, the global security.”





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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Utah Hockey Club – Game #21 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info

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Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Utah Hockey Club – Game #21 Preview, Projected Lines & TV Info


The depth continues to be tested as the bodies keep dropping out of the lineup up front. Tonight, a resilient Maple Leafs team is seeking its fourth consecutive win as Alex Nylander debuts on an all-Marlies line against a tired 8-9-2 Utah Hockey Club (7:00 p.m. EST, TSN4).


Head-to-Head Stats: Maple Leafs vs. Utah

In the 2024-25 regular season statistics, Utah holds the advantage in three out of five offensive categories and three out of five defensive categories.


Game Day Quotes

Craig Berube on what he learned from the pre-scout of Utah’s 6-1 win over Pittsburgh last night: 

The power play was good. They got three. They’re fast, and they have a lot of skill. They make a lot of plays — a lot of west-west plays — and get up the ice really well. Their D are involved.

We have to check well tonight. We have to stay out of the penalty box. Our PK is going to be important.

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Overall, we need to take time and space away from this team right out of the offensive zone. Be hard on them breaking plays up. That will be very important tonight.

Berube on the decision to start Joseph Woll over Anthony Stolarz tonight: 

[Woll] had a really good game against Vegas. We are just thinking ahead here. Stolly has played a lot. We have some time here. He is working in practice and doing a lot of good things.

That’s really it. We just talk about things and make decisions on what we think is best for the goalies and the team.

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I talked earlier about how both goalies are going to see more net than they have in the past. It is important that we manage it to the best of our abilities.

Woll is coming off a real solid game against a real good team. We wanted to go back with him.

Berube on what improvements he is looking for from his team offensively after a week of practice: 

Attacking more than we are. There are times when we tend to just control the play a little bit too much on the outside. We could attack more with more shots to the net, get pucks low to high, and do more on-and-off shooting while getting people to the net with numbers around there.

Resets to the back of the net, making quick plays out of there, doing things a little bit quicker, moving it quicker, supporting it quicker, and getting more pucks to the net than we are.

Berube on why Fraser Minten is so trustworthy despite his lack of experience: 

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It goes back to a great draft pick, finding a player who is so responsible at a young age. You guys aren’t on the bench, but just hearing him talk on the bench and how he sees the game, he says all the right things.

You don’t see young guys do that very often. He is already doing it at a very young age with very little experience. It is great to see. It’s refreshing. It really is.

Minten on the keys to success for his line with Nikita Grebenkin and Alex Nylander:

We just have to be simple with pucks and forecheck, using our speed to get pucks back on the forecheck. From there, let the skill make things happen. Those guys are really good when they get it back, so we have to make sure we are forechecking hard to retrieve pucks, and we’ll go from there.

Minten on the keys to success in the net-front role on the top power-play unit: 

Try not to overcomplicate it too much. Get the goalie’s eyes, get in sight lines, try to get pucks back, get some tips, get some screens, and cause a little chaos. You can draw a defender with you. If you’re going backdoor, you give them a little more space. Be ready for anything coming to you. They are great players, so just try to read off of them, and hopefully, it goes well.

Minten on his experience level in front of the net on the power play: 

In junior, I was mostly a flank guy with the puck more, but last year, I kind of got into it more at the end of the year, and I have been playing that role with the Marlies every game so far this year.

Minten on Morgan Rielly’s guidance at the NHL level: 

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He has been amazing. We have a lot in common, being from the same place. He took me under his wing a little bit and has been super nice. It makes it easy when you are coming in at 18 or 19 and there is a guy who comes to talk to you and is a really nice, supportive guy and friend. He has been awesome.


Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines

Forwards
#74 Bobby McMann — #91 John Tavares — #16 Mitch Marner
#89 Nick Robertson— #29 Pontus Holmberg — #88 William Nylander
#71 Nikita Grebenkin  — #39 Fraser Minten — #92 Alex Nylander
#46 Alex Steeves — #24 Connor Dewar — #18 Steven Lorentz

Defensemen
#22 Jake McCabe — #8 Chris Tanev
#44 Morgan Rielly — #95 Oliver Ekman-Larsson
#2 Simon Benoit — #25 Conor Timmins

Goaltenders
Starter: #60 Joseph Woll
#41 Anthony Stolarz

Extras: Jani Hakanpää, Philippe Myers
Suspended: Ryan Reaves (four games remaining)
Injured (IR): Auston Matthews, Max Domi, Matthew Knies
Injured (LTIR): Calle Jarnkrok, Dakota Mermis, Max Pacioretty, David Kampf


Utah Hockey Club Projected Lines

Forwards
#9 Clayton Keller — #27 Barrett Hayton — #8 Nick Schmaltz
#22 Jack McBain — #92 Logan Cooley — #11 Dylan Guenther
#63 Matias Maccelli — #17 Nick Bjugstad — #67 Lawson Course
#15 Alex Kerfoot — #82 Kevin Stenlund — #53 Michael Carcone

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Defensemen
#98 Mikhail Sergachev — #2 Olli Maata
#28 Ian Cole — #10 Maveric Lamoureux
#7 Michael Kesselring — #41 Robert Bortuzzo

Goaltenders
Starter: #70 Karel Vejmelka
Jayson Stauber

Injured: Sean Durzi, John Marino, Connor Ingram

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NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs host Utah, seek 4th straight win without Matthews | NHL.com

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NHL On Tap: Maple Leafs host Utah, seek 4th straight win without Matthews | NHL.com


Welcome to the NHL On Tap, a daily look at the games on the NHL schedule. There is one game on the schedule for Sunday, which will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.

Game of the day

Utah Hockey Club at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN4, NHLN, Utah16)

Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares have all stepped up for the Maple Leafs (12-6-2) in the absence of captain Auston Matthews and look to continue the trend against Utah (8-9-3) at Scotiabank Arena. Marner has 12 points (four goals, eight assists), Nylander nine points (four goals, five assists) and Tavares eight points (four goals, four assists) in the seven games without Matthews, who is out with an upper-body injury. Toronto has won three in a row and is 6-1-0 without Matthews, who skated prior to practice Saturday and said he could return from an upper-body injury this upcoming week. Marner leads Toronto with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 20 games and has points in six of the seven games Matthews has missed. Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Wall made 31 saves in a 3-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday for his first shutout of the season and second in the NHL. Utah is playing the second game of a back-to-back for the first time in team history and will look to build on a 6-1 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Dylan Guenther had two goals and an assist, and Clayton Keller had three assists, helping Utah end a three-game losing streak. Goalie Jaxson Stauber could make his Utah debut after being recalled from Tucson of the American Hockey League on Wednesday; the 25-year-old has not played an NHL game since Feb. 22, 2023, with the Chicago Blackhawks. No. 1 goalie Connor Ingram has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury.

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