Forest seeks comments on IDPR grant proposals
JEROME, Idaho – The Sawtooth National Forest is seeking public comment on proposed projects for which the Forest is seeking grant funding from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
Each year the State of Idaho distributes funds raised through the sale of boating, recreation, and off-road vehicle stickers to public land management agencies through a grant application process. Agencies applying for these grants are required to provide matching funds or in-kind contributions.
“The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation grant programs help us enhance recreation opportunities for all forest user groups,” said Forest Supervisor Jake Strohmeyer. “Many of the improvements you see at popular recreation sites on the Sawtooth National Forest would not be possible without the State’s continued investment in public spaces.”
Project managers would appreciate your feedback on the grant proposals listed below by district or area:
Fairfield Ranger District
Project: Big Peak Heavy Trail Maintenance – Off-Road Motor Vehicle Fund and Recreation Trail Program Grants
Description: These grants would allow staff to conduct early season trail maintenance and tree removal on over 200 miles of trails to ensure they are readily available for public use. Funding would help facilitate trail tread repairs, brushing, drainage feature maintenance, signs, and other needed trail maintenance on our motorized and non-motorized trails throughout the spring and summer. More intense maintenance would occur in the summer and fall with a focus on trails in the Smoky Mountains along Big Peak, lower Big Smoky, Calf, Barlow, Skillern, Carrie, and Lick creeks. Funds would also be used to help continue maintenance and educational patrols into the fall hunting season.
Contact: Jennifer Stevens, 208-764-3471 or jennifer.stevens@usda.gov
Ketchum Ranger District
Project: Fiscal Year 2026 Heavy Trail Maintenance – Recreation Trails Program Grant
Description: This grant would help fund heavy trail maintenance on 170 of the district’s approximately 400 miles of motorized and non-motorized trails and at the associated trailheads. The grant would also help fund repair or replacement of neglected trail structures of moderate size. Heavy maintenance efforts including logouts, brushing, tread repair, drainage work, and repair or replacement of vital trail structures to mitigate resource damage and increase safety and enjoyment of trail users while increasing trail opportunities.
Contact: Justin Blackstead at justin.blackstead@usda.gov.
Minidoka Ranger District
Project: Third Fork Heavy Maintenance – Off Road Motor Vehicle Fund Grant
Description: With this grant the district will perform heavy trail maintenance on the Third Fork Trail 004. This work would include re-benching tread and improving trail camber and slope, installation and maintenance of rolling grade drains, heavy brushing and vegetation removal. This work would also include the construction of at least one feature to limit recreational impacts on riparian areas within the trail corridor. This would also include that addition of signage to meet Forest Service Standards for motorized trails at various landmarks, junctions, and trail terminuses.
Contact: Matthew Earl, Matthew.Earl@usda.gov, or Daniel Fischer, Daniel.Fischer@usda.gov
Project: Upper Penstemon Campground Upgrade – Recreational Vehicle Fund Grant
Description: With this grant, the district will replace aging vault toilets, signs, fire rings, and picnic tables in the Upper Penstemon Campground in Rock Creek. The two aging wooden bathrooms will be replaced with two new concrete vault style toilets. All campground signs and information kiosks will be replaced with new routed plastic signs that are easier to read and maintain. Picnic tables and fire rings will be replaced with new models to ensure camper safety, ADA compliance, and provide a better user experience at the campground. The district will also work to restore water system function within the campground.
Contact: Matthew Earl, Matthew.Earl@usda.gov, or Daniel Fischer, Daniel.Fischer@usda.gov
Project: Thompson Flat Campground Update – Recreational Vehicle Fund Grant
Description: With this grant the district will replace an aging vault toilet with a new concrete vault style toilet. Currently this is a wooden structure that is aging and becoming difficult to maintain for the amount of use it receives. Included in this project, new Information Kiosks and new signs for travel direction will be installed throughout the campground to offer a better user experience.
Contact: Matthew Earl, Matthew.Earl@usda.gov, or Daniel Fischer, Daniel.Fischer@usda.gov
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Project: Sunbeam Stairs – Waterways Improvement Fund Grant
Description: This grant would help fund a contract to replace the deteriorating stairway at the Sunbeam Dam Recreation Site located along the Salmon River. The Sunbeam Dam is a popular road-side recreation site with interpretive facilities, an interpretive trail, and a lengthy set of stairs that provide access to the Salmon River for fishing, floating and other recreational activities.
Contact: Susan James, at 208-727-5035, or susan.james@usda.gov.
Project: Motorized Trail Maintenance – Off-Road Motor Vehicle Grant
Description: This grant request would fund deferred maintenance on 100 miles of motorbike and all-terrain vehicle trails in the White Cloud, Smoky, Boulder, Sawtooth, and Salmon River Mountains. Work would include removing trees, brushing, signing, improving drainage, repairing trail tread, and repairing broken structures. Contact: Caitlin Frawley, at 208-774-3032, or caitlin.frawley@usda.gov.
Project: Non-motorized Trails – Recreation Trails Program Grant
Description: This grant would fund 180 miles of trail maintenance on non-motorized trails across the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The trails are located within the Sawtooth, Cecil D. Andrus-White Cloud, and Hemingway-Boulder Wilderness Areas and provide recreation opportunities for hikers, backpackers, and equestrians. Work will focus on avalanche debris removal, logout, drainage work, sign replacement, and brushing to provide high quality recreation opportunities.
Contact: Caitlin Frawley, at 208-774-3032, or caitlin.frawley@usda.gov.
Project: Redfish Lake Internal Trail – Recreational Trails Program, Mountain Bike Plate Fund, and Recreational Vehicle Fund Grants
Description: These grants would help fund construction of a new trail that will connect the Redfish Lake Entrance Station to the Redfish Lake Lodge. Constructing an 8’ wide, accessible, compacted aggregate path will improve visitor safety by separating vehicle traffic and non-motorized uses. This trail, which will be specifically designed for pedestrian and bicycle users, will provide a new recreational opportunity and increase overall user safety through this popular recreational complex.
Contact: Braidy Richins, at 208-423-7545, or braidy.richins@usda.gov
For additional information about these projects or to submit comments, please reach out to the project contacts listed. To be most helpful, comments should be submitted by January 31, 2025.