BY Media Release | March 13, 2021
The USDA Forest Service announced the investment of $285 million to fund Great American Outdoors Act projects in 2021. Of this amount, approximately $31.5M will go to the Rocky Mountain Region to fund ninety projects in National Forests in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It is a five-year program and similar dollar amounts are expected over the next five years. This significant influx of funding will be used to address infrastructure and deferred maintenance needs, enhance economic benefits, and improve recreation and public access on national forests by leveraging National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Funds provided by Congress.
Even More Projects Scheduled for Bitterroot National Forest
The Bitterroot National Forest will be taking care of a backlog of deferred maintenance this season. Last week, we listed the projects approved by the Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee. That apparently was just the start for a busy work season.
This week, funds were announced from the new Great American Outdoors Act, which created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. Over 500 infrastructure projects are planned across the nation, including over 60 in Montana. The Bitterroot National Forest has six, mainly dealing with access to the forests and travel on the forests.
WALLA WALLA, Wash. â The Burnt Cabin Trail bridge in Umatilla County is one of 29 projects that will benefit from a U.S. Forest Service grant.
About $40 million will go to national forests in Oregon and Washington, under the Great American Outdoors Act, to address critical deferred maintenance issues and improve transportation and recreation infrastructure, said Darcy Weseman, spokesperson with the Umatilla National Forest.
The projects will provide more safety and better access for park visitors, she said.
The Burnt Cabin Trail Bridge is in the Walla Walla Ranger District. The 17-mile trail begins approximately 6 miles outside of Milton-Freewater, up the South Fork Walla Walla Trail. It provides access to hunting, fishing, camping and backpacking, and is used by hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers and motorcyclists.
Even More Projects Scheduled for Bitterroot National Forest kyssfm.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kyssfm.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BRETT FRENCH
From modernizing the Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center to resurfacing the Delmoe Lake Road outside Butte, a portion of $285 million from the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund could be coming to Montana this year.
The amount of the funding for Region 1 forests in Montana is uncertain, according to Dan Hottle, Northern Region press officer.
âWe still donât know when or how much will be released,â he said.
However, the Forest Serviceâs Rocky Mountain Region announced in a press release that its forests would be receiving $31.5 million for 90 proposed projects this year. The Rocky Mountain Region includes forests in Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Region 1 covers Montana, a portion of the Dakotas and the Idaho Panhandle.