Summary#
This bill adds the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to a list in the National Trails System Act for which the Secretary of the Interior must study the feasibility of a national designation. The trail is described as about 280 miles long, running from the Idaho–Utah border to Nephi, Utah, along the old Lake Bonneville bench. The bill does not itself designate the trail as a national scenic or historic trail; it only requires a feasibility study.
- Main change: Directs the Interior Department to study whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail should be officially designated under the National Trails System.
- Trail described: About 280 miles from the Idaho–Utah border to Nephi, Utah, following the Bonneville bench.
- Study only: The bill requires a study, not a designation or funding for designation.
- Adds to existing process: It places the trail on the statutory list of trails that the Secretary must evaluate for possible inclusion in the National Trails System.
What it means for you#
- Hikers, bikers, and outdoor users: The government would examine whether the trail should receive national recognition or protections. The study itself would not change trail access or rules.
- Local governments and parks departments: They may be asked for information during the study about trail routes, land ownership, maintenance, and local plans.
- Private landowners along the route: The bill does not change land rights. A study could examine access and easement issues, but it does not authorize land acquisition or new restrictions by itself.
- State agencies and Utah/Idaho officials: They could be consulted and may need to provide data, maps, or testimony for the feasibility study.
- Secretary of the Interior / federal agencies: The Interior Department would carry out the study, likely involving the National Park Service or other units that handle trails.
Expenses#
No publicly available information on a cost estimate for this bill is provided in the supplied material.
- The bill does not include a fiscal note or a stated funding source for the study.
- A feasibility study would likely create some federal administrative costs (staff time, travel, data collection).
- If the study later leads to a national designation, that could mean additional federal costs for planning, land agreements, management, or grants; the bill does not address those potential future costs.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to evaluate whether the Bonneville Shoreline Trail should receive national recognition and coordinated federal support.
- A possible argument for the bill is that a formal study can clarify whether national designation would help protect the trail, improve long-term planning, increase recreation and tourism, and coordinate management across jurisdictions.
- The statutory description of the trail creates a clear starting point for the Interior to analyze route, scope, and feasibility.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is that the bill does not say who will pay for the study, so federal agencies or local governments may face unplanned administrative costs.
- The bill does not explain the study’s scope, timeline, or criteria, leaving unclear how thorough the review will be and what factors will be considered.
- Another possible concern is that a federal study could raise local worries about future federal involvement, land acquisition, or new rules, even though the bill itself does not authorize those steps.
- It is unclear what follow-up steps would occur after the study and whether any recommendations would lead to mandatory actions or additional funding.