National parks and forests from Maine to California are in line to receive millions in federal money for trail maintenance and building repairs in 2021.
The U.S. Department of the Interior in November released an outline of outdoor recreation projects that it will undertake using money from the Great American Outdoors Act, passed by Congress last summer and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail in the White Mountain National Forest, which received heavy use last summer as people flocked to the outdoors during the pandemic, will be a priority for maintenance; 236 acres known as the Doc’s Way property, the dominant view from McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail, will be purchased; the campground at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park, a waypoint for John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails hikers, will be rehabilitated.
The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expect to spend more than $125 million for 46 conservation projects using money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
About $1.6 billion will be spent on more than 160 deferred maintenance projects.
What is the Great American Outdoors Act?
Earlier this year, a bill was signed that would permanently fund the LWCF and help restore national parks. This was the Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law in August 2020.
The Great American Outdoors Act provides $9.5 billion over five years for maintenance projects and commits $900 million annually to the LWCF for conservation and recreation.
The act will also utilize royalties from offshore oil and gas, ensuring permanent funding for the LWCF. This was a huge step in a long process when it looked like the LWCF funding was going to run out before it was signed into permanent law.
This comes at a critical time when national parks are reaching an all-time high with visitation, hosting over 325 million people per year. Roads, campgrounds, facilities, and trail infrastructure can’t keep up with the higher volume of visitors, and major overhaul and maintenance are needed at parks around the country.
National park maintenance projects can be found here.
Land and Water Conservation Fund projects can be found here.
National forest projects can be found here.
Article: Hugh Owen and Maggie Slepian
Photos: Luke Pearsall