[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6257958,"mediaKeyId","3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee","parentId",3151338,"title","Zion Forever seeks $5 million 'out-of-sequence' commission request to stabilize national parks; commissioners press for regional review","audioSeconds",2628,"startMs",1712000,"endMs",4340000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee&start=1712&end=4340","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee/thumbnail_1712000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6257958/Utah/Zion-Forever-seeks-5-million-out-of-sequence-commission-request-to-stabilize-national-parks-commissioners-press-for-regional-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257958-ed7563529e2144b934c8a95433817a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981949&Signature=LsjAzoo84n3jxbspefQ8JcKoSvNh5vnw6IUgSCkr4GECf3QR1GYrRIMlGfXgCQxgz41jcOQ5VOzoL419X4h6p8Dn7XAl2QAH8EzdlsxD7-8WHEubhJEYNo1akrCdhG8an4HGWN2bSEZjkKlMQPH3YLeT5jQzwC55~NDSyqxt65Rs1vr~nnvGS9fDJuz4f370oNOiIuPuISNbN18J3td6MSn1Ydv0snGuvNj7aGKJlbKJIKvaqNcQMVIsoZK-8-byfSS9eOEDKgmY9kx3fD6KE~FdC-Q06h-ILEq3pHtWq4ZZCRb~4JaMsmfCUyQGipZLqTzMoHPLHfmRYDOLY7ph8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-29T21:38:47.933Z","article","Representatives of the Zion Forever Project and local governments asked the Outdoor Adventure Commission for permission to submit an out-of-sequence $5,000,000 funding proposal to stabilize park operations, address deferred maintenance and provide short-term support for gateway communities.

Who spoke: Stephanie Lyon, senior representative of the Zion Forever Project, introduced the request and described the nonprofit’s role as a park partner. Heath Hansen of Washington County and Chris Horton (Zion Forever chief operating officer, participating virtually) described local economic stakes. Zion Forever and county officials said the funds would focus first on the \"Mighty 5\" national parks—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef—and on smaller monuments where limited investments can produce large returns for infrastructure, sanitation and emergency response.

What Zion Forever proposed: \"We're here today, to talk a little bit about seeking approval for the Outdoor Adventure Commission to submit a $5,000,000 out of sequence funding or proposal in support of Utah's national parks, monuments, and recreations,\" Lyon said. Presenters said the request would fund urgent, ready-to-implement projects such as restroom and sewer work, trail and access repairs, and support for search-and-rescue and EMS where needed. Zion Forever proposed to manage the funds and disperse them by working with park superintendents and local partners; presenters said the organization has experience administering previous awards.

Park needs and economics: Presenters cited a combined deferred maintenance backlog across Utah’s national parks of $387,000,000 and told commissioners that parks generate large economic impact in gateway counties—Zion alone contributes hundreds of millions annually to Washington County’s economy. Heath Hansen said Zion accounts for nearly one-third of the state's park-related economic impact and that keeping park operations stable helps sustain local jobs and businesses.

Commissioner questions and concerns: Commissioners asked substantive questions about funding scope, process and timing. Key concerns included:
- Whether the request would fund capital projects (consistent with the commission’s intended focus) or ongoing operational needs; some commissioners said they understood the commission’s statutory emphasis to favor capital investments that create durable infrastructure.
- How funds would be allocated across parks and gateway counties and whether regional councils should review priorities before any out-of-sequence award.
- Whether local counties (for example, Washington, Garfield, Iron and Kane) would contribute matching funds; Commissioner Adam Snow (Washington County) confirmed the county has previously contributed and said future amounts would be project-specific.

Several commissioners urged Zion Forever and staff to bring a prioritized project list and to secure regional council input or letters of support before the commission considers out-of-sequence funding. Commissioner Kate Bradshaw and others said they wanted formal engagement from affected regional councils so the commission could compare an out-of-cycle request against projects that will come through regular regional ranking processes.

