The threat of wildfire is not the only issue that catches many newcomers by surprise. Poor roads, wildlife damage, lack of water and the high cost of bringing utilities into a home site are just a few of the unexpected conditions that frequently come with that 20-acre piece of paradise. Many counties and some organizations have compiled information for prospective property owners. Some publications are titled "Code of the West," in reference to the "Code of the West" in a novel by that name chronicled by Western writer Zane Grey. The original unwritten code - based on integrity, self-reliance and accountability - guided the men and women who moved into the region during the westward expansion. Ten years ago, John Clarke was a county commissioner in Larimer County, Colo., when he put a new spin on Grey's idea by introducing his "Code of the West - the Realities of Western Living." "We had a problem with city dwellers who moved into the country and expected to get the same local government services they received in town," he wrote in a recent e-mail. Evidently, the problem hit a common chord among local governments in rural areas across the West. In the past decade, similar publications have spread like wildfire. Most of them cover water rights, split estates and open range. Many explain why dogs can't run wild and why rural residents often have to haul their own garbage. They also tell prospective buyers that roads might not get plowed, cell phone service is apt to be spotty, emergency response times will likely be longer and they'll have to accept ag-related "annoyances" that existed long before they moved in. "Writing the 'Code of the West' was easy, but getting it into the right hands is the hard part," Clarke said. In Livingston, the Corporation for the Northern Rockies recently printed 5,000 copies of its 28-page newsprint publication titled "Welcome to the West, A Guide for People Moving to the Northern Rockies." Jody Allen, program director for the corporation, says they make copies available at fly-fishing shops, guide shops and just about anywhere they expect visitors. They've also found good success by distributing them through area real estate agents. "Realtors tell us it's really valuable to them because it covers a lot of the things they didn't think to bring up," she said. "Most are glad to have it." The publication is also available online at www.northrock.org; or for more information, call 222-0730. Just to the east, in Sweet Grass County, a board of interested citizens just wrapped up a 52-page pamphlet covering information on everything from fire prevention to noxious weeds to billboards. The booklet also offers suggestions for preserving viewsheds and designing homes that will be compatible with the rural landscape. Copies are $2 each and can be obtained by writing to Sweet Grass Code of the West, P.O. Box 71, Big Timber, MT 59011. Similar publications are also available through some county planning offices. Published on Wednesday, August 30, 2006. Last modified on 8/30/2006 at 12:24 am