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SALT LAKE CITY — Federal land managers are considering a new series of trails that could soon add up to 55 miles of recreational trail within three counties in Utah's population core.
The project, which opened for public comment Wednesday, would seek to add upwards of 25 miles of single-track trails within the Lake Mountains in Utah County; 15 miles of trails within the Rose and Yellow Canyons near where the Salt Lake, Utah and Tooele counties meet; and another 15 miles in the North Oquirrh Management Area (NOMA) between Tooele and Salt Lake counties.
In all, about 24,055 acres of land between the three locations are considered for the proposal, according to a document published this week by the Bureau of Land Management. The trails would vary in elevation from 4,400 feet to 7,690 feet, with the highest point at Lake Mountain. The BLM would also "pursue access easements from adjacent willing landowners" to facilitate the project.
None of the considered trail space would be used for motorized access, although electronic bikes would be allowed. The document states that motorized access already available in those areas would not change under the proposed action.
"Our goal is to provide our partners with opportunities to develop new hiking, mountain biking, e-biking, and equestrian trails that will benefit Utah's growing population in this region," said Jessica Wade, the agency's Salt Lake field manager, in a statement Thursday.
The BLM first released a scope of the project over the summer. There haven't been many major adjustments to it since then. According to an environmental assessment study, the BLM would also consider space needed for trailheads, parking, signage and the possibly restrooms. Gates and pass-throughs might be installed near already existing grazing sites.
The document states it may offer rights-of-way easements at no cost to municipalities in the locations for the construction and maintenance of trails, and that the BLM could "share the financial burden of costs for signage, equipment, volunteer workdays, etc."
As for the environmental impact of the plan, the trails would be 1 to 3 feet wide and avoid as much mature vegetation, such as bushes or tall trees, as possible.
"Vegetation presenting a hazard to trail users (e.g., woody shrubs or branches) would be cleared for approximately 2-4 feet on either side of the trail," the document states.
About 107 acres of vegetation of the 24,055 acres under review could be threatened as a result of the plan, according to the BLM — although some of that would be removing non-native vegetation like cheatgrass.
"In the NOMA, it is likely to be a loss of woodland, either Gambel oak or pinyon-juniper, and a loss of invasive and non-native grassland," the report continues. "In the Lake Mountains, it is likely to be a loss of Wyoming big sagebrush, pinyon-juniper woodland and invasive, non-native grassland. In Rose and Yellow Fork canyons, it is also likely to be a loss of woodlands including Gambel oak and pinyon-juniper."
The proposal could also result "in the loss or degradation" of approximately 101 acres of migratory bird habitat based on the possibility of nest predation. It could be more based on the size of influence human action would create. The Rose and Yellow Canyons area is where most of the land that falls into this category is, the report stated.
The document states that surveying would be done by a qualified wildlife biologist to search for signs of raptor breeding in an area before trail construction could be done in that location. In addition, any new roads, parking areas or trailheads won't be allowed within 1,100 yards of any pinyon jay nesting colony sites.
It wasn't clear when the construction of the project might begin if the project is approved. The project's 30-day comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 8. BLM officials said they hope to hear feedback from anyone in the public, including local governments, organizations and tribal members.
All comments must be submitted through the agency's ePlanning website, which can be found here.