No vote taken: The commission did not vote on the request at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff and Zion Forever to provide more detailed project lists, cost breakdowns and documentation of county and municipal commitments before the commission would consider action.

Ending: Zion Forever representatives said they are meeting with federal and congressional partners in Washington, D.C., and will continue to coordinate with park superintendents and counties. The commission asked for a formal proposal that includes stakeholder engagement and suggested regional-council review as a next step.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Outdoor Adventure Commission 4/29/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Zion Forever Project representatives asked the Outdoor Adventure Commission to allow an out-of-sequence $5,000,000 funding request to stabilize national-park infrastructure and operations across Utah, but commissioners pressed for detailed project lists and regional-council input before any award.","taxTitle","Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",7888,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6257963,"Commission authorizes state-managed reauthorization for 5‑Mile design work and transfers Colorado River Pathway funding to UDOT",423,1277000,1700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee&start=1277&end=1700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee/thumbnail_1277000.jpg","/articles/6257963/Utah/Commission-authorizes-state-managed-reauthorization-for-5Mile-design-work-and-transfers-Colorado-River-Pathway-funding-to-UDOT","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257963-329b02c723a7a0401db1a41a76d01d74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981949&Signature=hXQTkUaR6EqmDxj8JYB729HiKQQ5Qgg-pzQ89j3jB1JJHzc1Xjf6v8OpIYldqkXhiYBVpfRCKVW3jSapCPE6wU0fHRNEFFWWHhRRXxV4Rt5YX6C3fsGOWlfOcXhLwe9vgNaQJTJo15X~OMwGG5vLkSLLnzTYRLxDCP1Ph44NVLv41ElD0dMQbQSt1XGFsU1uHvyqg8BWw-eOK3KwklT~si74cikOjT3Cg9tMQAAAIFf~P2t8VZZ2F~ICCgnX5~PfksPtgKmScu2s6iaTdPrsA2KwChxRpbtV50FUfId5PVF7EKkAEAPr3AQ5EK2U2dbvt9k06TMM6OJoJhS2OIxjPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners voted to reauthorize project management of a 5‑Mile design and engineering award and later approved transferring funding for the Colorado River Pathway project to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).

Five‑Mile reauthorization: Patrick Morrison briefed the commission on a $500,000 award originally granted to the Bureau of Land Management for design and engineering work at the 5‑Mile area. Morrison said the reauthorization would allow the division to hold the award and procure a design engineering firm, working in partnership with the BLM, to move the project forward. \"This concerns just 1 of our awards from last year, which was a $500,000 award for, to the BLM for some design engineering work, for the 5 mile area,\" Morrison said.

Motion and outcome: A commissioner moved to approve reauthorization and the commission voted by roll call. The vote was unanimous; commissioners who recorded \"aye\" included Natalie Randall, Kate Bradshaw, Representative Jason Kyle, Director Jason Curry, Pitt Grewe, Scott Strong, Commissioner Jerry Taylor, Commissioner Josh Vanjura and Kelly Goonan. The motion passed and staff will hold and manage procurement under state processes.

Colorado River Pathway transfer: Patrick Morrison described the Colorado River Pathway project as previously awarded and initially associated with the BLM; UDOT requested the funds to deliver the project. Morrison said the transfer would enable UDOT to manage construction and coordination. The commission held a roll-call vote after one commissioner announced a recusal because of a conflict; Commissioner Josh Vanjura recused himself. The remaining commissioners voted \"aye\" and the transfer to UDOT passed. Staff noted UDOT anticipates breaking ground in spring of next year.

Why it matters: Holding the 5‑Mile award internally will allow state procurement to advance work where the federal procurement process has delayed progress, and transferring the Colorado River Pathway award to UDOT is intended to streamline delivery by a transportation agency that can manage construction.

