MDHTA Wins 2008 Prairie Partner Award

The Maah Daah Hey Trail Association (MDHTA) was selected as a “ Prairie Partner” for 2008 by the National Grasslands Council of the USDA-Forest Service. This annual award recognizes groups that foster or perform service to promote and further the Forest Service mission of the many programs on National Forest System Lands, including the Dakota Prairie Grasslands (DPG) in North Dakota .

Keeping in line with our MDHTA mission “To provide and maintain a linear non-motorized, sustainable, recreation trail in SW North Dakota, through voluntary and public involvement and in cooperation with the USDA-Forest Service”, the MDHTA, with its 80+ members, has helped in many ways with the management and maintenance of Forest Service trail systems over the past nine years. First, the MDHTA was instrumental in the hiring our first recreation person on the DPG, via matching grant funds to fund a position to help with our MDHTA organization and publishing our newsletter “Turtle Tracks”, along with other Forest Service recreation duties. Then the MDHTA supplied over $7000 in funds to complete a new potable water well for the Elkhorn campground. The MDHTA also issued the well drilling contract, and handled the administration and inspection of the potable well for the camp. In addition, the MDHTA has organized and provided complimentary lunches and door prizes for an annual National Trails Day event on the Little Missouri National Grasslands. Over the years, forty to fifty volunteers have shown up and worked annually at these events. Their donated effort counts toward the private match to successfully complete the grant work needed for the Forest Service Recreation Trail Program (RTP) grants on the MDH Trail.

All the above would not have been possible if the Dakota Prairie Grasslands did not have a partner like the MDHTA. Kathy McAllister, Deputy Regional Forester, and Grasslands Council Chair person, presented the “Prairie Partner” award to the MDHTA. Curt Glasoe, representing the MDHTA, accepted the award at the Annual National Grasslands Manager Meeting held in Fargo , North Dakota in early June of 2008.