Nationwide, the Forest Service will select nine to 15 priority areas among its nine regions where a backlog in trail maintenance contributed to reduced access, potential harm to natural resources or trail users and/or has the potential for increased future deferred maintenance costs.

 

The Intermountain Region manages more than 30,000 miles of trails. In the region (Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho, and south-west Wyoming) volunteers and partner groups contributed more than 79,000 hours in maintenance and repair at an estimated value of over $1.8 million.

 

“We understand that our trail systems provide a great benefit to the public,” says Nora Rasure, Regional Forester. “Through new tools that Congress has given us, we have an opportunity to put some focused attention towards working with partners and volunteers to help sustain these trails and the access they provide to your public lands.”

 

The Intermountain Region has until April 15th to submit at least three regional proposals to National Headquarters. Those proposals will be weighed against proposal submitted by other Forest Service regions. The trail maintenance effort is outlined in the National Forest System Sustainable Trails Act of 2016 and aims to increase trail maintenance by volunteers and partners by the end of 2018.

 

 The selected areas will be part of the initial focus with known trail maintenance needs that include areas near urban and remote areas, such as wilderness, are of varying sizes and trail lengths, are motorized and non-motorized, and those that incorporate a varied combination of partner and volunteer approaches and solutions.

The Forest Service manages more than 158,000 miles of trail – the largest trail system in the nation – providing motorized and non-motorized trail access across 154 national forests and grasslands. These Forest Service trails are well-loved and highly used with more than 84 million trail visits annually, helping to support mostly rural economies.

The Forest Service receives widespread support from tens of thousands of volunteers and partners each year who, in 2015, contributed nearly 1.4 million hours – a value of about $31.6 million – in maintenance and repair of nearly 30,000 miles of trails.

However, limited funding compounded by the rising cost of wildfire operations, has resulted in less than 25 percent of Forest Service trails meeting all of the agency’s standards for safety, quality recreation and economic and environmental sustainability. The remaining trails meet standard to varying degrees.

To provide ideas and suggestions on potential priority areas and approaches for incorporating increased trail maintenance assistance from partners and volunteers, contact your local Forest Service office or the Intermountain Region Director of Recreation Chris Hartman (chartman01@fs.fed.us) April 7, 2017.