Ending: The commission approved both actions and directed staff to proceed with state procurement and interagency coordination.","The commission reauthorized a $500,000 award to be held and managed by the state for 5‑Mile design and engineering work with the BLM, and approved transferring a previously awarded Colorado River Pathway project from the BLM to UDOT; both motions passed by roll-call votes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6257969,"Division readies Utah Boating Recreation Grant: rulemaking filed, program launch targeted for 2026",170,800000,970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee&start=800&end=970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee/thumbnail_800000.jpg","/articles/6257969/Utah/Division-readies-Utah-Boating-Recreation-Grant-rulemaking-filed-program-launch-targeted-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257969-bec084da4cf732c82e0e7b18bbe2a9e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981949&Signature=gjhqZzKszyZMeB2dahq7lBy6ZpGRBH3DuM3UoueqCD8Hsevt-VlpjQAHp6WrMYrcEgMN9P~jfgKu8jmBF-0KRZCf0hLUeK3pHcpnS2o80w~78oEUGHqiLtz23w~pHkmLss6NZhf7WyUfeGnsbhd3FI-wL~SsS9hZcN8V-PtQGDOwKLkzQht7snnqioxHX4qsG04P3H~H7miIJ20bg6Sv8UhEl7QWesJz51CGLtYRnzbmfSa5TRsNS2j0ZVMq6Pj0CP-zZk9Q5jscrpwybFbhDvfQGWo2H4oeAJ0iGFgS5B6Yo~gnae6vbzc~ovY5CKf61gLLjkE5KU6JjR3tg9pvUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jorge Vasquez, manager for the Utah Boating Recreation Grant within the Division of Outdoor Recreation, briefed the commission on the grant program’s legislative origins and the division’s rulemaking status.

The program was created by legislation enacted in 2023 (filed as HB 299), which established a uniform fee and split proceeds between counties and a restricted account for a state boating grant. Vasquez said implementation revealed collection irregularities that prompted additional statutory changes this year.

Staff summary and timeline: Vasquez said SB 200 (watercraft amendments) enacted changes that reduced the uniform fee and restructured collections, creating the dedicated boating grant account. He described the statutory and administrative adjustments as revenue-neutral and said the division has submitted administrative rules and expects the grant program to take effect in January 2026. Vasquez told commissioners the division is preparing to launch the program and asked for feedback as staff finalize rules and the grant administration plan.

Why it matters: The boating grant will be a new restricted funding source for watercraft-related projects distributed through a division-administered grant process. Vasquez said staff corrected prior fee division errors and is now confident in administering the program at scale.

Commission response: Chair Jason Kyle and other commissioners thanked Jorge and staff for their work. No formal action was requested at the briefing; staff asked only for the commission’s awareness and for any questions as rulemaking proceeds.

Ending: Vasquez closed by inviting questions and confirming rule filings are complete; the division will return with additional implementation details as they are finalized.","Jorge Vasquez of the Division of Outdoor Recreation described rulemaking and legislative changes that created the Utah Boating Recreation Grant account and said the division expects the program to be revenue-neutral and in effect January 2026.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6257972,"Division of Outdoor Recreation summarizes 2025 bills affecting parks, trails, taxes and appropriations",460,292000,752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee&start=292&end=752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3151338-68e4fa73535ccc4bddb090a7d51121ee/thumbnail_292000.jpg","/articles/6257972/Utah/Division-of-Outdoor-Recreation-summarizes-2025-bills-affecting-parks-trails-taxes-and-appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6257972-6c24c8c663a35560f8d921cb547b281c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770981949&Signature=naI8z4LGJe3tyOKs2wonalI94TYC721hSLDi8hCrd4ZtWsG~LM7qZsEke2Lo0Ket~Q9wdkccP92f~r4M2VZDNC1VqqWp9DV47YwXfwftU1yQe40fb8McQPy1nEQg6G2yt5A6IsrXH0pAc2I7j0xbPHgf5q6mSGmZg7YTgKlBDuTft5Nlc7On2aukyH7xUHjKsOyiIaP9vm4xJQp9LUtABV8YLuV7irq6R2lLodGYoMoXSdvfwXoDpliPwAgqqI0a7nGnv63yGpe2UR9ruOU1pNryApUhUR3PyNb2L0Vys8DqGQDRTCf3~WDJ67VKTTWnrrgqX9LIqxSbf4DJ8OKyJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, briefed the Outdoor Adventure Commission on a series of bills from the 2025 legislative session that the division says will affect recreation management, grant programs and state appropriations.

