Advisory board backs LIDAR trail-planning grant after mixed response from members

The Kachemak Bay State Park Citizens' Advisory Board voted Oct. 9 to send a letter of support to the Recreational Trails Program for a grant application that would fund aerial LIDAR mapping and trail planning connecting Seldovia to park lands.

The motion, introduced during the board’s discussion of letters of support for RTP applications, passed after members debated route details, potential impacts to wildlife and complex landownership along the proposed corridor. Two members explicitly abstained because they said they lacked enough information to support the application at this time.

“It's a delicate situation because our state park employees work for the governor and, you know, it's a political situation,” Sue Christiansen said during the discussion, urging both due diligence and support for volunteer-driven trail work. Nancy Hillstrand said she would abstain until Fish and Game and local Seldovia residents could be consulted about effects on sensitive goat/calving areas.

Proponents told the board the LIDAR component would supply high-resolution topographic data that helps route design and can reduce the need for repeated field-grade disturbances. Supporters also noted the project had been proposed and endorsed in a prior cycle and that the mapping would benefit multiple partners and volunteer crews that maintain local trails.

The chair said he would follow up with the applicant and circulate more detailed route and environmental information to board members, and suggested a possible email or special meeting if new information emerged. The board’s decision was limited to sending a letter of support for the grant application; it did not authorize construction or change land ownership.

Next steps: the chair will gather and distribute additional details from the applicant and state staff; board members said they may revisit or request reconsideration if substantive new information arises.