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DWR makes changes at Weber River tubing spot
Ogden — Many people who launch their float tubes onto the Weber River near Henefer may not realize the popular launching spot is actually on a wildlife management area managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Using funds provided by anglers, the DWR purchased the land for the Henefer-Echo Angler Access Wildlife Management Area in 1978. Located off I-84 between Henefer and Croydon, the WMA was acquired and managed to provide anglers with another place to fish on the Weber River.
In addition to fishing, the DWR has allowed other recreational activities on the WMA through the years. One of those activities is recreational tubing, which started slowly but then exploded in popularity on the river about 20 years ago. Now, during weekends and holidays in the summer, the WMA's 150-space parking lot is typically overflowing with vehicles driven by people coming to float the river in tubes.
"While we manage fishing and hunting in the state, we're not an outdoor recreation agency," DWR Northern Region Supervisor Blair Stringham said. "Because tubing and other forms of outdoor recreation are not our areas of expertise, the popularity of tubing has overwhelmed our ability to manage the activity at the WMA."
To help manage tubing at the WMA, the DWR has entered into an agreement with a private concessionaire to manage the WMA on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Here are some important updates for people wanting to park on the WMA to go tubing:
- Excluding holidays that fall on a weekday, the public may enter the WMA for free Mondays through Thursdays. The concessionaire will not be on site those days.
- On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, holidays and other times of peak use, a $10-per-vehicle fee will be charged to park on the WMA. A fee of $15 will be charged for vehicles with eight or more people. The concessionaire will rent tubing equipment those days, sell snacks and drinks and maintain the parking area and restrooms.
- Anglers who visit the area only to fish — not to tube — will not be charged the $10 fee on weekends and holidays, as the area was initially paid for by angler license dollars and is designated as a wildlife management area. Parking spots will also be set aside for anglers.
If the parking lot fills up, visitors should note that the nearby Walk-In-Access properties are not to be used for tubing or other forms of outdoor recreation, besides fishing. These are private properties that are leased to allow public access for fishing.
"Tubers will also likely encounter more law enforcement officers in the area this summer than they have in the past," Stringham said. "The officers will be on site to ensure state laws are followed and to help keep everyone safe."
WMAs in Utah
The Henefer-Echo Angler Access Wildlife Management Area is one of 193 wildlife management areas and waterfowl management areas in Utah. The DWR started acquiring the areas in the late 1940s for several reasons:
- To conserve critical habitats for wildlife
- To help minimize and mitigate wildlife depredation on private property
- To provide anglers and hunters — who provide funding for the WMAs through the purchase of a fishing or hunting license — a place to hunt and fish in Utah
