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Trail ambassador funding, Mud Springs construction and volunteer push highlighted; committee urges monitoring funding for e‑bike openings
Summary
Committee members reported possible changes to the trail ambassador program budget, confirmed Mud Springs phase 1 machine build schedule and called for volunteers for fall hand‑built sections; members asked that any e‑bike openings include monitoring and funding for maintenance.
Members heard updates about the countytrail ambassador program budget, the Mud Springs trail construction schedule and volunteer training opportunities. The Trail Mix committee was told the county is considering funding options for the trail ambassador program and that decisions would be taken at an upcoming county meeting.
Joy and Anna (trail ambassador staff) presented end‑of‑season outreach and staffing metrics: the program reported contact with tens of thousands of visitors this spring and a volunteer expansion effort. Anna said ambassadors had contacted roughly 37,000 visitors this season and that volunteers now expand staff reach at trailheads and high‑use sites. Joy outlined scheduled volunteer training dates in September and October and said a single four‑hour volunteer shift can expand outreach to approximately 200 visitors on a busy day.
The committee also received a construction update on the Mud Springs project: phase 1 has completed NEPA and is scheduled for machine construction in August, with hand‑built sections and volunteer work scheduled for September through mid‑November. The county trail crew and state trail crews will support fall work; volunteers are being recruited to meet the projectseasonal constraints and wildlife closure windows.
Members flagged budget and maintenance questions in relation to any e‑bike access that might be approved: staff and several members urged that the county and BLM include monitoring, baseline counts and explicit maintenance funding in any staged openings.
Ending: Trail Mix asked members and stakeholders to sign up for volunteer trail ambassador training and Mud Springs volunteer days, and requested that staff include maintenance/monitoring language in the e‑bike recommendation to the county commission.
