Vol. 1, Issue 7

Organization of the Month

Central Wyoming Trails Alliance, NCORC

Casper's Central Wyoming Trails Alliance is the Natrona County International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) chapter that advocates for multiuse non-motorized trails in Central Wyoming. They build and maintain new and existing trails, and work with other organizations on various trail-related projects. They also are actively involved in winter trail construction and maintenance for Nordic skiing, fat biking, and snowshoeing.

CWTA has had many successes, notably the Casper Mountain Trail "Eadsville" network. They have recently advocated for the most comprehensive trail expansion master planning process for Casper Mountain. This master plan was approved recently by the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners, and will help with the future planning of the area. This trail plan will more than double the mileage that currently exists for non-motorized users.

The Central Wyoming Trails Alliance had another successful year of single track winter trail grooming. This winter posed a lot of challenges but with many redirects and persistent shovel work they were able to keep the trail usable. CWTA has also been successful partnering with the neighboring OECC (Outdoor Enthusiasts of Converse County) in advocating for new trails in Boxelder Canyon and for the Town of Douglas.

In the next year, CWTA plans to continue to build great relationships with City of Casper leadership and Natrona County Parks. These relationships strengthen the ability to get sustainable low-maintenance trails built. The MOU’s and use agreements with both agencies will be reviewed. The next goal is to work within these agencies to get new trails established on Casper Mountain, North Casper Park and get a pump track/skills park constructed in Casper. Volunteer members of the CWTA continue to repair trail issues such as washouts and fallen trees on trails in and around Casper, year-round.

CWTA will be hosting a series of trail construction days this summer and fall, and will be actively recruiting volunteers. No dates have currently been set as they are waiting for approval from the County, but updates will be posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Meet the Advisors

Rachel Wiota, NEWORC

Who is your employer? Bureau of Land Management, Outdoor Recreation Planner
Which Outdoor Recreation Collaborative(s) do you advise? Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative
Why do you love your job? So many reasons! I love being outside. Working outside, getting sweaty and dirty, and seeing your progress is extremely satisfying. I also love the interdisciplinary nature of working for public lands. All of our projects involve other specialists (e.g., archeologists, fuels ecologists, soil scientists, biologists), and I'm always learning new things from them.
What are 3 ways you support outdoor recreation through your work? Signs to inform and direct the public are a big part of a BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner's job. We have partnerships with several groups to build and maintain trails on BLM surface. During spring, summer, and fall, I make multiple visits to all of our recreation sites to clean up trash, do general maintenance, and talk to visitors, all with the goal of improving the recreation experience.
What are some projects you are currently working on? We are in the design phase to make one of our recreation day-use areas (including a trail, vault toilets, and a picnic area) ADA accessible. Later this summer, we will replace boards on picnic tables at a different day-use site.
How and with whom do you like to spend your free time? I love skate skiing, trail running, hiking, and backpacking in the Bighorns with my boyfriend and friends.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? After college, I served in the Peace Corps for two years in Guatemala where I did animal husbandry. I worked mostly with broiler chickens, but I also learned how to castrate pigs and cows.
What are your 3 favorite places in Wyoming to visit, and why? The William Mentock section of the Clear Creek Trail in Buffalo is one of my all time favorite trails to run on. The Artist Paint Pots in Yellowstone are pretty spectacular; watching the bubbling mud pits make me happy and giggly. Casper Mountain has some of the best skate skiing trails I've ever skied on. I skied there on my birthday last winter, and they started grooming while I was out; skiing on fresh corduroy was the best birthday present.

Collaborative Member Spotlight

Randall Dale, SCORC

Who is your employer, and what is your official job title? Retired
What organizations and clubs do you participate in? SMBA, Sweetwater Mountain Biking Association
Why is outdoor recreation important to you? It allows the most tourism dollars to the area without sacrificing our small town atmosphere.
How do you spend your time outdoors? Mountain biking, hiking, hunting and photography.
What are your 3 favorite outdoor recreation areas/trails in Wyoming? Mustang Loop, Wilkins Peak and the Sand Dunes.
Why did you choose to join the Outdoor Recreation Collaborative? I saw an opportunity to increase tourism in Sweetwater county. I felt with my prior knowledge on building trails and experience at Moab that I could make a positive addition to the collaborative.
Do you have any project advice for other Collaborative Members in Wyoming? Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. ~ Calvin Coolidge

Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives

The Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative recently voted to fully support expansion of the Upton Gun Club facility. NEWORC has recognized shooting sports as an important and often underserved interest in the overall outdoor recreation landscape in Wyoming. The Collaborative will continue to help move the project forward by providing a letter of recommendation for the club to use as they pursue funding opportunities in the future. Both the Sundance Chain Gang and the Bent Sprockets continue to host amazing biking events in Newcastle and Sundance with event support from the Collaborative and The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. Keyhole State Park's calendar is full of events and activities for the summer, including "Paddle in the Park". This event invites novice and experienced canoers, kayakers, and paddle boarders to explore this beautiful lake.

Events at Keyhole State Park

Two subcommittees continue to meet from the Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative . The Lane 17 subcommittee is having successful conversations with the non-profits and agencies involved in the possible irrigation canal bridge and parking area. The Project Process subcommittee has been working very hard on a flow chart to streamline the process of approaching and planning projects on public lands. Meanwhile, the Outlaw Trails project continues to wait for the Tribal Consultation phase of the Federal NEPA Process to wrap up, so trail construction can begin. The boat ramp in Powell is on hold until water levels recede this fall. Stay tuned for more information about a grand opening once the boat ramp has been installed. The Wild West Paddle Club will be hosting Riverfest on the Shoshone River in Cody on August 12th. This event includes sprint races, slalom races, boater cross and more.

