Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Trails Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State trails office and local partners propose enrolling county roads to connect communities with motorized trails
Summary
Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and the State Trails program presented a plan to enroll select county roads and highway right-of-way sections into an OHV (off-highway vehicle) program to connect communities, boost rural recreation economies and improve route management, signage and enforcement funding.
The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and the State Trails program asked Natrona County commissioners to consider enrolling selected county roads and segments of state highway into the state’s off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes program to connect communities and encourage motorized-trail tourism.
“Once the state trails office and YDOT started hearing about it, they kinda jumped on board,” said Mark Tesoro, manager with the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, describing earlier work in southwest Wyoming and an effort to expand connecting motorized routes statewide. Tesoro showed a short video and said communities that joined earlier projects saw economic benefits from trail users who stop for fuel, lodging and meals.
Forrest, the Wyoming State Trails program manager, told commissioners the program began in 2002 to manage motorized access and has grown “like wildfire.” He said the program’s 2021 economic-impact study estimated about $365 million in annual economic activity statewide tied to OHV recreation. Forrest said the state is working with YDOT on the rules and that the agency is prepared to enroll “select sections” of roadways, not to open all county roads.
“Enrollment helps with education and signage on the ground,” Forrest said. He described grant assistance for localities that enroll routes to cover trail maintenance, signage, education and overtime enforcement funding for deputies. Forrest said the program can help clarify where riding is permitted, reduce unintentional trespass and allow targeted enforcement and education to reduce problem behavior.
Commissioners asked whether enrollment would increase trespass; speakers said that in counties already enrolled, enforcement and signage had limited trespass and that many trail users self-police. Tesoro and Forrest said county participation is voluntary and typically follows negotiation with local road-and-bridge and law enforcement staff about which routes to enroll. Enrollment can also make local roads eligible for state grants for maintenance and signage.
Commissioners suggested Casper Mountain and other local county roads as “low-hanging fruit” and asked for enrollment examples, resolutions and model MOUs. Tesoro and Forrest said they would provide sample resolutions and enrollment documents and work with county staff on mapping and route selection; commissioners asked that the county road-and-bridge superintendent be included in those conversations.
No formal action was taken; presenters asked the county to consider enrollment and agreed to provide example agreements and maps for follow-up.
