Pueblo, Colo.
- Trails projects across Colorado
received a $5.8 million boost from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission,
which voted to approve 65 grants for motorized and non-motorized trail projects
to be completed in 2012 and 2013 at its monthly meeting held recently at the
Pueblo Union Depot.
Commissioners awarded $4 million to 28 motorized trail projects and for 17 Good
Management trail crews for the 2013 construction season. Top-rated projects
this year include a U.S. Forest Service effort to complete trail reroutes and
upgrades called for by the Rampart Recreation Area's 2005 travel management
plan, a proposal by the Western Slope ATV Association for ongoing trail maintenance
and improvements on the Grand Mesa and a request by the Colorado Off-Highway
Vehicle Coalition for funding to support a workshop to educate trail users
about stewardship issues and working with land managers.
Overall, 36 percent of the funding will go to trail maintenance and
restoration, 33 percent for planning and travel management plan implementation,
17 percent for equipment, signage and materials and 14 percent for enforcement
and visitor contacts.
Commissioners voted to delay by one month a decision on a $104,500 proposed
award to support an environmental study of a single track motorcycle trail from
Basalt to Gypsum submitted by the White
River National Forest.
Commissioners noted that the area is important big game habitat and requested
that trails staff coordinate with wildlife managers to assess wildlife impact
internally prior to supporting an outside study.
Commissioners also awarded $1.964 million in grant funding for 18 top-scoring
non-motorized trail grant project applications submitted by local governments,
nonprofits and federal agencies. The non-motorized grants will support projects
for the 2012 construction season.
Colorado's
OHV Trails Program is funded by the sale of Off Highway Vehicle registrations
and use permits. Over 160,000 OHVs were registered or permitted for use in Colorado during the
2010-2011 season. A grant review committee made up of agency staff and outside
reviewers representing a full spectrum of trail recreation interests scores the
applications, which are due each December.
Commissioners also approved a request by CPW staff to formalize support for the
OHV Good Management Program, which prioritizes funding for experienced trail
crews who have demonstrated they can consistently meet the fiscal and field
objectives in grant proposals. Good Management crews are deployed primarily for
trail maintenance, facility support and restoration of resource damage.
In addition, the Commission voted to approve $1.621 million in grants for 40
non-motorized trail grant project applications submitted by local governments,
nonprofits and federal agencies.
The Colorado State Recreational Trails Grant Program, which funds non-motorized
trail projects, is a partnership among Colorado's
state parks, Great Outdoors Colorado,
the Colorado Lottery, the federal Recreational
Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
