OHV Advisory Council finalizes Spring FY26 grants, recommends 35 awards totaling roughly $2.4M

The Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Council voted to finalize its Spring FY26 grant recommendations after a day of presentations and debate, approving 35 projects for funding and declining or reducing several others. Rachel Toker, the OHV grant administrator, told the council the cycle had roughly $2,450,000 available and that the program’s annual budget would increase to $6,000,000 beginning July 1.

Council members moved through scores of applications, applying line-item reductions and block approvals to preserve funding for high-scoring trail work. Scott Walker moved to finalize the modified package and Brett Davis seconded; the motion passed by roll call. The council approved projects ranging from trail reconstruction and signage to youth programs and search-and-rescue equipment. "We looked to preserve funds for high-priority ground projects while trimming administrative and nonessential equipment items," Rachel Toker said during the budget review.

Several items drew detailed scrutiny: the panel denied a request for a full-sized road grader, limited equipment budgets for some 4‑H programs, and required legally binding easements or agreements before funding certain site-specific projects. Director Jason Curry also announced an administrative decision to fund council members' travel to the Big Ride separately from project grants to avoid conflicts of interest. The council closed by restoring a previously cut restroom/awning for the Buckskin Hills project and reducing Steward Moab’s award to a one-year, 50% allocation focused on ambassador education and outreach.

The recommendations will proceed through the Division’s contracting process, with some conditional awards—such as the Friends of Central Utah Winter Recreation—requiring signed agreements before contracts are released.