Check out Riverfest

Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative's Blueway subcommittee is planning a community float event along the Bighorn River, staring in Basin at 11am and ending in Greybull. This event iis open to the public and the committee would like to see the river filled kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards on August 12th. The float culminates at Greybull City Park, where a beer festival and community celebration will be happening. Remember that a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device is required for watercraft in Wyoming. You can brush up on your paddling safety by taking a free online paddle sports safety course offered by the Wyoming Game and Fish. The Wyoming State Trails Program reported at the last BBORC meeting that Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site has a mobile ATV wash station in development. This will be the first ATV wash station in the state and will help prevent the spread of noxious weeds .

Take this Free Paddle Sports Safety Course

Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: The collaborative is taking a break from in-person meetings for the month of July and will instead meet in August for a full-day tour of the Flaming Gorge outside of Rock Springs. This tour will include stops at Firehole Canyon, Flaming Gorge Dam, the Salmon Interpretive Site, an outside lunch spot, and more! Three subcommittees focused on a new State Park discussion, a new non-motorized trail idea, and motorized projects, will meet throughout the month of July and again, possibly, in August to continue to develop their ideas into projects. These subcommittes will be beginning to work on formal project proposals that could potentially be ready to pursue funding in the near future. The Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative will meet again for a full meeting on September 12th.

The History of the Flaming Gorge Dam

Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: The collaborative and its members have been very busy! At the July WRORC meeting, members learned about the "PlayCleanGo" initiative and learned some tips for pre and post-trail construction weed management planning. A subcommittee update was provided for the CDT Advisory Group, the SB Multi-Modal Lane, and Grooming Solutions. Two subcommittees will be reviving, Bus Loops and Government Draw. WRORC and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation also joined WyoClimbers for the International Climbers Fest in Lander. Members of WyoClimbers, WRORC, other organizations, the public, and the ICF participated in a community clean-up at Sinks Canyon State Park that focused on cleaning high-use areas, light trail work, and pulling noxious weeds as a service project.

Learn more about PlayCleanGo

The Natrona County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative is excited to share their new logo (see above!). Reach out to Amy if you would like a sticker! Mike Kusiek from Wyoming Pathways was the featured speaker at the last meeting, which was held at Hogadon Basin Ski Area. Mike rallied the group toward relationship building with all community and agency partners for successful projects. The group also heard from Hogadon Staff about their future plans for year-round outdoor recreation at the ski area. In lieu of a formal August meeting, a get-together will be held at the Bridle Trail. Members of the Collaborative have offered to lead hikes of this extremely well used trail in Casper that will offer some historical perspective to some of the current trail conflicts. Additionally, the Hell's Half Acre subcommittee recently met via Zoom to outline the next steps. A draft project proposal has been created, and will be solidified over the next few weeks in hopes of becoming a shovel-ready project as funding sources become available.

Check out Hogdon Basin Ski Area's Summer Trails

Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative: The Collaborative will debut its first-ever logo at the next SWORC meeting! Before this issue of the newsletter is released, Collaborative members and advisors were responding to a poll for 3 logo options and a special edition sticker-only logo. Thank you to Danny and McCall Burau, SWORC members and owners of "The Malt" in Saratoga, for the fantastic design work on these logo options!! During July, Collaborative members will meet in person and online for a presentation on the Medicine Bow-Routt Thunder Basin (MBRTH) National Forest Recreation Enhancement Act Fee Change Proposals. The next meeting will also feature an invasive species presentation from the University of Wyoming Extension Office. This presentation will address the relationship between outdoor recreation and the spread of noxious weeds in the state. The meeting will be followed by a short hike to explore the trail near the Visitor Center.

Learn more about the MBRTB Recreation Fee Change Proposal

In the News

Apply Now for the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) Grant

In 2023, RTC will award approximately $200,000 to organizations and local agencies that are working to develop and connect equitable trail networks. To support a wide variety of projects and programs that reflect elements of the TrailNation Playbook, grant amounts will range between $5,000 and $25,000.

- Project Vision (e.g. developing a local or regional vision)

- Coalition building (e.g. cultivating stakeholder and political support)

- Gap-filling strategy (e.g. acquisition strategies)

- Mapping and analytics (e.g. mapping the network, equitable connectivity analysis)

- Investment Strategy (e.g. securing matching funds, identifying and pursuing funding opportunities)

- Engagement (e.g. inclusive community engagement, user activation, and events)

The project must serve or plan to serve multiple user types (e.g., bicycling, walking/hiking or horseback riding) and be considered a rail-trail, greenway, multi-use trail or shared-use path.
Eligible grantees include: non-profit organizations; state, regional, local or tribal government agencies; and other organizations. Private individuals may not apply.
Projects must be initiated by September 2024
To apply for a grant—all applicants must register to join RTC’s TrailNation Collaborative. Registration is free and only requires an email address. Collaborative members have access to free webinars and monthly newsletters.
Only one application per group/agency will be accepted.
Preference will be given to projects that commit to increasing equitable access to trail networks.