Snowmobile Trail Grants Awarded for 2009

The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Snowmobile Trail Grant and Grooming Pool awards. The Snowmobile Trail Program is a competitive and reimbursable matching grant. Grants are available for developing and maintaining public snowmobile trails and related facilities and for safety and educational projects. The Snowmobile Trail Program’s Grooming Pool provides funding for trail grooming, marking and signage for snowmobile trails.

Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated by SnowTRAC, a statewide citizen advisory committee appointed by the Director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to promote safe snowmobiling and development of facilities statewide. These grants are made possible by snowmobile registration fees paid to the State by snowmobile owners. Continuation of this grant program is dependent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature of snowmobile registration fees.

Tesoro Iron Dog Snowmobile Safety EXPO, submitted by Iron Dog, Inc.
The grantee will host a free public festival to promote snowmobile education and safety through presentations, seminars, industry vendors, public safety organizations, and the distribution of educational brochures. The festival will be held indoors at the Wasilla Sports Complex on January 31, 2009 from 10am to 2pm.  Iron Dog Inc. was awarded $8,306.

Willow Winter Trail Maintenance Project,submitted by the Willow Trails Committee.
The grantee will utilize funding to groom sign and maintain approximately 100 miles of winter trails and trailheads within the West Gateway Trail System. This project will include the purchase of a four-stroke snowmobile and grooming equipment, the grooming of winter trails, posting of directional and safety signs, and implementation of safety and educational materials at kiosks.  The Willow Trails Committee was awarded $14,350.

Montana Creek Trail Grooming,Submitted by the Montana Creek Motor Mushers.
Grant funds will be used to purchase a “wide-track” snowmobile to tow a groomer on the Southfork Montana Creek trail system.  This grant will now allow the applicant to pull a total of three groomers and be able to maintain the trail in a more expeditious manner.  The Southfork Montana Creek trail system provides access to a vast area of alpine riding between Montana Creek and Sheep Creek.  The Montana Creek Motor Mushers were awarded $11,250.

Grooming Pool Allocations 2009

Mat-su Area was awarded	$105,000
Chugach Area was awarded	$25,000
Northern Alaska was awarded	$37,000
Kenai Peninsula was awarded	$25,000
Southwest was awarded	$2,000
Wood Tik-Chik State Park was awarded	$6,000
Total Grooming Pool	$200,000

*Note: These are approximate funding allocations. Actual funding amounts will be distributed based on weather conditions and snowfall.

An additional $10,000 will be provided to the Mat-Su Area State Park office to distribute safety and educational signs to grooming pool grantees.

To obtain more information regarding the Snowmobile Trail Grant Program visit the program’s web site at www.alaskastatetrails.org/ or contact Bill Luck at (907) 269-8699 or bill.luck@alaska.gov