National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act 2016 Webinar Insights

Welcome to: National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2016 Webinar This webinar will start at 2:00 PM Mountain Time There will be close to 100 people on this webinar Please mute your phones If you have a question use the Chat function will respond as soon as we can This webinar will be recorded. A copy of the webinar and Powerpoint will be placed on the NWSA website following this event. A Survey on the Act is found on the NWSA website. Please provide your feedback on issues on the Act following this webinar. This information will be provided to the Forest Service during Hike the Hill, February 12-15th. Building a Wilderness Community

The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act H.R. 845 114th Congress November 28, 2016 A Webinar presented by: Randy Welsh Executive Director National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance Building a Wilderness Community

Who We Are The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance s mission is to build a strong dynamic wilderness stewardship community. We do this through information sharing, grants, conferences and workshops. Check out our website at http://www.wildernessalliance.org Today s host: Randy Welsh, Executive Director, NWSA Building a Wilderness Community

Webinar Goals Inform and Educate about the NFS Trails Stewardship Act Explain Opportunities for Wilderness Stewardship Groups Explain Deliverables Required by the Act Key Dates and Sequencing of Activities Seek Input on Criteria for Priority Areas Building a Wilderness Community

History Long standing concern over Nation Forest Trail System maintenance and operations. 2013 GAO Trails Report Key Groups concerned with ensuring attention is given American Hiking Society Back Country Horsemen of America The Wilderness Society 80 other Trail and Environmental Groups Legislation Drafted to Focus on Key Issues with Low-to-No New Cost to the Federal Treasury (i.e., not add to federal deficit) Building a Wilderness Community

History Long standing concern over Nation Forest Trail System maintenance and operations. 2013 GAO Trails Report Key Groups concerned with ensuring attention is given American Hiking Society Back Country Horsemen of America Randy Rasmussen The Wilderness Society Paul Sanford 80 other Trail and Environmental Groups Legislation Drafted to Focus on Key Issues with Low-to-No New Cost to the Federal Treasury (i.e., not add to federal deficit) Building a Wilderness Community

2013 GAO Trails Report National Trails Assessment Improved data collection Better use of volunteers Improved Trail Training FS Response: FS Trail Strategy Volunteer Assessment Better Performance Measures Improved Budget Models Building a Wilderness Community

The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act H.R. 845 114th Congress November 28, 2016 Building a Wilderness Community

Section 1 Short Title, Table of Contents Short Title: Table of Contents Sec 1 Short Title National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act Sec 2 Findings Sec 3 Definitions Sec 4 Volunteer and Partnership Strategy Sec 5 Priority Trail Maintenance Sec 6 Cooperative Agreements Sec 7 Stewardship Criteria for Outfitters and Guides Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 2 - Findings 157,000 miles of trail within the FS trails system All types hiking, biking, horseback riding, water, motorized GAO only to standard, $314 million backlog and annual backlog of $210 million Threats to access, environmental damage and public safety from backlog Budget limitations require more efficient use of existing resources Volunteers, partners, O&G s play important role Strategy needed Note emphasis on no new funds, but improved efficiency Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 3 - Definitions Outfitter and Guides as per CFR 251.51 Partner nonfederal entity that engages in a partnership Partnership arrangements that are voluntary, mutually beneficial Challenge Cost Share, Cooperative Agreements Priority Area well defined region of NF as selected in Sec 5A Strategy Volunteer and Partnership Strategy required by the Act in Sec 4A Trail Maintenance any activity to maintain usability and sustainability of trails within the NFS Volunteer as per Volunteers in the National Forests Act of 1972 Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4 Volunteer and Partnership Strategy Not later than 2 years so by Nov 2018. Publish in Federal Register strategy to significantly increase the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance 5 Required elements augment and support employees meaningful opportunities in each Region address barriers prioritize in areas with most severe trail needs Goal increase trail maintenance by volunteers and partners by 100% within 5 years Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4c Additional Requirements Study opportunities to use fire crews in trail maintenance Cannot jeopardize firefighting capabilities, public safety, or resource protection Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4d Volunteer Liability Amends Sec 3 of Volunteers in National Forests Act of 1972 Broadens definition of volunteer Covered by a mutual benefit agreement Supervised by cooperator as directed in agreement Agreement specifies work to be performed Applicable safety standards and protocols On-site visits by agency Not later than 2 years Nov 2018 adopt regulations implementing this section. Risk to be shared by all ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS. Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4e - Consultation Develop the Volunteer Strategy in consultation with: Volunteer and Partner Trail maintenance organizations Broad array of outdoor recreation stakeholders Other relevant stakeholders Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4f - Coordination Each Administrative Unit to develop a volunteer and partner coordination implementation plan for the strategy. Define roles and responsibilities for unit staff Strategies to ensure sufficient coordination, assistance, and support for volunteers and partners to improve trail maintenance Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 4g - Report A Final Report is required Effectiveness of the Strategy Increase in volunteer and partner efforts as a result of the Strategy Miles and value of trail maintenance by volunteers and partners Status of stewardship credits for outfitters and guides (Sec 7) Recommendations for increasing volunteers and partners Submit no later than 3 years after Act November 2019 Submit to both House and Senate committees Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 5 Priority Areas Within 6 months of enactment select no fewer than 9 and no more than 15 Priority Areas for increased trail maintenance accomplishments Each Region must have at least one priority area (9 Regions total) Criteria: Well defined region of NF with lack of trail maintenance Reduced access to public land Increase or risk of harm to natural resources Jeopardize public safety Trails impassable to intended users Increased future deferred trail maintenance costs Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 5 Priority Areas (contd) Sec of Ag must consider public input within 3 months of the Act February 2017 Consider range of trail users (both motorized and mon-motorized) At least one priority area per Region 9 Regions 6 extra areas Within 6 months of deciding Priority Areas Create an approach to substantially increase trail maintenance Consider public input on trail maintenance priorities and needs Consider costs and benefits Incorporate volunteers and partners Goal Substantially increase trail maintenance in priority areas Regional coordinators may be engaged Review and revise priority areas as needed Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 6 Cooperative Agreements Secretary may enter into Cooperative Agreements with: State Tribes Local Government Private entity Cooperative Agreements may: Improve trail maintenance in a priority area Implement the strategy Advance trail maintenance as deemed by the Sec Building a Wilderness Community

