Could Volunteers Help Solve Trail Maintenance Backlog?
Chris Thomas, News Director
Thursday, March 27, 2014
SEATTLE – The U.S. Forest Service could dig out of its backlog of trail maintenance by tapping into people’s love of the outdoors. Recreation groups are asking Congress to make it easier to form partnerships to tackle trail cleanup and repairs that are needed on nearly 75 percent of trails, according to a U.S. Accountability Office (GAO) report.
Paul Spitler, a senior director at The Wilderness Society, says when trails have eroded or are blocked by fallen trees or overgrown vegetation, access disappears – and the biggest barrier to regaining it has been money.
"Really, what we're looking for is creative solutions that don't cost any money but can really help put a dent in this major problem we're facing on our public lands," he explains.
Nationwide, the GAO estimates the trail maintenance backlog tops $300 million, and Spitler says it's been made clear that funding for the projects will not be coming.
In a letter, the recreation groups are recommending Congress authorize setting up volunteer programs that include some training, and using off-season wild land fire-fighting crews to help with the backlog.
Jon Knechtel signed the letter as director of trail operations for the Pacific Northwest Trail Association. He says his group already logs more than 30,000 volunteer hours a year on maintenance projects.
He's concerned the access problems will end up keeping a new generation from exploring their public lands.
"With the restrictions on some of the trails, you can't access them easily because they're in sad shapes of repair,” he says. “There's trails disappearing every year. And the cost to get to a trailhead, with fuel and everything – it's not conducive to get people out."
The groups say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a volunteer coordination program that has worked well for that agency, and a similar approach could help the Forest Service.
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