Snowmobile groups are working with the DNR on area trails

Three area snowmobile groups have been working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on local snowmobile trails.

Driftrunners from Howard County, Trail Twisters from Winneshiek County, and Sno-Blazers from Allamakee County have been removing signs from unauthorized trails and installing barricades at accesses to areas that are off limits. 

The cooperation between the groups led to an agreement last month to allow snowmobiles access to a trail on the Pool Slough WMA in Allamakee County and to cross a portion of the Turkey River WMA for one more year for the Howard County Snowfest winter festival
.
Local snowmobile clubs and the DNR have been working together since 2009 to get the areas in compliance with DNR and federal guidelines.  Club members have worked with private landowners to establish new trails where snowmobiles could operate.
 
"We support snowmobiling, in fact, we allow it in certain state parks, state forests and state recreation areas and even on some wildlife areas if they do not conflict with the primary use of the area," said Terry Haindfield, DNR wildlife management biologist for the Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit.  "But it must be done so not to impact the primary use or cause damage to the resource."

The clubs will need to update trail maps showing the new routes.