Recreation & Trails
Improved access to Alaska's recreational
areas means less damage to streams, less
erosion and a better recreational
experience. Districts are working with a
variety of partners to install or upgrade
trails and bridges in recreational areas.
Caribou Lake Trail
Caribou Lake Trail is a 7.5-mile
recreation and access trail completed
by Homer SWCD in 2005. In 2006,
the District constructed a one-acre
trailhead for year-around legal access.
Trident Basin Trail
Improvement
Some 44 Coast Guard volunteers worked
with Kodiak SWCD to improve access,
remove hazards, construct foot bridges
and lay down Geoblock to improve Trident
Basin Trail and its access. Funding
sources included the City of Kodiak.
Walking Track for Delta Elementary
Salcha-Delta SWCD was asked to help
clear ground for a walking track around
the new Delta Elementary School. Delta
Industrial donated labor and equipment
to clear the debris, and the school
district provided gravel to make a
clean, level walking track for the
students, who can use it instead of
crossing the street to use the high
school running track. The project not
only helped the 420 students, it
also prompted new teachers to become involved
in SWCD projects, like the AACD poster
contest.
Scout Ridge Trail
In coordination with an Eagle Scout
project, Wasilla SWCD and local students
improved a trail to the new pavilion
overlooking Palmer Hayflats constructed
by an Eagle Scout. Some 450 feet of
trail were improved and made wheelchair
accessible. Partners included EPA, USFWS,
Mat-Su School District, Alaskans for
Palmer Hay Flats and ADF&G.
Wasilla Creek ATV Bridges
Palmer SWCD organized partners and
volunteers to construct ATV bridges to
protect salmon streams. Two bridges were
installed in 2005. One was started in
2006; it and three others should be in
place in 2007. Partners included Mat-Su
Job Corps, RC&D, DEC, Chickaloon Village
and Ya Ne Dah Ah School.
Lake Miam - Summit Lake Trail
Improvement
Since 2002, Kodiak SWCD has partnered
with US Fish & Wildlife Service to work
toward solving erosion problems due to
ATV and ORV use on Lake Miam Trail. The
trail is regaining its original
integrity, and negative impacts to fish
and wildlife habitat have been reduced.
Additional funding has been obtained to
expand the project to the Summit Lake
bypass. The new project will bypass the
current trail along the lakeshore and
create a new trail that ill allow
vehicles to travel around the lake,
eliminating erosion and fish habitat
problems associated with trail use.
Caribou Hills Trail Assessments
Homer SWCD began a new project to
develop a signage program to address
concerns about ATV crossings within the
Ninilchik and Deep Creek watersheds,
with funding from DEC, Alaska State
Parks and NRCS. The District also held
meetings to raise public awareness of
private-public land boundaries. Homer
SWCD also worked with the National Park
Service on GIS-based tools to
objectively assess the condition of the
trails within Caribou Hills. Partners in
the projects include Native associations
and trail user groups.
Talkeetna Lakes Park
Upper Susitna SWCD is working with the Denali Nordic Ski Club and Mat Su Borough to develop a trail system at Talkeetna Lakes Park, a Mat Su Borough Park located 2 miles from downtown Talkeetna. The first phase of development involved the design and construction of a 3-mile loop trail for hiking and biking use. The trail was designed by ski club volunteers with assistance from IMBA and the National Park Service. The initial bench cut was made by a professional operator using mechanized equipment, and finish work will be completed in 2008 by the Upper Susitna Youth Conservation Corps and local volunteers. A ski trail is the next anticipated phase of development.
Talkeetna Elementary School Trail System
Upper Susitna SWCD was asked by staff from Talkeetna Elementary School to assist with improving the school trail system. Thanks to a generous grant from REI, district staff will be able to involve teachers, students, and the Upper Susitna Youth Conservation Corps in elevating soggy sections of trail, clearing vegetation, and planting trees to create a visual buffer alongside the trail in 2007 and 2008.
Byers Lake Trail
In 2007, the Upper Susitna Youth Conservation Corps worked with staff at Denali State Park to improve the Byers Lake Trail, a popular 5-mile loop hiking trail. Corps members replaced worn boardwalks, widened trails and improved drainage in soggy sections. The project, which is funded by a Recreational Trails Program grant from the state of Alaska, will continue in 2008.