Sec 7 Stewardship Credits Pilot Program within 1 year of Act November 2017 No less than 20 administrative units Offset all or part of land use fee For work performed construct, improve, or maintain Trails Trailheads Developed sites Must be units that improve trail maintenance Must meet established Quality Standards Building a Wilderness Community

Deliverables from date of Act Input on Priority Areas 3 months Selection of Priority Areas 6 months Develop Approach in Priority Areas 1 year Pilot Program for O&G Trail Stewardship Credits 1 year Volunteer and Partner Strategy for Trail Maintenance 2 years Adopt Volunteer and Partner Regulations 2 years Report to Congress 3 years Building a Wilderness Community

So What Does This All Mean? Quick identification of Priority Areas May see some reprioritization of Resources to Priority Areas within allocations Great opportunity for more Volunteer and Partner Engagement Addresses barrier to volunteer use by OWCP Claims payments Cooperative Agreements available Testing of Outfitter and Guide trail maintenance already done in some places Overall Goals more trail maintenance more people engaged better cooperation and coordination with agency Building a Wilderness Community

Input on Priority Area Criteria Some discussion amongst Bill proponents on Priority area selection criteria Mixture of urban-proximate trail systems and historically significant backcountry/ wilderness complexes Areas with documented problems meeting trail maintenance and backlog needs (e.g., news reports, Congressional actions, published data, etc. Areas where catastrophic events (e.g., beetle-kill, fire, wind throw, etc.) have taken a disproportionate toll on trails and public access Areas where improved trail maintenance would provide historically under- represented communities greater opportunity to connect with the National Forests Areas with a known presence of volunteer groups available to assist with the priority work (and shovel-ready projects) Other? Building a Wilderness Community

Other Criteria Issues Scale of Priority Areas District Forest Multi-Forest Geographic areas versus Administrative areas Within a contiguous area or spread around Priority Areas by Type or Theme All motorized All horseback riding etc Local unit capabilities Staff resources interest Others? Building a Wilderness Community

Scale Issue With 157,000 miles of trail 10% equals 15,7000 miles approximately 2-3 Forests of trail 1% equals 1,570 miles approximately 1-2 Districts of trail How much is enough to show good faith effort? How much is enough to try to address the problem? Without additional resources does it matter? How many groups might be engaged in priority areas? How flexible are volunteers and partners to adjusting operations to chosen priority areas? Building a Wilderness Community

Survey What do you think? NWSA has prepared a Survey Monkey questionnaire Priority Area Criteria Scale Issues Volunteer Strategy Go to NWSA Website http://wildernessalliance.org for link to survey Input received by Thursday, February 9, will be consolidated and submitted to Forest Service at Hike the Hill event, February 14th. Building a Wilderness Community

Thank You for Attending Questions? Use the Chat feature to type in a question. Will respond as quickly as we can on the webinar A copy of the Webinar and Powerpoint will be placed on the NWSA website shortly following this event. Be sure to leave your feedback on the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2016 on the NWSA Website. www.wildernessalliance.org Building a Wilderness Community

This Concludes our Webinar Thank you for Joining Us For more information about this webinar, please contact: Randy Welsh Executive Director National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance randy@wildernessalliance.org Building a Wilderness Community