The only hang-up: The buyer may not have access to the land.

The parcel near Little Hole - a blue-ribbon trout fishery below Flaming Gorge Dam in eastern Utah's Daggett County - is owned by the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA).

More than a year ago, a Georgia-based development firm signaled its desire to lease the land and build cabins and a lodge near the world-renowned fishery.

But fly-fishing enthusiasts, along with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, balked at the Little Hole lease proposal. Since last summer, they have been jockeying to prevent leasing the land. SITLA then opted to sell it.

In July, DWR said it would deny use of a road that crosses its land to the SITLA parcel, leaving access possible only from the air because U.S. Fish and Wildlife authorities will not allow ferries on the Green River.

As the auction approaches, the access issue remains unresolved. On its Web site, SITLA offers this disclaimer for would-be bidders:

"There is no guarantee of any access to the parcel now or in the future, and sale of the parcel is on an 'as-is' basis with respect to access. SITLA, however, has committed and remains committed to supporting state and county efforts to maintain public access to the subject property."

The disputed right of way could scare off the Flint Timber development firm, which had sought to build a resort there, said Paul Dremann, chairman of the governor's Blue Ribbon Fishery Advisory Council.

"If they purchase that land," he said, "they've bought themselves a rat's nest."

On the other hand, if the high bidder becomes DWR, the trust lands agency would be extracted from the sticky mess.

"From our perspective, we can just hope [DWR] is the only bidder," Dremann said. "We're crossing our fingers and hoping SITLA can save face by selling it to the Division [of Wildlife Resources]."

DWR Director Jim Karpowitz said his agency would make a bid on the land at Friday's auction - meaning DWR is prepared to put up at least $1.25 million.

However, he would not speculate on how high the agency would go in a bidding war.

"That would be pretty dumb, wouldn't it?"

Flint Timber officials could not be reached Monday for comment.

But SITLA spokesman Dave Hebertson said he has no information indicating Flint Timber has pulled out of the bidding.

"I've been told there are any number of interested parties," he said. "At this point, we're happy to sell it to whoever has the biggest interest."

csmart@sltrib.com

SITLA auction: Little Hole parcel

* When: Friday, 10 a.m.

* Where: Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main, Salt Lake City

Background

Fishers fear development along the Green River at Little Hole would ruin the area's rugged ambience, impact the river's ecology and harm trout spawning.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists identified the land as critical winter habitat for elk and deer and want it left free of housing.

Officials with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration put the land up for bid, pointing to the agency's mandated mission to maximize profits on its holdings for the state's permanent education fund.