ISTGP - Iowa Snowmobiler

On Sept. 11, 2017, the ISSA signed a cooperative agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to assume control of the snowmobile trail grant process and the distribution of more than two-thirds of the snowmobile registration fees collected annually. The contract also transferred ownership of the groomer fleet to the ISSA, and administration of the program now falls on the Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program (ISTGP) for approving grant requests and on the ISSA’s Emergency Funding Committee (EFC) for issuing payments. By design, Past ISSA Presidents Chris Willey and Terry Durby serve as co-administrators for four-year terms, both of whom were elected to their positions by the six committee members listed below. Please use the following email address to contact the ISTPG: ISSA.RSC@gmail.com.

Administrative Positions by Election (Four-Year Terms)

Chris Willey, Past ISSA President/Groomer Training Coordinator

John Kahler, Past ISSA President

Technical Advisor

Terry Durby, Past ISSA President

Members By Position

Matt Miner, ISSA President

Seth Bram, ISSA Vice President

Members By Election (Three-Year Terms)

Randy Magg (Western representative)

John Gallentine (Central representative)

Mark Kuennen (Eastern representative)

Iowa DNR Representative

Jessica Flatt

With the exception of a member from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program is an all-volunteer board, consisting of ISSA officials and representatives from three regions across Iowa. This board represents all registered snowmobilers in Iowa.

The Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program oversees grooming operations in Iowa and determines equipment placement with clubs. In order to operate a groomer, an operator must become certified by the program. Below are the steps to becoming a certified groomer operator in Iowa:

Apply to the program and authorize a driver's license check.
Email issa.rsc@gmail.com for application.
Attend a new groomer operator training.
Complete a mentorship with a certified groomer.
See below for training checklist. Return training checklist to program to complete certification process.

Certification card is issued by program. Anyone operating snow grooming equipment must possess a valid driver's license and a certified groomer operator card issued by the IDNR. For more information or if your club would like to host a groomer recertification course, contact ISSA Groomer Training Coordinator Chris Willey at (563) 920-9010 or ISSA.RSC@gmail.com.

Please note Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program applications and reimbursements are handled through the Groomer Tracking Systems website at ia.groomertrackingsystems.com. Here are specific links.

Groomer Tracking: gts.groomertrackingsystems.com/

Trail Grant Application and Reimbursement: ia.groomertrackingsystems.com/state/

Other documents you may find useful for trail and groomer operation:

Groomer Selection Matrix

Groomer Operator Manual

Groomer Operator Log

Groomer Operator Training Checklist

Iowa Snowmobile Regulations

L andowner Lease Agreement (updated 2022)

Program Letter to Potential Landowner (updated 2022)