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By: Robert Janis
Stimulus Money
Helping To Improve Off-Road Trails
By now we are all familiar with the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) commonly
known as the stimulus program. It has allocated
$787.2 billion which is to be spent on
infrastructure and other projects to help create
jobs. You may not know that a portion of that
money will be spent on maintaining, developing,
and improving trail systems around the country.
Several federal agencies who have authority over
off-road trails have received funds through ARRA
for projects. For example, the Bureau of Land
Management has been given $320 million, Fish and
Wildlife has been allotted $280 million, the
National Park Service has been granted $750
million, and the Forest Service has received $1
billion.
The Forest Service is involved in a number of
projects that are employing thousands of people
to do work to maintain and enhance recreational
infrastructure including trails. One such
project is taking place at the Superior National
Forest in northeast Minnesota. It has received
$557,000 to improve the extensive trail system
on the Forest.
Kristina Reichenbach, public affairs officer for
the Superior National Forest, said that the
project will specifically accomplish such things
as brushing, tread work, installation of water
control structures, boardwalk reconstruction,
and trail sign maintenance. All sorts of trails
throughout the Superior Forest will get a piece
of the action including ATV, hiking, portage,
cross-country, skiing, snowmobiling, and
interpretive trails. The projects started in
June.
The Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC) is
providing 41 young adult volunteers to the
projects. According to Reichenbach, the Superior
National Forest has had a decade or longer
relationship with the MCC. Over the years,
the group has been involved in fish habitat
improvements, fish and wildlife surveys, and
campground and trail improvements.
Seven MCC crews have been working on this
project since June and are expected to work
throughout the year. Reichenbach said that by
the end of July the crews will have contributed
1,898 hours and have cleared brush from about
100 miles of trail, built about 1,491 feet of
trail tread, installed 20 water bars, and
removed more than 381 trees that fell on trails
during an ice storm last spring.
Reichenbach explained that the trails and
roadways of the Superior Forest follow long used
foot paths, old logging roads, and railroad
beds. The Civilian Conservation Corps did the
first major trail construction during the 1930s.
“It is a bit of a ‘flashback’ today to be
hosting the MCC crews,” she said.
Trail work accomplished through the ARRA funding
will supplement ongoing trails management on the
Superior National Forest which offers a variety
of recreational opportunities. There are
1,573 miles of roads and trails currently
available for ATV use including the Big Aspen
Trail on the Laurentian Ranger District and the
Stony Spur ATV trail on Kawishiwi Ranger
District which both provide seasonal
opportunities for ATV riding.
You can find out more about ATV recreation at
the Superior National Forest by visiting its
website page:
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/recreation/atv_trails/.
You can go to the site and download maps of
roads and trails currently available for ATV use
on each district on the Forest. The site
also provides visual examples of the signage you
will come across on the trails as well as
information about the Superior National Forest,
passes and permits, projects, plans, and
publications.
Included is a PDF of a 45-page report on future
actions to be taken to improve the trails in the
forest. According to the report,
future projects include designating or
decommissioning unclassified roads and providing
loop routes and connections for longer distance
riding on existing roads and trails.
Implementation of this project has been on hold
pending completion of supplemental analysis to
respond to an appeal of the Forest Service
decision. It is expected that the new plan
will be implemented in 2010, concluded
Reichenbach. Look for the
publication of a new Motor Vehicle Use Map that
will show the various types of motor vehicles
that are permitted on roads and trails in the
Superior National Forest System. For
details, see the “Projects and Plans” section of
the superior National Forest website
www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior and select
“Travel Management Project.”
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