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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's wildlife agency bought a piece of trophy land along the Green River today -- putting an end to a potential development scheme.
The land a few miles below Flaming Gorge Dam was auctioned by another state agency, the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
The state Division of Wildlife Resources bid more than $1.6 million for the 364-acre landlocked parcel along a scenic part of the blue-ribbon trout stream.
It was expected the auction would pit the wildlife agency against a Georgia-based development firm that wanted the parcel for a commercial fishing lodge. But the company was a no-show at today's auction.
The wildlife agency found itself bidding against a 40-year-old Ogden physician who quit after the agency ran up the bidding.
The Division of Wildlife Resources had its own surprise.
State officials say Questar Exploration & Production Co. and a federal conservation commission will put up most of the money needed to buy the land.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)