Anchorage Daily News

WASILLA -- Matanuska-Susitna area trails and snowmachine groups will receive nearly $34,000 in state grants this year to educate people about snowmachine safety and do trail maintenance in the Willow and the Montana Creek areas, according to a written release from state parks officials.

In addition, Mat-Su parks officials are scheduled to get an estimated $105,000 to use in grooming area snowmachine trails.

The grants were made through the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation's Snowmobile Trail Program and Snowmobile Trail Program's Grooming Pool.

The programs provide funding for safety and educational projects as well as trail grooming marking and signage.

The funding for the grants comes from snowmobile registration fees paid to the state by snowmobile owners.

The three grants specifically targeted toward Mat-Su are:

• $14,350 to the Willow Trails Committee to groom, sign and maintain approximately 100 miles of winter trails and trail heads within the West Gateway Trail System.

The money will fund the purchase of a four-stroke snowmobile and grooming equipment, the grooming of winter trails, the posting of directional and safety signs, and implementation of safety and educational materials at kiosks.

• $11,250 to the Montana Creek Motor Mushers to purchase a "wide-track" snowmobile to tow a groomer on the Southfork Montana Creek trail system. The Southfork Montana Creek trail system provides access to a vast area of alpine riding between Montana Creek and Sheep Creek.

• $8,306 to Iron Dog Inc. to host a snowmobile safety and educational exposition scheduled for this January at the Wasilla Multi-use Sports Complex in Wasilla. BE INFORMED

• To obtain more information regarding the Snowmobile Trail Grant Program, go to www.alaskastatetrails.org, or contact State Trails Coordinator, Bill Luck, at 1-907-269-8699 or bill.luck@alaska.gov.

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