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Emery County groups, state crews mobilize to repair washed-out trails; officials highlight grant changes and OHV funding
Summary
County volunteers, state trail crews and contractors plan repairs to multiple washed-out trailheads after recent rains. Officials described available state OHV grants, a legislative change allowing 100% grant funding for some counties and new rules on using volunteer-hours as match.
Emery County volunteers, state crews and nonprofit trail crews said they will repair multiple trailheads and single-track routes damaged by recent rains and by UDOT work, with work planned in late September and continuing into the fall.
County and volunteer leaders described repairs at trailheads in Straight Canyon and other sites where trails were scraped away, putting users within a few yards of highway traffic. A coalition meeting scheduled with a contractor identified as “Nate” will use county grant money to rebuild trailhead access and stair work; county and coalition leaders said they will hire professionally skilled trail crews for technical rock and stair construction.
The matter drew sustained discussion because committee members said the washed-out trailheads create a public-safety hazard where climbers and riders currently “dart” onto roads where the trail ends. Committee members said a BLM skid steer, backcountry pilots to assist logistics and volunteer crews will be used on a two-day September project covering two trails of roughly two miles each for tree trimming, dirt and rock work.
Trail program updates and grant changes were the most detailed item. Brett Stewart (trail volunteer/advocate) told the meeting he ran legislation that, for counties in certain regions, allows awards to be made at 100% with volunteer hours accepted as match. He said the rule change also allows volunteer hours accrued up to one year before a contract to count toward the project match. “I highly encourage any city, county, nonprofit, federal agencies, whatever, the state, please apply,” Stewart said, urging local groups to use the state Outdoor, Heritage and Parks (OHV/OHP) funding cycles.
Stewart and other speakers described the scale of grants and programs administered through the OHV/OHP program. Participants said the last grant cycle distributed roughly $1.7 million in the presenter’s region and Emery County received $12,000 from that cycle plus an additional $15,000 that will come through the Colorado Trail Preservation Association. Committee members said the state’s groomer program is a roughly $350,000 program; speakers added that maintaining a single groomer can cost about $10,000 per season. The meeting also noted that OHV-program grant dollars have been used for broader public benefits such as search-and-rescue equipment and restrooms at trailheads.
Committee members described logistics for upcoming work: a scheduled coalition trail build to restore trailheads scraped by UDOT, a September multi-agency crew that will include backcountry pilots to ferry supplies, a BLM skid steer for heavy work and local volunteers for rock and dirt tasks. One committee member said they expect to accomplish the main work in two days but that assessment prior to the work is necessary to avoid wasting time—members recommended reconnaissance visits to identify parking, equipment staging and specific tasks in advance.
Members discussed fundraising and grants for technical trail crews. One speaker said the coalition has “about $60 raised this year so far” for the Climate Coalition and planned to hire state or nonprofit technical crews for rock work. The committee also noted a prior county grant allocation to bring a four-week trail crew to Emery County.
On procedural matters, a county travel-bureau representative apologized for a disruptive participant on the public Zoom line and said IT will be asked to require a waiting room or other entry controls to prevent future disruptions; the bureau rep said the change will be tested before the next meeting. The committee also noted that the BLM was not present at this meeting but will attend the next meeting.
Minutes from the previous meeting were approved by motion at the start of today’s session; a second was recorded and the motion carried. Members closed by reiterating the need to coordinate equipment, volunteers and contractors before field projects so workdays are efficient and safe.
The committee said it will continue to coordinate with state trail staff and the BLM on trail rebuilds, and urged nonprofits and municipal applicants to apply for upcoming OHV/OHP grant cycles this winter and next spring.
