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Southwest Colorado receives $200,000 for trails

Money set for motorized projects

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will distribute grants worth $6.18 million for trails programs through 2016, and almost $200,000 is coming to the San Juan National Forest.

The money is designated for three motorized trail projects: $85,000 for crews to work on trails in the Columbine District; $65,600 for construction of a single-track trail at Devil Mountain, which is north of U.S. Highway 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs; and $47,400 for the Corral-Hermosa Trail.

Archuleta County received almost $200,000 for the construction and maintenance of a nonmotorized regional trail.

About two-thirds of the grant money is going to motorized trails because that project funding comes from off-highway vehicle registration fees.

“As required by state law, all money collected from the registrations goes to building and maintaining motorized trails,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release. “Motorized trails are open to all other trail users – hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians.”

The money for nonmotorized trailwork comes from Great Outdoors Colorado, the federal recreation trails program and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Every year, government agencies and trail groups from throughout the state submit applications, which can include construction and maintenance, project planning, educational outreach and improving environmental conditions.

“All trail construction and maintenance projects are reviewed by Parks and Wildlife trail experts and field biologists to assure conflicts between wildlife and trail uses are minimized, that trails are designed properly and the trails won’t cause resource damage to slopes or wetland,” the agency said.

abutler@durangoherald.com



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