The USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region recently announced its investment of more than $27.5 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to support 59 individual projects across the Rocky Mountain Region in fiscal year 2024, including projects at Williams Creek Campground and Chimney Rock National Monument.
These investments are made possible by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) established by the Great American Outdoors Act.
These projects support the recent announcement by both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior proposing a combined $2.8 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025 to improve infrastructure, recreation facilities, public lands access, and land and water conservation as the legislation enters its fourth out of fifth year.
“This investment allows us to provide greater access to public lands which are essential for recreation, economic development, and community well-being,” said Steve Lohr, Acting Regional Forester.
Between authorized and funded deferred maintenance projects for Fiscal Year 2024, the Rocky Mountain Region currently has 120 LRF projects in various stages of development, with 39 completed.
Since 2021, the Forest Service has completed more than 267 deferred maintenance projects across 41 states and Puerto Rico with more than 880 additional projects currently funded and in various stages of completion.
Among the projects fiscal year 2024 efforts listed for the Rocky Mountain Region are:
• Williams Creek Campground: This project will reduce deferred maintenance and replace campground site amenities, including all use and tent pads, picnic tables and fire rings at Williams Creek Campground on the San Juan National Forest.
These improvements will enhance campground amenities, increase user access and water and sewer infrastructure at a highly utilized area known for its fishing, all-terrain riding, and scenic opportunities as well as close access to Williams Reservoir for fishing and kayaking.
• Chimney Rock National Monument: This project will repave the entry road and parking lot for Chimney Rock National Monument.
Chimney Rock encompasses 4,726 acres of the San Juan National Forest between Durango and Pagosa Springs.
For additional information about the Forest Service implementation of the GAOA, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa.
The GAOA addresses the growing $8.6 billion backlog of deferred maintenance on national forest and grasslands.
The Forest Service currently administers more than 370,000 miles of roads, 13,900 trail and road bridges, 160,000 miles of trails, 1,500 dams and reservoirs, 1,500 communications sites, and 30,000 recreation sites across the United States and Puerto Rico.
