[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6211423,"mediaKeyId","3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8","parentId",3695964,"title","Panel weighs nonmotorized trail fee to close funding gap as visitation rises","audioSeconds",2853,"startMs",3366000,"endMs",6219000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8&start=3366&end=6219","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8/thumbnail_3366000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211423/Wyoming/Panel-weighs-nonmotorized-trail-fee-to-close-funding-gap-as-visitation-rises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211423-4aab9ffec87dc2a55d667e01a60971d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162981&Signature=eKq6aezCqcytEU41p9EYpdpTkVVEwdCL51SYkDA9RZcwsMiumrPV0FbULujUJ~LAJ-YQrOdP5YWHBO3InAaHokoqXxiCkaK7Uwzpy7v6AHBsf6NW3EnfHUatWWxyFfdNgomeFV3Vn4Mbo~19J54ozzmNW~oOuEvMF~Uq59LYRtcKJ1J5P0FKc8OCNZXiYmxhdJrEAgGZ-WGBtcrMEW2zBpglk3dgAXpOvi3iEecUczJKokSGtBHH94fYhPN3~G6DhBQlGA3JPXwwMGqGz9robDPlUHU-SxNDRXTO3XXqOTnO2pe6DcPMn0Gk8CpV79STKFKAf3cjGRhObTj72a~HxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-06-06T06:47:33Z","article","Deputy Director Chris Floyd and Trails Program Manager Forrest Kuminga told the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim committee on June 5 that demand for nonmotorized trail funding in Wyoming far exceeds available sources and that the state should consider a user‑fee model similar to its motorized decal program. \"We have more requests for nonmotorized trails than any other type of request,\" Floyd said, and noted the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides only a little more than $400,000 a year statewide for nonmotorized projects.

The nut graf: The agency presented a menu of options — a mandatory or voluntary pass for mechanical nonmotorized users (for example, class 1 e‑bikes treated as nonmotorized, class 2/3 as motorized), resident/nonresident pricing, enrollment of federal and private trails into a state program, and use of the proposed Outdoor Recreation Tourism Trust Fund — to raise funds for construction, maintenance, enforcement and visitor infrastructure. Deputies noted the motorized decal program sells tens of thousands of permits and generates revenue that supports construction, enforcement and access protection on enrolled trails.

Floyd and Kuminga said the state receives roughly $47,000,000 in nonmotorized requests that bubbled up over several years; ARPA provided about $24,000,000 as a 1‑off that helped fill needs but is exhausted. The RTP allocation for Wyoming’s nonmotorized projects is approximately $400,000 a year, which committee members and presenters described as insufficient for statewide needs. Floyd illustrated a baseline fee model: a modest per‑machine or per‑user annual sticker (for example $10–$15 resident; higher nonresident rates) could double or triple nonmotorized trail funding if similar participation rates to motorized programs were achieved. He estimated a modest program could generate $500,000–$750,000 annually under conservative take rates.

The deputies stressed enrollment and partnership are important steps: an enrolled trail becomes eligible for state grant funds and enforcement resources. Forrest Kuminga said many federal land managers welcome grant funding for nonmotorized needs because federal agencies face staffing and budget constraints. The agency suggested the state begin by applying new funding to trail construction, maintenance, signage, enforcement and trailhead sanitation, then evaluate match requirements and scoring for trust fund applicants.

Committee members raised practical questions: how to enforce a nonmotorized fee, exemptions for youth and low‑income families, tiered fees by user type (equestrian vs. mountain bike), private‑land easement liability concerns, and permitting technology (stickers, plates, or electronic passes). Deputy Floyd said enforcement mechanisms exist in the motorized model — a mix of on‑the‑ground enforcement and above‑90% compliance rates — and a similar approach could be adapted for nonmotorized users. Several legislators urged caution about new mandatory fees during an upcoming budget session but supported exploring feasible alternatives, including statutory changes to allow use of local lodging tax revenue for trail infrastructure or drafting legislation to establish a state nonmotorized program modeled on motorized decals.

Public commenters from conservation nonprofits, universities and the outdoor industry urged the committee to align any fee with conservation goals, to prioritize habitat and wildlife concerns in trail siting, and to look at other states’ approaches (Idaho, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado) when designing a Wyoming program. University of Wyoming researchers offered to study fee models and revenue projections.

