HELENA – Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced that it is seeking public comment on recommended funding levels for 2016/2017 Montana Snowmobile Program grant applications. The recommended funding for the Seeley Lake Driftriders is $18,316. Public comments will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m.
The Montana Snowmobile Program is administered by Montana State Parks and supports snowmobile organizations state wide in trail grooming, equipment, safety education and maintenance needs. For 2016/2017, Montana State Parks received 26 grant applications and all are recommended to be funded. Approximately $433,000 in grant funding is available.
Every winter Montana’s snowmobile clubs groom more than 4,000 miles of designated trails, most of which are located on public lands. These groomed trails provide important access and recreational opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized users such as snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, snowboarders, dog-sledders, fat-tire bikes and snowshoers.
The Montana Snowmobile Program is funded through a percentage of the state gas tax paid by snowmobile users, snowmobile registration fees, non-resident snowmobile temporary use permits and resident groomed trail passes. The program is completely separate from Montana State Parks funding sources and revenues.
The 2015-2016 winter season was the first year for the newly implemented Montana Resident Groomed Snowmobile Trail Pass. Trail pass sales were strong and the revenue generated resulted in a 12 percent increase in available grant monies. This was the first funding increase the program had seen in many years.
A list of the proposed 2016/2017 snowmobile grant applicants and recommended funding levels is available online at: http://stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/snowmobileGrants.html
To comment online, visit direct link: http://stateparks.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/snowmobile-grants/pn_0004.html. Or go to the website stateparks.mt.gov, click on ‘Public Notices’ on the right-hand task bar.
The public can also email comments to snowmobilegrants@mt.gov or send comments by regular mail to: Snowmobile Program Grants, Montana State Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
The full grant applications are available for review by request in the Parks’ Division office at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Headquarters - located at 1420 East 6th Ave., in Helena, Montana 59620. Contact: Seth McArthur, Montana Snowmobile Program Manager 406-444-3753.
Reader Comments(0)