Increased recreation in the McCoy Flats area over the past several years has led to expansion of user created disbursed campsites. These sites result in damage to the habitat of native plants and animals, impact the pristine visual landscape, and result in biological waste issues across the landscape. The campground would consolidate visitor use helping to reduce the impacts to both habitat and visual resources, while providing facilities that will stop the biowaste issue. Fencing the campground will help to reduce the user conflict with cattle in the grazing allotment, as well as prevent costly damage to signs and site infrastructure that results from cattle rubbing on them. This project is planned to construct wildlife-friendly fencing and parking barricades for a new campground located near the Congressionally designated McCoy Flats Bike Trails. This area has seen a large influx of visitors since its designation in the 2019 John D. Dingell Act, and this project is needed to manage the increased use, reduce potential bio-waste effects on the landscape, and protect surrounding wildlife habitat. The fencing will serve to exclude cattle from the recreation site and prevent visitors from creating unauthorized user-created trails in unwanted locations. A UCC (Utah Conservation Corps) Crew will be contracted to build the fencing and barricades using hand and power tools. This work is scheduled for late spring or early summer 2026, after the heavy equipment portion of the campground construction is complete, and falls within the area managed by the 2008 RMP

This project would provide 20 new individual sites and two group sites with infrastructure. At least two individual sites and one group site will be constructed with maximum accessibility in mind for individuals who have mobility challenges. This will allow opportunities for all users to get outside and enjoy their public lands in a safe and sanitary environment. This project will also provide an opportunity for all users to access their desired trail experience right from their campsites with ride-over bike specific cattle guards to access the mountain bike trails, and access to designated routes for Off-Highway Vehicle users. Success will be measured by public feedback, and through local user groups comments. As well as by observed use to ensure the needs of the public are being met and adjusting as necessary to create the best possible experience for visitors. While also protecting the surrounding landscape from undue damage caused by visitor expansion of sites and trails.

This project is currently in progress on the ground, all NEPA has been completed. All contracts for facilities have been sent through the BLM contracting staff and will soon be awarded. Groundwork for construction of new campground roads and sites is ongoing as materials are being delivered onsite. The location is near the Congressionally designated McCoy Flats Bike Trails because this designation has resulted in a large influx in visitors to the area and the use needs managed to reduce potential Bio-waste effects on the landscape. The fencing would be constructed late spring or early summer 2026 after the heavy equipment portion of construction is complete.

This area was designated in the 2019 John D Dingell Act, and is within the field office boundary managed by the 2008 RMP as amended.

The campground would provide visitors designated fire rings at each site that would be in a location clear of flammable vegetation reducing the risk of unwanted fire activity.

N/A

NEPA is complete, DOI-BLM-UT-G010-2023-0045-EA

Contract a UCC Crew to build fencing and parking barricades using hand and power tools, in late spring early summer 2026.

Upon completion there will be a definitive outcome of the number of sites added as part of the campground. Additionally, the BLM field office has plans to expand the existing trail network around this location for mountain bikers which would be measured in miles of additional trail, providing for even more opportunities. The field office has dedicated maintenance staff members who focus on recreation projects to ensure they are maintained in working condition and do not become rundown or unserviceable.

This project is partnered with the State of Utah who awarded the Field Office a grant to assist with the cost of building the new campground. The BLM is working with Partick Morrison from the Division of Outdoor Recreation for the disbursement of grant funds. The State of Utah awarded the Field Office 1 million dollars toward this project with an applicant match of $500K. This project will also partner with DWR through their Watershed Restoration Initiative to contract out work with UCC or similar crews if funds are received from The Foundation for America's Public Lands. Other essential partners for the success of this project although not direct partners for this project include Uintah County who has begun the process of upgrading the road out to these facilities as well as the other trailheads that are accessed from that road. The McCoy Flats Rd. is the only route for visitors to access this area, it has become rundown and a hazard due to its narrow and curvy nature. As use has increased so has traffic on this stretch of road. The county is currently working with the Field Office to complete all needed paperwork to repair and upgrade the route allowing for safe travel. Also, the local mountain bike groups assist the field office with maintenance of the mountain biking trail system, these community groups ensure the trails stay in working order through volunteer days. With limited resources and staff, the assistance with trail upkeep that these groups provide is a vital resource to the continued enjoyment of the trails for all visitors. State of Utah ORI Grant secured in 2024 for the construction of the Campground. While the project is being constructed in a way that a variety of users would be able to use the sites and facilities, the primary user group is Mountain Bikers as this campground is built adjacent to the McCoy Flats National Mountain Bike Trail System. This system is currently a popular set of trails for mountain bikers of all skill levels as well as community members who like to come out and jog or walk the trails.

Maintenance of the campground would be done as needed by the Vernal Field Office to ensure all facilities remain in working order. These projects outcomes will be shared with the community through social media posts and community flyers. Reports will be sent out to partner groups with photos of the work that was completed, the results of the construction.

By co locating use of visitors it helps to reduce impacts to wildlife habitat in the surrounding areas.