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Kane County accepts outdoor recreation grant to fund East Zion spotted owl and archaeology studies
Summary
The Kane County Commission unanimously accepted a Utah Outdoor Recreation Initiative grant to fund spotted owl and archaeological studies in East Zion needed for trail planning and NEPA compliance; commissioners asked for assurances the county would not fund the study from general revenues.
Kane County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 11 to accept a Utah Outdoor Recreation Initiative (ORI) grant to fund environmental studies — including a two-year spotted owl survey and an archaeological study — tied to a proposed East Zion trail project and associated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.
The commission was told the funding will cover remaining study work after a match already supplied by Zion Forever covered the first year of spotted-owl monitoring. County staff and the project’s trails liaison described the work as necessary to support planned trails on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcels near the new East Zion Visitor Center; the BLM has agreed to a two-mile corridor for trails, and the studies are required because of sensitive wildlife and cultural resources.
Before the vote, a commissioner asked whether the grant creates a future obligation for county taxpayers. County staff responded that the county does not intend to use general-fund taxpayer money for implementation and that additional funding would come from further grants, ORI allocations or partner contributions. The meeting record shows a funding-match breakdown in the grant materials indicating Zion Forever contributed $25,000 and Kane County’s portion listed as $10,000; staff said the larger grant administration and matching commitments may involve the County Economic Opportunity Board and state grant flows rather than direct general-fund appropriations.
Legal counsel reviewed the contract language and county staff recommended formal acceptance and signature on the grant contract. The commission voted to accept the grant and authorize signatures as presented; the motion passed unanimously.
Commissioners said the East Zion Visitor Center and the proposed trail network are intended to offer visitors alternatives to congested areas inside Zion National Park and to support outdoor recreation opportunities in the county while meeting environmental safeguards. The commission recorded no amendments to the contract language during the meeting.
Next steps recorded in the meeting include executing the contract and proceeding with the studies; staff indicated future implementation would rely on additional grant funding and partner matches.
