Proud to write this …

because the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail will benefit! Susan Skalski made the announcement Friday. This is sure to bring living wage jobs to our community and the county. Thanks Forest Service, we haven’t seen trail funding like this for several years.

full disclosure: I represent the Upper Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail on the MCCT Trail Council.

Sonora, August 14, 2009 – Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski announced today that the forest will initiate several new projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack released the national package for Forest Facilities and Trails on July 21, 2009. A total of 191 roads projects, funded at more than $274 million, are located on Forest Service land in 32 states. The Stanislaus will receive $3,526,000 from this latest round of project funding.

“The Recovery Act projects we’re announcing today are central to creating jobs and building a better, stronger economy in the future,” said Secretary Vilsack. “These projects exemplify President Obama’s commitment to sustainability, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing energy efficiency, which will benefit the 178 million people who visit the National Forests each year, while generating additional tourism and stimulating local economies.”

New Stanislaus ARRA projects include:

• The Stanislaus Trails project will use $2,208,000 to construct or repair three trails accessible to disabled people at Columns of the Giants, Donnell Vista, and San Antonio Creek, and construct or improve trails at Black Bear Bigelow, Mokelumne Coast to Crest and San Domingo Creek. Projects are located in Tuolumne or Calaveras Counties.
• Forest Facility projects will use $1,318,000 to retire a deferred maintenance backlog at various recreation sites throughout the Forest, repair the historic Cal Trans Baker Station Road Maintenance site listed with the National Registry of Historic Places and decommission deteriorating buildings at American Camp. Projects are located in Tuolumne or Calaveras Counties.

“These projects will help improve access to Stanislaus National Forest wonders and special places for able and disabled people alike, improve the quality of visits to Forest recreation sites and repair or eliminate deteriorating structures that detract from the beauty of our public lands,” said Skalski.

The Forest Service Trails System provides access to a wide diversity of users including hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers. In many ways, the benefits of maintaining the trails system are similar to those of roads. Trail maintenance includes protecting soils and reducing erosion, along with clearing vegetation, controlling invasive species, and removing downed trees. Repairs and upgrades to trail heads and parking areas will improve access and safety for trail users. All of this is labor-intensive work requiring skilled workers to be hired under ARRA.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also directs the Forest Service to improve, maintain and renovate public and administrative facilities. As with the roads and trails system, there is currently a large backlog of maintenance needs for public facilities. Maintenance needs were identified through extensive studies of specific public facilities needed to support the primary outdoor activities that are best provided on the National Forests and grasslands.

Information on other Forest Service ARRA projects and related economic recovery can be found at: fs.usda.gov/recovery