The update covered multiple House and Senate bills affecting outdoor recreation programs, taxes and liability protections. Curry told the commission the most consequential changes include a transient room tax (TRT) modification that creates a statewide 0.75 percentage-point increase and directs one-third of that new revenue to a division-administered grant program for visitor-impact costs. \"It also provided in a statewide 0.75 percent increase for transient room tax,\" Curry said during the briefing.

Why it matters: The TRT change will create a recurring funding stream the division estimates at roughly $7,000,000 per year for grants to counties in the third through sixth class to help cover search-and-rescue, EMS, road impacts and solid waste costs tied to visitation. Curry said a five-person board will be established and the division must design application, scoring and award processes before grants are distributed.

Key items summarized by the division:
- HB 439: Modifies the off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation grant program to allow upfront funding up to a percentage and expands infrastructure definitions to include items the division had sought. Curry described this as mostly administrative but helpful to implementers.
- HB 200 (water/federal lands funding clarification): The bill clarifies which federal land units the state may prioritize when it deploys state funds in a federal fiscal emergency; Curry said the bill added U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities (including Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge) to the list of eligible recipients.
- HB 456 (TRT changes): Adds local options for counties to raise TRT, creates a statewide 0.75 percentage-point increase and directs one-third of that increase to the Division of Outdoor Recreation for visitor-impact grants (roughly $7 million/year).
- HB 309: Restricts access to wildlife management areas (WMAs) so that, except for specified exceptions, users must possess a hunting or fishing license to enter. Curry said the wildlife board may create exceptions and that trail advocates had expressed concern about non-hunting trail users being excluded.
- HB 98: Expands outdoor recreation liability protections for private landowners engaging in unpaid recreation, adding Via Ferrata climbing to the enumerated activities.
- HB 34: Establishes a process to enable state parks to consider developing additional campgrounds on federal land (USFS, BLM) under agreements with federal partners.
- SB 52: Tightens vehicle and vessel registration rules to limit out-of-state registration practices (commonly cited as \"Montana\" registration schemes) and gives the tax commission enforcement options.
- SB 2 (intent language): Adds intent language directing the division to create a list of priority areas for outdoor recreation infrastructure development.

Fiscal appropriations noted:
- A two-year, $21,000,000 appropriation from restricted accounts to fund a replacement shop for boat and OHV fleet maintenance.
- Funding for a ranger residence near Flaming Gorge to improve staff housing and response times.

Curry emphasized implementation work ahead: setting up the TRT-funded grant board, writing program rules and coordinating with GOEO and tourism partners. Natalie Randall of the Utah Office of Tourism participated in the briefing and was cited by Curry as a coordination partner on federal-lands funding priorities.

The commission asked for opportunities to review proposed program rules and to be informed when formal rulemaking and grant criteria are posted; Curry said staff will return with more detailed implementation timelines.

Ending: The update concluded with commissioners thanking staff for the legislative synopsis and noting additional work needed on rulemaking and grant program design before the new revenues are available.","Division of Outdoor Recreation Director Jason Curry briefed the commission on several 2025 bills and two major appropriations, including a transient room tax change that will direct roughly $7 million a year for visitor-impact grants and a $21 million shop appropriation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Zion Forever seeks $5 million 'out-of-sequence' commission request to stabilize national parks; commissioners press for regional review

Commission authorizes state-managed reauthorization for 5‑Mile design work and transfers Colorado River Pathway funding to UDOT

Division readies Utah Boating Recreation Grant: rulemaking filed, program launch targeted for 2026

Division of Outdoor Recreation summarizes 2025 bills affecting parks, trails, taxes and appropriations