The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will host a picnic, the short name for the "Walk-In Access Landowner Appreciation Lunch and Outreach Social", on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Roosevelt Constitution Park in the south pavilion (790 W. 200 S. in Roosevelt).

The picnic is for landowners currently enrolled in the program and those interested in learning more about the Walk-In Access program for hunting and fishing access.

"The Walk-In Access program pays landowners to allow public hunting and fishing access on private lands," said Amy VandeVoort, who manages the program in the Northeastern Region. "Recently, payments for fishing access have increased so we wanted to let landowners know of the program and the increased opportunities as well as thank those already in the program."

VandeVoort explained how landowners gain several benefits.

"Landowners benefit from enrolling in Walk-In Access not only from the payments, but also from having law enforcement officers checking on their property to enforce rules and regulations. Because users of Walk-In Access properties are required to register before using the property, landowners also gain by having more regulated use of their land.

"To qualify for the program, landowners need at least a 1/4 mile of stream, 40 acres of riparian (stream-side and wetland vegetation), or 80 acres of terrestrial ground for upland game or big game hunting, to enroll. A new opportunity, currently going through the Division's public input process, could open enrollment to those with less stream-side property by having neighbors combine lands, giving anglers access to a longer stretch of stream.

"The social is a good opportunity for interested landowners to learn more about the program from the landowners who are in it, as well as from the Division," VandeVoort said.