Ending: The committee asked staff to draft potential legislative language and to examine options further at the next interim meeting; lawmakers debated whether to pursue a standalone fee, a lottery/lodging trust fund diversion, or a more limited change that uses existing fee authority on state lands first.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources, June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Director Chris Floyd and Trails Program Manager Forrest Kuminga told the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim committee on June 5 that demand for nonmotorized trail funding in Wyoming far exceeds available sources and that the state should consider a user‑fee model similar to its motorized decal program.","taxTitle","Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",21023,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6211428,"Wyoming State Parks outlines new strategic plan, volunteer push and site-criteria concerns",6746,232000,6978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8&start=232&end=6978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8/thumbnail_232000.jpg","/articles/6211428/Wyoming/Wyoming-State-Parks-outlines-new-strategic-plan-volunteer-push-and-site-criteria-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211428-4724663a49fb10d40469e44e08879260/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162982&Signature=BxPG6CPt4DiOZx8TX0kLDx0WjtsKtYydfvh-jAEEt1ZBlcNUamZZ3~YnqDH2J7k3ANJ6~lbnltmz~PBCwabVidPHi95Tzt82dlRTP3MNxKBgcWyIfS0fMpMSFwwlL9aL3NatMs7SSh0AdCGnN3MssTBR9wohc3HsxmODGa6c06Eod3jLO9kIldvxnEdgkmuk83K7F3Q1QCchtY-2asc5xsnhFJlNjDQ2rUNpj0BeXVWVOHRqBRGjAvTsv1r0t5UG5nBUMhnJmb0RyNyKjZtEH7BR4plO7jeBaOFZhHkhxgyvehb9H2U0uFWes51i~n-imVdUFIr15-9ASTgXNZyV4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dave Glenn, director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, told the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim committee on June 5 in Dubois that his agency is finalizing a four‑pillar strategic plan and pressing to expand a volunteer program that logged just over 20,000 hours last year. \"We punch above our weight,\" Glenn said, noting state parks and historic sites, and trails together contribute about $781,000,000 in annual economic impact and more than $1 billion when cultural resources are included.

The nut graf: Glenn framed the briefing around workforce and capacity limits, site‑criteria procedures that trigger statutory requirements before creating new parks or historic sites, and several near‑term projects that could require legislative or interagency action — including the Outdoor Recreation Tourism Trust Fund rules, a $10,000,000 pass‑through for the Wyoming State Shooting Complex, and the Fort Phil Kearny interpretive center backed by a $1,100,000 Helmsley Charitable Trust gift.

Glenn said the department’s new strategic plan narrows its work into four pillars: inspiring service and engagement; stewardship (including cultural and natural resource management required by statute); economic and community impact; and employee recruitment/retention. He described a renewed push to double volunteer hours over three to four years and urged improved facilities for campground hosts and other volunteers.

On site‑criteria work — the internal rule process the agency uses before it recommends creation or disposal of parks and historic sites — Glenn told the committee the planning team is very small. \"My planning department has three people,\" he said, and cited the High Plains Research Station at Arbor project as an example: State Parks logged roughly 450 staff hours to complete the site‑criteria packet in 2023 and that effort then stalled in the Legislature. \"I'm trying to figure out is there a gate earlier on we can shut before my people spend 450 hours,\" Glenn said, asking legislators to consider whether the committee or another earlier review could signal whether projects should proceed.

Glenn and committee members discussed possible use of outside consultants and special‑revenue set‑asides to handle large master‑planning tasks. Representative Connolly pressed whether staffing expectations are part of site criteria; Glenn said they are, and used Gramma Rocks Reservoir as an example that currently lacks required capital and operating funding (the planning package estimated roughly $25,000,000 in capital needs and five new full‑time positions plus a roughly $1,000,000 annual operating cost).

The director also gave operational updates: the department is pursuing a nomination for the National Recreation and Park Association gold medal; finalizing Outdoor Recreation Tourism Trust Fund board rules with a target to begin awarding grants for projects funded July 1, 2026; and acting as the state pass‑through for the Wyoming State Shooting Complex funding, with memorandums of understanding under negotiation. He reported 2024 visitation to state parks at about 4,800,000 — up 5% from 2023 and 5% above the five‑year average — and said an earlier overcount at a Hot Springs County counter had been corrected (a previously defective magnetic counter had overcounted by about 600,000 per year and has been repaired).

On cultural resources and the museum, Deputy Director Sarah Sheen and State Museum Director Kevin Ramler briefed the committee on archives and museum funding. Sheen said the State Archives already has statutory authority to adjust many research and copy fees (some had not changed in 30 years) and the agency will pursue those adjustments administratively. Ramler asked the committee to consider authorizing the State Museum to charge a modest admission or program fee to support enhanced exhibits, outreach and program expansion; the museum has been free for 130 years and currently produces modest earned revenue (about $17,000 annually from its gift shop). Ramler said fees would support exhibit modernization, outreach trunks for schools, field‑trip programs that reach more than 30,000 students per year, and matching funds for larger grants.

Committee action: the panel instructed staff to prepare bill drafts for (1) statutory authority for the State Museum to charge fees and (2) a clarification allowing State Parks to charge trail fees on state parks; both drafts passed committee motion. A separate motion to draft language changing the local‑option lodging tax statute to allow local boards to use lodging tax for capital and maintenance (for trails) failed on a committee vote.

