194 Trail Organizations and Partners Voice Support for Federal Trail Funding (House of Representatives)



American Hiking Society • American Trails • American Motorcyclist Association Back Country Horsemen of America • Equine Land Conservation Resource International Mountain Bicycling Association • National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance • Partnership for the National Trails System •Rails-to-Trails Conservancy + the 185 Organizations Below

Chair Simpson, Ranking Member Pingree, and members of the subcommittee, on behalf of American Hiking Society and the millions of trail users our 194 collective organizations represent who spend their time, money and energy to get out on trails for recreation, health and wellness, and to volunteer, we thank the Committee for the opportunity to provide testimony on the importance of adequately funding our nation’s trails and public lands to ensure access for all. We ask the Committee to adopt the following funding requests so the federal government can continue to leverage private contributions and benefit from volunteer labor as well as provide inexpensive, healthy outdoor recreation options for your constituents and all Americans. Appropriations for federal land management agencies requested herein, coupled with the significant resources provided by non-profit partners, serve to accelerate collective stewardship of our nation’s public lands and waters and enhance climate adaptability.

Summary of Requests

Forest Service:

  • Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CMTL), Trails at $22.07M, including $11.957M for National Scenic and Historic Trails, and funding for the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Trail Partner Funding. In order to support adequate funding for all Forest Service trails and to avoid a reduction in the existing budget for all other Forest Service managed trails, increases for all other Forest Service Trails should occur in parity with the rate of increases for National Scenic and Historic Trails;
  •  $58.575M to fund Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness;
  • At least $15M to fund Legacy Roads & Trails, with support for Washington Watershed Restoration Initiative (WWRI) coalition request of $100M.

Bureau of Land Management:

  • Funding at $13.75M for National Trails System Line Item
  • National Conservation Lands at $78.145M, but a minimum level funding of FY23 at $61.499M;

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

  • Refuge Visitor Services at least $86.114M

National Park Service:

  • Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program at $15M;
  • Park Service Operations for the National Trails System at a minimum of $20.964M;
  • Volunteers in Parks programs at a minimum of FY23 levels, including dedicated funding to the National Trails System;
  • Visitor Services sub-activity, Youth Partnership Programs at a minimum of $10.95M, including an acknowledgment of the benefits for trails;
  • Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, at a min $135M

US Geological Survey:

  •       $1.5M to fully fund the National Digital Trail Project (NDTP)

Forest Service Recommendation: 

National Forest trails benefit everyone and receive increasing public use each year. Collectively, the National Forests provide 159,000 miles of trails for activities ranging from hiking, biking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle usage, groomed winter trails for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, and access points for “river trails.” Roughly 120,000 of the 159,000 miles of trails are in need of some form of maintenance or repair. 

Program: Capital Improvement and Maintenance, Trails  

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $22.07M at minimum FY23 Level: $20M

Department: Agriculture Agency/Account: Forest Service, Capital Improvement and Maintenance, Trails

Report Language requested: 

  • In order to support adequate funding for all Forest Service trails and to avoid a reduction in the existing budget for all other Forest Service managed trails, increases for all other Forest Service Trails should occur in parity with the rate of increases for National Scenic and Historic Trails
  • The committee supports continued funding for the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Trail Partner Funding Program. Much of the Forest Service’s  trail work is accomplished today by volunteer groups and non-profit partners.  The Forest Service has a successful Trail Stewardship Partner Funding challenge cost share program that leverages federal funding by 3 to 5:1.  

Program: Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $58.575M at a minimum FY23 Level: $55M

Department: Agriculture

Agency/Account: Forest Service, Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness Program: Legacy Roads & Trails

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $6.39M at a minimum FY23 Level: $6M

Department: US Department of Agriculture

Agency/Account: Forest Service, Legacy Roads & Trails

BLM Recommendation: 

The BLM manages 13,468 miles of trails over 245 million acres —more land than any other federal land management agency and contains a diversity of landscapes that often provide the public less structured but nonetheless diverse recreational opportunities. BLM recreation resources and visitor services support strong local economies. More than 120 urban centers and thousands of rural towns (comprising 64 million people) are located within 25 miles of BLM lands. 

Program: Bureau of Land Management National Trails System Line Item Funding

FY24 Funding Level Requested:$ 13.75 FY23 Level: $11M

Department: Bureau of Land Management. Agency/Account: National Conservation Lands, National Trails

Program: National Conservation Lands

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $78.145M, but a minimum $61.499M FY23 Level: $61.499M

Department: Bureau of Land Management Agency/Account: BLM, National Conservation Lands

FWS Recommendation:

Refuge Visitor Services provides funding for trail maintenance across FWS-managed land. Located in every U.S. state and territory, and within an hour’s drive of nearly every major U.S. city, National Wildlife Refuges provide incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, hunting, fishing, birding, boating and nature photography across 2,500 miles of trails. More than 37,000 jobs are reliant on refugees.  Funding at a level of $93M will provide for trail maintenance across the land and water trails, refuges, wetlands, and hatcheries, including eleven National Scenic and Historic Trails and forty-four National Recreation Trails. 

