Emery County trails committee approves letter asking BLM to consider opening Mt Dew Trail

The Emery County Trail’s Committee voted March 3 to approve a letter asking the Bureau of Land Management to consider opening a section of the Mt Dew Trail, the committee’s minutes show. The motion to draft the letter was moved by Les Wilberg and seconded by Don Bennett; the motion passed after discussion about wording and route clarification.

The decision followed routine business including approval of February minutes. Committee members said the letter will clarify the exact route and location before being sent to BLM staff.

BLM staff member Jaydon Mead briefed the committee on regional projects. He said buildings over the quarries at the Cleveland Lloyd site will be removed and replaced beginning in May and that the Jurassic National Monument visitor center will remain open during construction. "They are receiving some Monument funding to help with the project," Jaydon Mead said. Mead added that seasonal staff are returning for field season and that the San Rafael Swell plan amendments are in workshop as resource analyses are refined.

Mead told the committee the Wedge Campground project EA is in process and the BLM hopes to release the environmental assessment in May; he said the agency plans field visits with the county road department to see whether county crews can assist with implementation. Mead also described outreach and volunteer coordination for projects at Moore Canyon and Temple Mountain.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote tally in the minutes; the motion language and mover/second are recorded in the meeting record. The committee’s next trails meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2026.