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County establishes stop‑vandalism reward fund for OHV‑trail vandalism, enters cooperative agreement with Utah Outdoor Recreation
Summary
Commission approved a cooperative agreement with the Department of Outdoor Recreation and an ordinance establishing a reward fund (up to $10,000 annually) to reimburse tips that lead to convictions for vandalism along designated OHV trails on public lands.
The Uintah County Commission approved a cooperative agreement with the Utah Department of Outdoor Recreation and adopted an ordinance to establish a stop‑vandalism reward fund funded initially up to $10,000 annually to incentivize reporting of vandalism on designated off‑highway vehicle (OHV) trails on public lands.
Michael Cook, county trails manager, described the program as modeled after wildlife poaching rewards: the Department of Outdoor Recreation will fund rewards for reports that lead to a conviction. The ordinance and cooperative agreement limit eligibility to vandalism or substantial illegal dumping on public lands along or near designated OHV trails; rewards will be payable only after a conviction, plea of guilty or similar final finding. Cook read the highest tier of reward criteria into the record, noting $1,000 awards are available where trash or hazardous waste exceed 15 square feet or the equivalent (for example, electronics, batteries or petroleum waste).
Cook said the reward‑decision board will review cases on a case‑by‑case basis; the board will include one county commissioner, the county trails manager and a third person chosen by the commission. The cooperative agreement requires quarterly reporting to the Department of Outdoor Recreation, and the county will track rewards distributed. The department’s funds derive from OHV registration/rec fees and must be used for motorized recreation on public lands; Cook and the commission said private‑land incidents could be added later if the county or other funders choose to supplement the program.
Commissioners clarified scope: the program applies to vandalism on public lands where the route is a designated OHV trail (including U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management trails that appear on an official OHV/travel map). A conviction is required before payment. The commission approved the cooperative agreement and the ordinance establishing the $10,000 annual stop‑vandalism fund; both motions passed in separate votes.
Cook said sheriff’s office staff will notify him of potentially qualifying incidents, and staff will coordinate with the county attorney to ensure cases meet the conviction requirement before any reward decision.