Ending note: Glenn told the committee he and staff will return with further proposals on site‑criteria efficiency and volunteer program reinvigoration, and urged continued interagency collaboration to expand recreation‑sector economic impact while ensuring stewardship of cultural and natural resources.","Dave Glenn, director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, told the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim committee on June 5 in Dubois that his agency is finalizing a four‑pillar strategic plan and pressing to expand a volunteer program that logged just over 20,000 hours last year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6211418,"Lawmakers discuss compensatory mitigation for industrial siting after game & fish urges off‑site options",2559,5955000,8514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8&start=5955&end=8514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3695964-75724ea38039f1d7a0c0d8621046bae8/thumbnail_5955000.jpg","/articles/6211418/Wyoming/Lawmakers-discuss-compensatory-mitigation-for-industrial-siting-after-game-fish-urges-offsite-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211418-35498686d4565bff9a0ffadd280a8708/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162982&Signature=Vvu9b3PiCRtw8fRtup5umbjN9HoVfSpDfqauIu4wzKuo7M8AhU2oBwNv-u4idluildIAza~1CgTwWql910o6tH6q0y1uTOAJh59QGqttm5aSadkxqh8m6wf5t~SGhrtxHLrf5q6OoDNGTMB04~f7vSXSmvAVzXtPPK2kSBfDtM2O3ho5oZP6KnCAyqaFeEUp0bso5pOVCFW0DZmNdQb3qM0FrJp4M5LZ2e2qHO~NVYHQ1DzMODRwMgTeikQbjdRyz3V1rQ3ZBuIRPmi0fBem-p0K-~b5mXQbPUEXfaFvRixXUvQbcI~RK9T~c9AAs6dYAkizUr0xQr51TmD7lm~9fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and representatives at the June 5 Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim meeting discussed whether industrial siting should include a statutory mechanism to fund compensatory mitigation when impacts to wildlife cannot be avoided on‑site. \"If you can't mitigate this on‑site, then we go off‑site and mitigate this,\" Senator Brian Hicks said, describing a proposal to allow the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to request compensatory mitigation funding through the industrial siting council for large projects.

The nut graf: The industrial siting council permit process is adjudicative and fact‑driven; DEQ Industrial Siting Administrator Jenny Stabin summarized the five steps (pre‑application engagement, application submittal, comment and condition requests from state agencies, a contested‑case hearing before the council, and long‑term monitoring/bonding). She noted the council must find that a proposed facility complies with applicable law, does not pose a threat of serious environmental or socioeconomic injury and will not substantially impair health, safety or welfare of inhabitants before granting a permit.

Stabin told the committee the statute obliges applicants to work with 19 state agencies during pre‑application and application phases and that agencies may request specific permit conditions; those recommendations become enforceable only when the council includes them in the permit. Industrial siting permits frequently cover multi‑decade projects; DEQ and the council retain jurisdiction through construction, operation and reclamation, and bond requirements are reviewed periodically. Stabin recited statutory thresholds that trigger industrial siting review (a construction cost threshold, turbine counts, and solar size or acreage) and noted permit violations can carry fines (noted in testimony as up to $10,000 per day).

Game and Fish Director Angie Bruce told the committee her agency conducts extensive wildlife reviews — about 500 to 700 environmental reviews a year across programs — and has worked on 27 industrial siting projects in the last decade. Bruce said staff commonly spend roughly 325 hours on each project and that many projects require multi‑year monitoring and adaptive measures. She described typical work with proponents: site avoidance and micro‑siting (shifting turbines/roads within a larger footprint), monitoring for wildlife impacts, and proposals for mitigation when avoidance is not possible. \"We're not here to stop development,\" Bruce said. \"We're here to work with proponents to reduce impacts and prioritize important habitat.\"

Senators and staff discussed where projects occur — much industrial renewable development in Wyoming has been proposed on private land because of NEPA timelines on federal lands — and how federal planning, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management influence mitigation obligations (for example, nest buffers and other federal requirements can affect where infrastructure is allowed). Several conservation groups and researchers who testified afterward urged targeted mitigation funding that emphasizes priority habitats and scientific monitoring; industry voices stressed the need for predictability and warned that additional fees or uncertainty could make Wyoming less competitive for projects that require hundreds of millions in capital.

Committee action: The TRW committee voted to carry the industrial‑siting/wildlife‑mitigation discussion forward to its next meeting and invited the Minerals Committee and other stakeholders to coordinate; no statutory change was adopted at this meeting. Members instructed staff to prepare materials and possible draft options for the next interim meeting and discussed whether the state should consider a compensatory mitigation fund, fee recoupment for agency workload, or clearer statutory authority for off‑site mitigation when projects cause unmitigable impacts.

Ending: Committee members agreed the topic is complex and multi‑jurisdictional, and requested additional cross‑committee briefing and draft language for future consideration rather than immediate statutory action.","Senators and representatives at the June 5 Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources interim meeting discussed whether industrial siting should include a statutory mechanism to fund compensatory mitigation when impacts to wildlife cannot be avoided on‑site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel weighs nonmotorized trail fee to close funding gap as visitation rises

Wyoming State Parks outlines new strategic plan, volunteer push and site-criteria concerns

Lawmakers discuss compensatory mitigation for industrial siting after game & fish urges off‑site options