The Wasatch Back has become an international travel destination for people who love the outdoors, attracting visitors and locals to world-renowned ski resorts, reservoirs and hundreds of miles of mountain trails. But Summit County residents, who often push for every opportunity to recreate outdoors , had a unique ask for the County Council this week — a total prohibition of activity on the 910 Cattle Ranch. County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby last month presented a tentative recreation plan for the 8,500-acre open space property in Jeremy Ranch, which takes an adaptive management approach, meaning the plan is flexible and may change if officials discover restrictions need to be tightened. The county intends to manage and open the 910 Ranch in phases to better control and study how visitors are impacting the land, with the property split into three distinct pieces: the community zone, exploratory area, and conservation core and research area. The plan, if approved, would allow dogs in the community zone at the base of the property. The county expects to create a 5-mile stretch of trails for recreationists in the same area. The exploratory area would also have limited recreation opportunities, but with stricter guidelines Kirby said will likely be finalized as the county works through its phasing process for the property. The conservation core and research area would be largely limited to the community, only accessible for educational or research purposes or with special permits. However, Summit County residents overwhelmingly opposed unsupervised recreation on the 910 Ranch during Wednesday’s public hearing on the plan, with many speakers voicing concerns about the impact hiking trails and visitors might have on wildlife. David Atherley, who said he’s been involved in ranching and other activities on the property for more than 40 years, told the County Council to be careful in how it approaches access. He urged councilors to not install 240 parking spots, which is allowed under the conservation easement, and to instead keep the 40-car lot Kirby recommended in the proposed plan. “Resist the impulse to build new trails,” Atherley added. “Trail networks, once built, permanently alter the wildlife corridors and behavior. … We cannot undo what we get wrong here, but if we do it right and if we let nature lead, the land will reward every generation that follows. Stewardship of this magnitude is not a simple responsibility. It’s a generational one.” Atherley also requested the County Council prohibit dogs on the property, even in the community zone. He said he was worried the pets would disturb wildlife in the area, which he said should be the county’s top priority. He also suggested renaming the property to the 910 Ranch Nature Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary to encourage mindful visitations. “A name carries weight,” Atherley said. “It shapes perception before a single foot touches the trail. When visitors, newcomers and future generations hear ‘nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary,’ it sets an expectation, an invitation to be a part of something worth protecting. It tells people before they even arrive that this place deserves reverence, not recreation at any cost.” Resident Jenny Allison also voiced concerns about the community zone, pointing out its proximity to the only stream on the property and its role as a water source for wildlife. She encouraged the county to pull back on its recreation plan and pivot to a management plan focused on preservation and conservation. Pat Putt, the county’s former community development director, shared the sentiment. “My hope is that the decision you make places conservation, protection and ecological rehabilitation as the fundamental priorities moving forward,” Putt said. “I’m worried that our open lands and natural areas regionally are turned into something that we never intended or imagined. I fear they’re becoming outdoor gymnasiums and dog parks, not only for the Wasatch Back, but for the Wasatch Front as well, all at the expense of the natural environment and ecosystems that are already under considerable stress.” Putt asked the County Council to stop all work on the property, including building trails, until all management plans are completed. He also suggested creating a committee of environmental experts, wildlife experts and Summit County residents to help plan and implement programming and infrastructure on the land. However, prohibiting recreation on the 910 Cattle Ranch may not be possible. Kirby said the conservation easement and agreement with Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands that allowed the county to acquire the property requires the local government to open it for public access. She said the county is working to regulate usage, though. Specifically, Kirby said she plans to bring a series of ordinances to the County Council for approval that will formalize restrictions, such as commercial uses on the property or where dogs are allowed. Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands will also need to approve the recreation plan before it is implemented and the property is opened to the public. The County Council is expected to revisit, and possibly vote on, approving the recreation plan later this summer. The recreation plan is only one piece of the overall management plan, however, and other pieces of the plan will dictate preservation strategies, wildlife management and other issues in more detail. 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