$1 Million Made Available for OHRV Trail Repairs

Concord, NH – Today, following approval by members of the Executive Council, New Hampshire’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced $1,000,000 in funding to improve the statewide trail system following damage caused by historic rain and flooding events in 2023.

Initial damage to the trail network occurred in July 2023, particularly within Pittsburg and Swanzey, and was then compounded during the December 18 storm. During this weather event, extensive trail damage also occurred in the Berlin, Gorham, and Randolph areas, particularly within Jericho Mountain State Park.

“The thousands of miles that make up New Hampshire’s trail system play such an important role in New Hampshire’s outdoor economy,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Following storm damage over the last few months, we’re moving quickly to provide local clubs with the financial support needed to repair hundreds of miles of trails.”

“We are excited that this funding is being made available to our hard-working clubs and volunteers to assist in repairing the trails that were so severely impacted across the state by recent storms,” said DNCR Commissioner Sarah Stewart. “Eighty percent of the statewide trail network is located on private lands, and these funds will be put to good use to repair those storm-damaged trails and to ensure that the trail network remains connected to communities while being safe for all trail users, including motorized and non-motorized recreation.”

In recent years, registrations for motorized Off Highway Recreational Vehicles (OHRV) and snowmobiles have reached all-time highs. Combined annual registrations now average more than 80,000 units. Snowmobiling alone in New Hampshire generates $500 million annually in revenue to the state economy.

The $1 Million in funding will be distributed through the Grant-In-Aid (GIA) Program as 100 percent grants, with no match required, to assist local snowmobile and OHRV clubs with storm-related trail repair work. The GIA Program is normally funded through OHRV and snowmobile registrations along with unrefunded gas taxes.

To ensure repairs are made quickly, awards will be made through the GIA Program’s spring grant round of funding, which currently has a May 3, 2024 deadline for clubs to apply.  Clubs were notified of the availability of these funds (pending G&C approval) via email on April 5, 2024. A special storm damage GIA application was created and was attached to the email notice, as well as posted on the Bureau of Trail’s website. Additional information about these funds, as well as other grant information is available here.

The New Hampshire Division of Parks & Recreation, Bureau of Trails, is responsible for the stewardship and operation of 1,000 miles of OHRV trails, more than 7,400 miles of snowmobile trails, 300 miles of multi-use rail trails and 260 miles of roads in the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters property in Pittsburg.

NOTE:
Additional details on the December 18 weather event can be found here.
Additional details on the July 2023 weather events can be found here