Daggett County wins $200,000 Outdoor Rec planning grant for boat ramp; seeks further funding for Sheep Creek, rodeo upgrades

Daggett County staff and community members on Jan. 10 announced a $200,000 Outdoor Recreation (Outdoor Rec) engineering grant to plan a replacement of a boat ramp and other recreation improvements, and described next steps to procure an engineering firm and pursue further construction funding.

Peggy, the county staff member who submitted the grant request, said the $200,000 award is an engineering-and-planning grant only. “We received a $200,000 award from Outdoor Rec,” she said in public comment. Peggy and others said Outdoor Rec will not transfer grant funding directly to the Forest Service; instead the county must run an RFP, hire an engineer (candidates named included Jones & DeMille and Sivco), and coordinate project planning with the Forest Service, local stakeholders and concerned citizens.

Staff and consultants told the commission the planning funds should be sufficient to produce engineered plans for kayak access at Sheep Creek, conceptual designs for floating docks that will rise and fall with reservoir levels, and other site features. County staff said a planning document and engineered designs will position the project to be “shovel ready” so the county can pursue larger construction grants later; staff mentioned a prior $3.5 million planning estimate and said showing engineering plans would strengthen applications for larger awards (staff said Outdoor Rec had suggested a later award of up to $1,000,000 if the project is shovel-ready).

Officials also described a separate Outdoor Rec opportunity: a $450,000 grant the county is preparing to apply for to replace rodeo grandstands, upgrade restrooms and lighting, and add fencing and walkways at the county park. That application is due March 17; staff said matching funds will be required but that the state program may reduce percentages for smaller counties and that county economic-development funds and in-kind work could serve as matching resources.

Commissioners and staff stressed two operational concerns: (1) the selected engineering firm must understand and design to NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) standards so the Forest Service can complete required environmental review, and (2) the Forest Service faces staffing reductions that could complicate seasonal maintenance and NEPA processing. Staff named Emily Meadows and Patrick Morrison as Forest Service contacts on the process; they also listed local consultants and stakeholders who have contributed preliminary concepts.

No formal vote was required to accept the engineering award at the Jan. 10 meeting. Staff said they expect a contract from Outdoor Rec within about four weeks; once the county receives the contract, staff will issue an RFP for an engineering firm and begin the planning work.