POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Pocatello is known for its nearby nature and vast trail systems. To combat pet waste along local paths and waterways, the Portneuf Valley Trails Alliance (PVTA) has installed seven new pet waste stations across two of Pocatello’s most popular trail systems.
The new nonprofit organization formed in 2025 out of a love for the Pocatello trail systems, with the goal being to advocate for trail quality and accessibility for hikers of all abilities. Volunteer board member Trish Kerner said the idea for the pet waste stations project came from understanding the direct impact the waste can have on the trail ecosystems.
“We had a lot of support from the City of Pocatello for this project,” Kerner said. “We applied for a grant through the Idaho Community Foundation and specifically the Ifft Family Fund. We reached out to them, and they gave us the money to install these seven waste stations.”
There are seven new stations total: four in the City Creek trail system and three in Cusick Creek. The PVTA will maintain the stations moving forward.
“We’re working with local business sponsors who are going to sponsor each bin to make sure that they’re stocked and that we can maintain them properly,” Kerner said.
She added that five out of seven of the bins have been sponsored. To get involved with sponsoring one of the remaining two stations, visit pvtrails.org or email info@pvtrails.org.
List of Current Sponsors
- Pocatello Fall Ultra
- Scount Mountain Ultra Race
- East Fork Bikes
- Allstate
- Idaho Central Credit Union
“If you’ve been on the trails, you see people walking their dogs. We love our dogs, but sometimes we don’t have a poop bag or we do and leave it on the side of the trail; the infrastructure wasn’t there,” Kerner said. “It’s also really harmful if the poop gets in the waterways; it can have impacts putting E.coli in there.”
With the new waste stations, pet owners can conveniently dispose of pet waste close by. The bins are strategically placed along the trail systems where research has shown dogs are most likely to do business.
“This one is about a quarter mile down the trail because research has shown that dogs take a few minutes to get out and sniff around,” Kerner explained. “Hopefully we target this area, and they’re placed conveniently for everyone.”
The Challenge
The PVTA is also encouraging the public to participate in their challenge for a prize. The first person to locate all seven waste stations and take a photo with them will win PVTA merchandise. The photos must be sent to info@pvtrails.org.
“Send us the pictures at our email, and we would love to celebrate you. We have some swag we would love to give to you so you can show it off to your friends and family,” Kerner said. “We’ve been maintaining them for two weeks now, and nobody has successfully found all seven.”
The Benefits
“We really think this is going to be a great thing for the trail community to help reduce smell, reduce waste on the trails, but also people who want to come and recreate and bring their kids here and play in the creek,” Kerner said. “If there’s a lot of E.coli from dog waste in these creeks, it’s not safe for people to play in them.”
The Portneuf Valley Trails Association is planning to continue serving the recreational community in Pocatello through more projects. Kerner said they help with maintaining the trailhead portable bathrooms and brushing the trails.
Kerner said the organization is always accepting more volunteers and to navigate to their website at pvtrails.org to get involved in future projects.
