Bitterroot Trail Reconditioning and Drainage Repair ($300,000)
Bitterroot National Forest, Idaho and Montana
This two-year project addresses vital deferred maintenance needs across the Bitterroot National Forest trails system. Work will include improved drainage and structure repair, tread reconstruction, and brushing of trail corridors to maintain recreation access and improve the sustainability and safety of the trail system. Deferred maintenance tasks will occur inside and outside designated Wilderness areas, benefitting both motorized and non-motorized users.
Caribou-Targhee Forest Trails Maintenance ($450,000)
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Idaho, and Montana
To enhance the visitor experience, improve access, and increase safety, this project will complete maintenance for year-round trails, trail bridges, trailheads, and signage in seven districts in the forest. This project will reduce deferred maintenance on trails and trail bridges, OHV cattle guards, and improve trailhead access. Funds will be used to purchase trail maintenance equipment and supplies necessary to maintain trails to standard.
Delmoe Lake Road Resurfacing and Campground/Day Use Updates ($50,000)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana
This project will add gravel over the entirety of the road. The project will increase maintainability, reduce erosion, and provide a safer route for the high volumes of traveling public. This project would bring the campground and associated boat launch and day-use site up to current design and accessibility standards. A full redesign will incorporate off-highway vehicle use and link the campground to the motorized trail system. Replacement-only level of design could include replacement of hand pumps, replacement/ repair tables and fire rings, reconstruction of spur roads and living areas, including tent pads, replace signage and bulletin boards, fee stations, and toilets. The project would also improve campground roads and boat launch parking. The project provides improved service delivery to the recreating public, accommodates today’s RVs and trailers, and replaces unserviceable and damaged furnishings. This campground and day-use area contributes to rural community tourism in the Delmoe Lake area near Butte & Whitehall, MT. This project increases access to recreation resources by improving the quality of the facility and access to the lake and bringing the facility up to meet ADA accessibility standards. Reconstructed facilities would be safer for visitors by replacing damaged furnishings, replacing older toilets, and reducing vandalism and abuse that the deteriorating facility currently receives.
Flathead National Forest Trail Deferred Maintenance Reduction Project ($400,000)
Flathead National Forest, Montana
This is a multi-year project to reduce deferred maintenance on over 340 miles of trails in the Tally Lake and Swan Lake Ranger Districts in the Flathead National Forest, some of which are located in the Mission Mountain Wilderness. These trails provide recreation opportunities for motorbikes, mountain bikers, stock users, and hikers.
Main Fork Rock Creek, Trailhead & Campground Repairs, Upgrades, Surfacing: Beartooth Highway ($1,454,000)
Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
Main Fork of Rock Creek is a priority recreation emphasis area project that would complete the last 2.6 miles of the surfacing and drainage project to the Trailhead and the M-K and Greenough campgrounds and trailhead. At Greenough Lake Campground, units will be updated and added, and accessibility standards will be met and dispersed site resource protection along the length of the road with barrier rocks in various locations. This project supports the critical management of recreation, wildlife, watersheds, and fisheries resources. It supports access to Beartooth Highway All American Road, developed and dispersed recreation, motorized and non-motorized trails, wilderness, fishing, hiking, and outstanding scenic beauty. Recreation is the economic driver in this community, and this work will contribute to the contractor, recreational, and tourism sectors of the economy. Beartooth is an international destination connecting with Yellowstone National Park, serving millions of visitors annually and a high-priority area to make investments in recreation infrastructure. Work will promote safe travel on roads, campgrounds, and dispersed sites and support reducing negative wildlife interactions. This project has local community partners, outfitters & guides, and others in the tourism sector.
Motorized and Non-Motorized Trail Deferred Maintenance ($300,000)
Beaverhead—Deerlodge National Forest, Montana
This project will relocate segments of trails across the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to meet National Quality Standards and reduce deferred maintenance. Work will correct poorly designed switchbacks, steeply graded trails, etc. A high-quality system of trails creates opportunities to safely access the forest by non-motorized and motorized means, supporting hunters, outfitters and guides, and general recreation users and contributing to the local recreation and tourism economies.
Motorized and Non-Motorized Trail Reconditioning and Drainage Repair ($300,000)
Bitterroot National Forest, Montana
This project addresses the deferred trail maintenance backlog across the Bitterroot National Forest. Project work consists of trail work like clearing down trees and rock, brushing back encroaching vegetation, maintaining, replacing, adding drainage structures, repairing or rerouting deteriorating trail tread, etc. This work will improve the quality and safety of the visitor experience by opening lines of sight, leveling trail tread, and replacing hazardous, failing drainage structures.
Trail Stewardship Act Priority Area: Central Idaho Complex Deferred Maintenance ($1,231,617)
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Idaho and Montana
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest has about 5,200 miles of trail, of which 5,000 are in the Central Idaho Complex Priority Area, a nationally selected priority area under the Trail Stewardship Act. This multi-year project will reduce deferred trail maintenance across the 4-million-acre forest through clearing and brushing, tread repair, drainage maintenance, and trail bridge replacements. Visitor access and experiences will be improved for motorized and non-motorized trails.
West Zone Motorized Trail Deferred Maintenance Reduction Project ($75,000)
Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana
The west side of the Custer Gallatin National Forest provides 340 miles of all-terrain vehicle / Utility Terrain vehicle-specific trail opportunities. This trail system is popular with local communities as well as visitors. This project entails the maintenance with heavy equipment on the aforementioned motorized trails. The trail work will include re-establishing tread, improving drainage, and other similar tasks.