News briefs

Fishing license fees may go up in 2013

DUCHESNE (AP) — Utah anglers might have to pay extra to dip their poles in streams in a few years.

The state Division of Wildlife Resources is floating a plan to hike license fees by 2013 to raise money to pay private property owners to open many of Utah's streams.

"The good news is we won't have to ask the anglers for money right now," agency director Jim Karpowitz told a legislative task force Thursday in Duchesne, about 90 miles east of Salt Lake City. "But down the line, we probably will."

The Utah Supreme Court in 2008 declared all stream beds publicly accessible, even where they cross private land.

But lawmakers didn't like the idea and passed a measure putting most of Utah's stream beds off-limits unless a landowner gives permission.

Karpowitz says the $26 resident fishing license will go up by $4 or $6 by 2013.

Lawmakers are looking at authorizing separate fishing licenses for private streams, with landowners splitting money with the state.

Some lawmakers have said they were bracing for a lawsuit from anglers challenging a tradition of unrestricted access to Utah's streams. Current law lets them float through private lands, but they can't get out of a boat or touch the stream bottom.

Karpowitz has set a goal of adding 50 miles of stream access each year for five years at a cost of millions of dollars.

Portion of Zion Park road to close

HURRICANE, Washington County — A portion of the highway in Zion National Park will close this week, earlier than normal.

The section of road on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway will close at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, instead of 8 p.m., according to a statement released by park officials. Normal closure hours for the roadway are 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights.

The earlier closing will allow crews to paint a center line on the newly paved roadway, on the east side of the park, during daylight hours and will also allow more adequate temperature and time to dry the paint.

Road closure is expected again later next month for finishing the west side and final sealing of the road.