As more paved trails have been made in Washington County, the conservation board is updating their snow removal policy to help keep residents safe.

During the board’s December 9th meeting, a new policy was approved for snow removal along paved trails, specifically the newly constructed Kewash Nature Trail. In partnership with the City of Washington, conservation staff will be removing snow from the paved portion of the trail from D Avenue to the Crooked Creek Bridge and maintaining the shoulders at certain times throughout the winter. Conservation Executive Director Zach Rozmus says although the trails will be cleared when necessary, residents should still watch out for possible hazards during the winter, “These trails are still rural trails. You know, some secluded areas. There’s always gonna be the component of ‘enter at your own risk’ because trail conditions can always vary throughout different times of the year.”

Rozmus added that the motivation behind updating the policies is to make sure that these trails can be accessible for anyone to use year round and to encourage outdoor recreation. Snow removal will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday anytime there is more than one inch of accumulation. Rozmus says that they will respond to emergency situations such as heavy snowfall or downed trees when necessary and that discretion for these situations will be handled by the conservation staff.