Mat-Su gets snowmachine trail grants

From Lake Louise to Petersville Road, snowmachiners will soon see the result of thousands of dollars in state grants.

The state Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is awarding 14 snowmachine trail grants around the state, with several going to Mat-Su Borough groups, Alaska State Parks Director Jim Stratton recently announced.

The grants were made possible by snowmachine registration fees paid to the state by snowmachine owners. Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated by the Snowmobile Trails Advisory Committee (SnoTRAC), a statewide citizen advisory committee appointed by the director to promote safe snowmachining and development of better facilities statewide.

In the area of acquisition, development and maintenance, the Lake Louise Snowmachine Club won $15,000 for its Lake Louise Recreational Trail Survey -- Phase II. The purpose of the trail survey is the continuation of club efforts to identify, survey, acquire and record public recreation easements in the Lake Louise area.

In the same category, the Mat-Su/Copper Basin Area Office of Alaska State Parks received $9,800 to install a bulletin board and maintain portable latrines at the Kroto Creek Trailhead on the West Petersville Road.

The Valley's Backcountry Avalanche Awareness and Response Team (BAART) won $15,000 in the safety and education category. This is BAART's second SnoTRAC grant for education and training to promote avalanche awareness among backcountry snowmachiners. The grant will also be used to develop and maintain a Mat-Su-based avalanche-response team.

Across the state, the following grants were also awarded:

Acquisition, development and maintenance awards went to

Caribou Hills Cabin Hoppers, Clam Gulch, $15,000. Purchase of a trail groomer.

Interior Trail Grooming, Fairbanks, $15,000. Winter trail grooming and maintenance of the Chena Hot Springs Winter Trail.

Ohogamiut Traditional Council, Marshall, $8,990. Maintain and repair existing winter trails and portages. Project funds will also be used to mark safe trails on the Yukon River and to mark trails between Russian Mission, Pilot Station, Akiachak and Kalskag.

Native Village of Saint Michael, Saint Michael, $14,818. Construct a trail shelter on a winter trail near Klikitarik, a traditional campsite.

North Slope Borough, Barrow, $15,000. Purchase of a snowmobile for the Atqasuk Village Search and Rescue program and for trail markers between Point Lay, Wainwright and Atqasuk.

Safety and education awards went to the following groups:

Fairbanks Police Department and the Fairbanks Snow Travelers, $15,000. Fairbanks Law Enforcement Agencies, the Law Enforcement Explorers, Fairbanks Snow Travelers and the Northern Lights Snowmobile Club will promote snowmobile safety in the Fairbanks area. Methods include school safety classes, demonstrations, snowmobile rodeos, avalanche awareness training, public service announcements and distribution of safety information.

Alaska Mountain Safety Center,Inc., Anchorage, $15,000. Produce an avalanche safety book targeted specifically for snowmachiners.

Fairnet Inc., Fairbanks, $4,350. Research and develop a standardized snowmobile training and safety program that can be used statewide.

Native Village of Shaktoolik and the Shaktoolik Transportation Department, Shaktoolik, $8,399. Shaktoolik Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Project.

The project will emphasize education, safety and wilderness riding skills.

Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center, Juneau, $10,000. Avalanche safety education programs specifically geared to snowmachiners. Programs include indoor workshops and field courses in several Southeast communities.

Southeast Alaska Outdoor Recreation, Ketchikan, $5,765. Provide avalanche safety training and education in Ketchikan.

More information about these grants can be obtained by contacting Jim Renkert at the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, at (907) 269-8699, or e-mail at jimr@dnr.state.ak.us.