(Salt Lake City, UT) – The Utah Department of Health has entered the final stages of development of the Utah Notification and Information System (UNIS) and will launch the system in the next few months. UNIS is a statewide communications system that can distribute alerts, announcements and other information in the event of an emergency.

Through UNIS, voice notifications can be sent to home, office and cell phones, while text-based information can be sent by fax, pager or email. “UNIS is able to contact large groups of users with critical information, within a small period of time,” said Dean Penovich, UNIS Project Manager at the Utah Department of Health (UDOH).

The system will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping to call specific geographic areas within the State. Multiple state and local agencies will be able to set geographic parameters for any area in Utah and automatically create a call-list of all publicly listed households and businesses within the defined area. The system will then send voice or text messages to citizens within that area in case of an emergency.

While UNIS is managed by the UDOH, the system allows participants from various state and local agencies and organizations to receive and send notifications for both urgent and routine incidents and events.

People who receive a UNIS call should listen closely and follow any instructions provided. UNIS may be used in the future for a variety of purposes depending on the agency or organization sending the message. Contacting targeted populations regarding hazardous material spills, lost children, or crime sprees are all potential uses for UNIS.

Once operational, UNIS will be able to place approximately 7,800 calls per hour. This is based on a 30 second recorded phone message and using 104 phone lines. Emails and pager notifications will be sent much quicker. If faxes are sent through the system, the amount of calls that can be placed per hour is reduced.

Through a cooperative agreement, Davis and Weber counties will house remote computer-based systems which will greatly increase the overall phone line capacity for UNIS and GIS notifications statewide.

UNIS is a key component of Utah’s emergency preparedness efforts. Besides direct notification to the public, UNIS functions as a central web site for information dissemination and collaboration among partner agencies. It contains a document management feature that allows participating agencies to get up-to-date information and protocols in routine and emergency situations on a variety of subjects. UNIS also includes a secure online discussion forum and bulletin board feature, facilitating ongoing discussions about events or protocols. The system can be used to coordinate efforts and track updated information and messages.

1:06:48 PM    

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the 11400 South Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Project Team will host open house-style public meetings to present the proposed refined transportation alternatives for further study under the EIS.

• Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Sandy City Hall, 10000 Centennial Parkway
• Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at South Jordan City Community Center, 10778 S. Redwood Road
• Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Riverton High School Technical Atrium, 12476 S. 2700 W.

The proposed alternatives include roadway improvements to:
--10400/10600 South
--11400 South
--12300/12600 South
--Jordan Gateway/Lone Peak Parkway
--State Street

7:02:52 AM    

SALT LAKE CITY — A chance to view and learn about bald eagles will be available Feb. 7 as the Division of Wildlife Resources hosts its annual Bald Eagle Day.

Admission to the annual Watchable Wildlife program event is free. Viewing times are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Viewing will take place at the following sites:

Compton's Knoll at the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area, located about 10 miles northwest of Corinne. To reach the WMA, take Exit 368 off of I-15 and travel west on SR-83 through Corinne. Stay on SR-83 until you get to 6800 W. (Iowa String). Travel north to 6800 N. Travel west on 6800 N. until you reach the Salt Creek WMA/Compton's Knoll Watchable Wildlife site.

Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, located on the west side of Farmington. If you're traveling north on I-15, you can reach the WMA by exiting at Exit 325. Turn right off the off-ramp, then turn left on the frontage road and travel north to Glover Lane. Turn west on Glover Lane and drive two miles to the WMA's north entrance (1325 W.). If you're traveling south on I-15, exit at Exit 327 and travel south to 100 N. (Clark Lane). Turn right on 100 N. and travel west to 1525 W. Turn left on 1525 W. and travel south to Glover Lane. Turn left on Glover Lane and travel east to 1325 W., which is the WMA's north entrance.

Fountain Green State Fish Hatchery, located in Sanpete County, east of Nephi. If coming from the north, take I-15 and exit the freeway at the second Nephi exit (Exit 225). After exiting the freeway, turn east heading up Salt Creek Canyon on SR-132 and travel about 10 miles. About one mile before the city of Fountain Green, a Bald Eagle Day sign will point to an access road that leads to the hatchery.

Split Mountain/Green River, located north of Jensen and below the Dinosaur Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument (DNM). To reach the site, drive north from Highway 40 in Jensen on the road (SR?149) to the Dinosaur Quarry. First stop should be at the staging area located just inside the DNM boundary where displays, spotting scopes and possibly bald eagles and other raptors await. From the staging area biologists will direct viewers to other sites where they may have better views of eagles and other wildlife of interest. In past years, visitors have seen bald and golden eagles hunting and feeding, as well as prairie falcons, hawks, mule deer, river otters, pheasants, turkeys, sandhill cranes, porcupines, mergansers, Canada geese and other wildlife. Also, check out the dinosaur bones and other fossils located in the Dinosaur Quarry, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area, located just east of the town of Elmo. To find the WMA, visitors from Price or the Wasatch Front should travel south from Price on SR-10 and follow the signs that lead to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. (Desert Lake is situated along the road leading to the quarry.) Once at Desert Lake, visitors should follow the "Bald Eagle Day" signs and arrows to the parking area.

Cedar Valley, located on the northwest side of Cedar City. To reach the site, exit I-15 at Exit 59 and travel west on SR-56 to 3900 W. Turn right on 3900 W. and travel north to 2800 N. The viewing site is located at 3900 W. and 2800 N.

"Spotting scopes will be set up at each viewing site, and DWR biologists and volunteers will be available to help viewers spot eagles and to answer any questions they may have," said Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Displays also will be set up at each location and pamphlets and other materials about bald eagles will be available for free, or for a minimal cost.

The best time to view Feb. 7 depends on the individual, Walters said.

The most comfortable times are late morning or early afternoon, when the warmest temperatures and the best visibility are available. The warmer temperatures are especially important if you're bringing young children.

Viewers can expect to see eagles during the late morning and early afternoon but not as many as just before sundown, when eagles "go to roost" for the evening. At most of the sites, the best time to see the greatest number of eagles is usually from 2 to 4 p.m., Walters said.

Walters advises those attending to dress warmly and, if there's snow on the ground, to wear waterproof boots.

For those interested in photographing the eagles a telephoto lens is a must, as the eagles will be some distance from the viewing areas.

Photographers who don't bring the proper equipment and try to get close to the eagles for a better shot will most likely scare them away, losing their chance to photograph them and ruining the viewing experience for all those who attend, Walters said.

Walters started Bald Eagle Day in 1990 as a way to introduce people to Utah's wildlife. "It was started as a way of arousing people's interest, whetting their appetite and making them aware of wildlife around them," Walters said.

Since it began Bald Eagle Day has grown into Utah's most well-attended, and one of its most enjoyed, wildlife-viewing events.

For more information about Bald Eagle Day, call Walters at (801) 538-4771 or Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal, Price and Cedar City.

6:57:21 AM