Investing in Our Shared Lands: The Great American Outdoors Act on the CDT.
Every check step, every rolling dip, and every bridge on the Continental Divide Trail is there, in part, because of YOU
What is GAOA?
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is a landmark investment in our public lands, signed into law on August 4, 2020. It provides historic funding for long-standing infrastructure needs on public lands and secures permanent, dedicated funding for conservation efforts. More about GAOA
For the CDT, this means a dedicated focus on Deferred Maintenance—the backlog of necessary repairs that keep our trails safe and sustainable
💡What is Deferred Maintenance?
It’s a technical term for a simple problem: essential repairs that were scheduled but never performed due to budget shortfalls. Over decades, as visitation to the CDT increased, funding for land management agencies remained stagnant, creating a multi-million dollar backlog of repairs, like clogged drains, broken bridges, and washed out trail.
Meet the GAOA Team
To support our new GAOA projects along the trail, CDTC is assembling a professional Trail Crew, along with two experienced public land professionals to provide project planning, management, and implementation support. Meet the people behind the GAOA program here at CDTC:
Tambi Gustafson | GAOA Senior Program Manager
Raised on a strawberry and pumpkin farm in Virginia, Tambi now calls Bayfield, in southern Colorado, home. She brings more than two decades of experience with the Forest Service, where she mainly led wilderness or trail programs, as well as six years as a wildland firefighter with the BLM. Much of her career has focused on managing volunteer and trail projects along the CDNST and the Colorado Trail across the Rio Grande, Pike-San Isabel, and the GMUG National Forests. Tambi earned her degree in Environmental Studies and Geography from the University of Colorado and recently completed a Master’s Certificate in GIS. She enjoys all the typical mountain fun like hiking, mountain biking, rafting and camping as well as searching for the best hot spring or taco across the globe. She is excited to return to her roots along the CDNST and the wild landscapes it traverses.
Daniel De Paolis | GAOA Program Manager
Daniel’s roots are on the North Shore of Massachusetts in a small town named Essex. His family has been there for 400 years. He developed an affinity for the old woods and rocky shores of New England and exalted nature with the works of Thoreau and Emerson. When the time came to see what else was out there, he moved to New Mexico for college. There here learned of the simple motto of the United States Forest Service: ‘Caring for the land and serving people’. After graduating he spent 8 years dedicating himself to this mission working for that agency. He now resides in the shadow of the Bighorn mountains in Sheridan, Wyoming with his inimitable partner Claire, their great dane Finn, and 3 cats – Hank, Aurora, and Holstein. This next chapter of his life with CDTC is a continuation of his commitment to caring for the land and serving people with a wonderful team of dedicated and likeminded folks all around him.
Explore GAOA Projects on the CDT
Deferred Maintenance & Tread Restoration
A massive effort to restore a 24-mile segment of the CDT. Our crew will focus on heavy logout and tread "touch-ups" to ensure long-term sustainability and hiker safety.
Traditional Skills in San Pedro Parks
Working deep within the San Pedro Parks Wilderness, the crew will use traditional cross-cut saws and primitive tools to clear blowdowns and preserve the wild character of the trail.
The Gateway Corridor Logout
Focusing on the high-elevation stretch from FR87H to the Colorado border, this project ensures the "gateway to the Rockies" remains clear and accessible during peak thru-hiking season.
Climate-Resilient Reconstruction
Targeting high-priority segments near Mt. Taylor, the crew will implement advanced drainage solutions and trail reconstruction to defend against erosion and increasing use.
Professional Stewardship Training
Investing in the professional future of conservation. Our GAOA crew undergoes rigorous technical training in saw operations and trail building to ensure every mile meets the highest standards.
Additional GAOA Resources
Deepen your understanding of how this historic legislation is transforming public lands and the Continental Divide Trail.
Interactive GAOA Project Map (U.S. Forest Service)
See the footprint of the Legacy Restoration Fund across the country. Use the USFS dashboard and interactive map to zoom into the Continental Divide and explore specific project footprints within our National Forests.
State of the Trail
Read our annual reports and publications to see how GAOA funding accelerates our mission to complete and protect the CDT.
A Primer on the Act
A jargon-free breakdown from PERC on how federal funding through the Legacy Restoration Fund and LWCF translates to trail repairs and conservation.
The Power of Partnerships
Learn how the CDT works with the Partnership for the National Trails System to advocate for shared landscapes and national trail stewardship.
Stewardship in Action: USFS GAOA Partnerships
The Great American Outdoors Act is about more than infrastructure — it's about the people who steward these lands. Explore how GAOA funding supports diverse crews, youth conservation corps, Tribal partnerships, and local communities as they work to restore our national forests and the Continental Divide Trail.