Article and photographs by Jim Speth
Cold War, deceit, and endless mind games are the torments of almost every separated or divorced couple. Children, our future’s most valuable resource, always lose when one parent focuses on destroying the other. A Study by Weinstein, N., Przybylski, A. K., & Ryan, R. M. (2009) titled. “Can nature make us more caring? Effects of immersion in nature on intrinsic aspirations and generosity” reveals that increased time spent in nature makes us more nice and enhances our social interactions.
However, what happens when nature itself is the dependent receiving the blunt end of emotional warfare, when government looks to divorce the society it has sworn to protect and reaches for the lucrative prospects of commercial development revenue? What happens when the soul existence of an ecological masterpiece hangs by the imaginary thread of money? If the environment lay pray to the dollar, would society as a whole become more intolerant of each other? No doubt our ability to maintain life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness would be hindered.
The Capitalist might say a private entity should oversee nature’s preservation and do with the land what he will. A pure Libertarian may say anyone but the government should protect it and then complain as no one does anything. Or a stanch Authoritarian would say the government must lock it up, or the “people” will destroy it, all the while gathering evidence to support their cause.
Several months ago, I was invited to help with a community cleanup project at Boiling Springs (also known as “The Boilers”) in Washington City. When I arrived, I was completely captivated by the magical way the water bubbles up into the streams and ponds from deep under the ground and the way nature was attempting to heal and rebuild. Over the past eight months, I have frequented Boiling Springs to find solace, to listen, and to photograph the mysteries I have discovered there.
During this time and in an attempt to make the site usable to the public, Washington City pulled down the fence surrounding Boiling Springs, began moving earth, and removing vegetation. Once again the spring was open to the public. But without an adequate caretaker in place, catastrophe was not far away.
If you visited the sight today, you might be inclined to side with the Authoritarian point of view. Free roaming humans have left their trail of terror and the Boiling Springs inimitable nature is quickly dying. With the complete lack of social and ecological discipline of a few individuals, it would appear that the Authoritarians were right. Trash, vandalism from motorized vehicles, and deadly salt leaching from open fill soil have taken their toll. Fish lay motionless on the shore edges, while calcification on newly deposited fill soil turns leafs an odd autumn like color. This same alkali soil has began eroding into the spring itself, causing yet untold destruction downstream in irrigation and recreational water that comes from this one pure irreplaceable source.
I fear that unless immediate steps are taken, the Authoritarian point of view will prevail, federal involvement will set in, and the Boilers may be lost to the public forever.
Luckily this Wednesday evening, June 10, at 6 p.m., a unique win-win opportunity will be presented for a vote at the Washington City Council meeting to not only open the tranquility of the springs to the public but also set up a custodian organization which ensures the location becomes a place for southern Utah residents as well as visitors to the area. Working together, like-minded local government agencies, as well as a nonprofit organization, are coming together to save this historical and cherished ecological site. With the hopes of building an “ecoseum” and learning center, Boiling Springs Ecoseum and Desert Preserve’s plans will not only save this ecosystem, but the $50 million development is slated to be completely funded with private money and federal grants. The ecoseum will provide exciting new jobs as well as produce an estimated $91,000 in sales tax revenue annually.
But the inflow of economic cash does not stop there; similar public gardens across the country bring huge amounts of outside money to their communities. For example, the Tucson Botanical Gardens brings approximately $22 million of other outside money into the community each year. This dramatic increase in revenue not only helps the city grow, but can help to elevate excess tax burdens on its citizens.
In support for the project, there will be a gathering at 5:15 p.m. at the Veteran’s Park in Washington City just prior to the 6 p.m. Wednesday evening vote. The Washington City Council vote is in “Consideration to proceed with negotiations on the Boiling Springs Ecoseum and Desert Preserve concept plan and development agreement.” The Washington City Council meeting will be held in the Council Room of the Washington City Offices located at 111 North 100 East, Washington.
