Trail advisory committee to meet in Helena

from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks State Trails Advisory Committee meets April 7 to review trail grant applications and make recommendations to the department on how the funds should be allocated in 2022.  

“Trails are critical infrastructure for recreation in Montana based on recent research that found trails were the number one amenity residents want in our state parks,” FWP Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division Administrator Hope Stockwell said. “It’s easy for me to expect residents have that same desire for trail access across all site types and land ownerships. Careful consideration of where to best deploy these grant dollars is critically important.” 

The group will meet in person, with a virtual option, in the Montana Room at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation building in Helena. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and end by 2 p.m. 

The STAC advises FWP on trail issues in Montana, including funding, use, and the promotion of recreational trails across land ownership. The group is made up of 10 members, seven of which are new. Returning STAC members are Robert Long, Polson; Alice Santos, Helena, and Mark Smolen, Bigfork. 

New members this year are Kristi Drake, Billings; Julie Riley, Volborg; Madelon Martin, Eureka; Mike Patterson, Butte; Virginia Sullivan, Missoula; Bob Walker, Clancy, and Brenda Maas, Billings. 

Primary on the agenda will be reviewing Montana Trail Stewardship Grant applications and making allocation recommendations to FWP for that program. This year 34 eligible MTSGP applications were submitted seeking about $1,575,000 in funds. The amount of funding available for this grant cycle is $1,037,000. 

The Montana DNRC building is at 1539 11th Ave. in Helena. The meeting is open to public and public comment will be taken before lunch and at the end of the agenda.