DMN Wrote:The $100,000 grant the Department of Natural Resources in Fairbanks is slated to get will help the agency determine the future of the Rex Trail, which runs about 50 miles from 280 Mile on the Parks Highway to the Wood River. The trail, popular with moose hunters, has been torn up by track rigs, four-wheelers and other off-road vehicles in recent years, prompting the DNR to restrict the type and size of vehicles currently using the trail.

“We would contract out to do a professional trail assessment and design assessment to evaluate the feasibility of trail hardening or trail upgrade options, as well as re-route options or total re-routes,” resource manager Jeanne Proulx with DNR in Fairbanks said of plans for the money.

The agency has established monitoring plots to do a preliminary trail assessment but hasn’t had the staff or funding to do anything, she said.

“It would be very good to contract it out and get some focused attention on it,” Proulx said. “Our mission is to ensure long-term public access on the trail.”

A professional trail prescription report would help the department respond to proposals from users who have been restricted from using the trail.



Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Fairbanks groups get more than 370 000 in trail grants