Continental Divide Trail Coalition receives trail stewardship funding
GOLDEN, CO (March 16, 2023) – The Continental Divide Coalition along with American Trails is excited to announce the first year of trail projects funded by the Legacy Trails Program.
“We are excited to be able to support such excellent projects across the country, which will have a positive impact on watershed health, public access to the outdoors and overall trail resiliency,” says Cathy Corlett, Trail Fund Director at American Trails.
This new program is administered by American Trails and funded through a cost-share agreement with the United States Forest Service to distribute $1.4 million dollars per year to support trails projects on forests and grasslands managed by the USFS through 2027. The CDTC works closely with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service staff to formulate priority projects and partnerships to serve both the resource and the community.
“Partnerships have been absolutely essential to our work directed at the completion, protection and promotion of the Continental Divide Trail.” said Teresa Martinez (she/hers/ella), CDTC Executive Director, “And we rely on the support of our agencies and organizations like American Trails to identify projects and move them forward. With this funding, we look forward to continuing to showcase the successful shared stewardship of the CDT and demonstrating how innovative investments can help to achieve our shared vision for a connected Divide landscape.”
CDTC is most successful in providing facilitation between partners as well as coordinating, recruiting, educating, and managing volunteer trail projects and trail maintenance training. In particular, CDTC has a long history of partnering with both Arapaho National Forest and Carson National Forests, where the proposed projects will occur. In Arapaho National Forest, CDTC and other organizations have been working collaboratively with the Forest Service to improve the CDT within Grand County, Colorado.
With this funding, we look forward to continuing to showcase the successful shared stewardship of the CDT and demonstrating how innovative investments can help to achieve our shared vision for a connected Divide landscape.
Teresa Martinez (she/hers/ella), CDTC Executive Director
The Legacy Trails Program projects are located along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. In particular, these projects will support the areas of High Lonesome and Rollins Pass in Colorado (both located within Arapaho National Forest) and in Martinez Canyon, New Mexico (located within Carson National Forest). More information about the Legacy Trails Program can be found at americantrails.org.
More information about the Continental Divide Trail Coalition can be found at continentaldividetrail.org.
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More about the Legacy Trails Program
The Legacy Trails Program seeks to fund projects that restore fish and aquatic organism passage, improve trail resiliency, preserve trail access, decommission unauthorized trails, and convert unneeded Forest Service roads to trails. Project applicants may include nonprofit organizations, businesses or agencies at the state or local level. The Forest Service identifies and prioritizes watershed acres or areas where Forest Service roads and trails may impact water quality in streams and water bodies. Protecting threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, and community water sources are among the top priorities for projects that improve and maintain trail access. Emergency operations, such as evacuation routes during wildfires, floods or other natural disasters also benefit from this program.
More about American Trails
American Trails celebrates decades of working on behalf of all trail interests. Our website is one of the world’s most comprehensive online sources for planning, building, designing, funding, managing, enhancing, and supporting trails, greenways, and blueways. Since 1988, American Trails has been a training resource and collective voice for a diverse coalition of trail enthusiasts, professionals, advocates, land managers, conservationists, and friends of the outdoors and livable cities. American Trails strives to enrich the quality of life, mental health, and physical health for all people and the sustainable development of communities by advancing and promoting the development, preservation, and enjoyment of diverse, high-quality trails and greenways.
About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.
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