Duchesne County

The Duchesne County Trails Committee Quarterly Meeting agenda included several key items. County staff provided reports concerning Fiscal Incentive Grants (FIGs) totaling over $33,000.00 for trail construction equipment and geo-synchronized OHV trails mapping, the Utah Trails Forum, an update on the Badlands Loop Trail, and GIS data. Other agenda items involved a discussion with the Utah OHV Program Coordinator and a review of the At Your Leisure Fiscal Incentive Grant trail selection. Separate memos detailed the FIG applications and site visits conducted for the Pole Creek Mountain Trail connection review.

The meeting covered several key areas concerning trail development and maintenance. The Chair reported on the Velociraptors high school mountain bike team and ideas for serving the local mountain bike community, including suggestions regarding Wrinkles Road and contacting the BLM about potential trails. Staff provided updates on numerous trail projects: the Duchesne City Sidewalk Trail Connector is on hold pending city action; the Roosevelt City Nature Park and Trails is progressing toward a Spring 2024 opening; and the Tabiona Centennial Park project awaits further funding. For Non-Urban Trails, progress included planning for OHV trail signage to respect tribal lands, working with the Forest Service on Sower's Canyon and Yellowstone Canyon trail work, and efforts to procure a Right of Way for the Badlands Loop Trail. The Committee recommended two projects for the Utah Trail Network: the proposed trail connecting Starvation Reservoir to Duchesne City, and a canal trail connecting Altamont to Mountain Home. Discussions also involved potential OHV trail development between Paradise Cliff Lake and Chapeta Lake.

The Duchesne County Trails Master Plan aims to inventory, evaluate, and enhance alternative transportation options, including cycling, pedestrian, paddle, and OHV routes, throughout Duchesne County. The plan focuses on improving connectivity within small urban and non-urban areas, and to public lands such as the High Uinta Wilderness Area, Tabby Mountain, Nine Mile Canyon, and Fred Hayes State Park. Key strategic initiatives include fostering inter-entity coordination, protecting trail corridors, establishing a central trails committee, and developing prioritized project lists with implementation plans across Small Urban, Non-Urban, and UDOT categories. The overarching goal is to create a connected and safe trails network that contributes to a vibrant community.

The meeting commenced with the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2022 year, resulting in Cheryl Fabrizio being elected Chair and Darwin McKee as Vice-Chair. Key discussions involved updates on Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) projects funded by FIG Grants, including the status of equipment purchases, staff training (First Aid and Sawyer training), BLM trail mapping, heavy equipment training for Sowers Canyon Trail work, and the selection of a final route for the Harmston Canyon Connector Trail Environmental Assessment funding. Progress on the Badlands Loop Trail, including private property access negotiations, was also reported. Community trails discussions focused on the Tabiona Community Trail project, including surface type options and potential state grant funding contacts. Introductions were made to representatives from the new Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, who detailed the division's scope, services, and available funding sources. Member items included a discussion about connecting upper and lower Duchesne City with a sidewalk, and an update noting the deemphasis of the Sand Wash multipurpose trail due to private property opposition.

Key discussions included a report on Teddy's Playground, a planned mountain bike park, regarding the County's potential support. Staff provided updates on several trail projects. Small Urban Trails updates noted that the Duchesne City Sidewalk Trail Connector is on hold, the Roosevelt City Nature Park and Trails is progressing toward a Spring 2024 opening, and the Tabiona Centennial Park is awaiting further funding. Non-Urban Trails discussions covered progress on OHV projects such as placing gateway boulders and signage for Sower's Canyon, trail clearing and widening support for the Yellowstone Canyon Trail, completion of the environmental assessment for the Harmston Canyon Connector Trail, procurement status for First Aid and Communications Equipment, and ongoing efforts to secure a right of way for the Badlands Loop Trail. Other updates included submitting paperwork for the Fruitland OHV Lateral Trail and reviewing regional cycling corridors. Action items regarding support for three off-highway vehicle (OHV) grant applications were noted but not entertained due to time constraints. A follow-up was assigned regarding opening an old road from Cliff Lake to Chapeta.