Program: Visitor Services

FY24 Funding Level Requested:  $86.114M FY23 Level: $80.859M

Department: Department of Interior Agency/Account: Fish and Wildlife Service, Visitor Services

NPS Recommendation: 

National Parks, and the world-class experiences their 18,844 miles of trails provide, are one of the most unifying forces in America. Well-maintained trails improve the quality of visitor experiences and enhance visitor safety. 

Program: Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance (RTCA) 

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $15M FY23 Level: $13M

Department: Department of Interior Agency/Account: NPS, National Recreation and Preservation

Report Language requested: Within, National Recreation and Preservation, $13.845M for the Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance program.

 

Program: National Trails System

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $20.964M FY23 Level: $18.856M 

Department: Department of Interior Agency/Account: National Park Service, Park Service Operations

Report Language requested: 

  • Within, Park Service Operations, $22.18M for administration of the National Trails System. 
  • National Trails System.-The Committees understand the importance of providing adequate funding for the development and maintenance of the National Trails System for future generations to enjoy. The Committees urge the Service to continue its efforts to develop National Scenic and Historic Trails, not limited to supporting construction and maintenance projects and volunteer coordination efforts, and to recognize equal “unit” status of National Scenic Trails.

 

Program: Volunteers in Parks

FY24 Funding Level Requested: Maintain FY23 increase, at minimum FY23 Level: Unknown

Department: Department of Interior Agency/Account: NPS, Park Partnership Support Functions

Report Language requested: The committee recommends funding through Volunteers in Parks be provided for volunteer support of the National Trails System, National Rivers, and National Park Service trails. 

 

Program: Youth Partnership Programs

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $10.95M FY23 Level: Unknown

Department: Department of Interior  Agency/Account: National Park Service, Visitor Services

Bill Language requested: 

Report Language requested: The committee recommends funding through the Youth Partnership Programs be provided for support of the National Trails System, National Rivers, and National Park Service trails. 

Program: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership

FY24 Funding Level Requested: At least $135M FY23 Level: $125M

Department: Department of Interior Agency/Account: National Park Service, State Conservation Grants

Report Language requested: The committee recommends funding through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program be provided for support of trails, including the National Trails System.

US Geological Survey Recommendation:

Program: National Digital Trail Project

FY24 Funding Level Requested: $1.5M FY23 Level:$1.35M

Department: U.S. Geological Survey Agency/Account: U.S. Geological Survey, Core Science Systems

 (Across Agencies) Restore Staffing for Federal Land Managers Recommendation:

Federal land managers, including those overseeing recreation and trails programs across NPS, USFS, BLM, and FWS sites, continue to face staffing shortages impacting the ability to adequately manage, maintain, and conserve the nation’s trails. Across the board land management agency staffing needs to be increased in order to support all aspects of trail management and maintenance, including volunteer engagement and partnerships, land acquisition, on the ground maintenance of trails systems that are desperately in need of attention to reduce maintenance backlogs, ensure that trails are safe and accessible, and address current and anticipated high levels of public use.

Access4Bikes Foundation

Alaska Trails

American Discovery Trail Society

American Rivers

American Society of Landscape Architects

Anza Area Trail Town

Appalachian Mountain Club

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Arizona Trail Association

Back Country Horsemen of America

Back Country Horseman of Minnesota

Back Country Horsemen of Colorado

Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico

Back Country Horsemen of Oregon

Back Country Horsemen of Texas

Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead

Back Country Horsemen of UT - Southwest Chapter

Gila Chapter Back Country Horseman

Northern Colorado Back Country Horsemen

Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

Bay State Trail Riders Association, Inc.

Bike To The Sea .Org

Black Hills Sustainable Living

Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee

California Mountain Biking Coalition

California Trails Foundation

Capital Trails Coalition

Carolina Mountain Club

The Chemeketans

Chinook Associates

Chinook Trail Association

Choose Outdoors

Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance

City of Asheville, NC Greenway Committee

City of Clarksville, TN Parks and Recreation

Colorado Mountain Bike Association

Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association

Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Conservation Minnesota

Continental Divide Trail Coalition

The Conservation Fund

County Line Riders of Catalina, Inc

Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail

Dickinson County Trails Board

Idaho Horse Council

Dirt Dojo LLC

Disabled Equestrians Organization

Dishman Hills Conservancy

East Coast Greenway Alliance

EcoServants

Elizabeth River Trail Foundation

Enchanted Circle Trails Association

Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail

Evansville-Area Trails Coalition

Farms and Barns Real Estate LLC

Fitchburg Greenway Committee

Floyd County Parks and Recreation Department

Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC)

Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition

ForeverGreen Trails

Fort Wayne Trails, Inc.

Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Friends Of Blackwater, Inc.

Friends of Constitution Park Ossipe

Friends Of Cross Bar SRMA

Friends of North Idaho Trails

Friends of the Cheat

Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail

Friends of the Kanawha Trace

Friends of Weiser River Trail Inc

G5 Trail Collective

Granite Mountain Riders

Grant Creek Trails Association

Great Springs Project

Hayward Area Recreation and Park District

Health by Design

Higher Ground

Hispanic Access Foundation

Hoosier Environmental Council

Housing Rehab

Hubbardston Open Space Committee - chair

Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs

Indiana Trails Community

Infrastructure Resources, LLC

Iron TrailCraft Inc.

Jordan Lake Trails Conservation Association

League of Michigan Bicyclists

Legacy Land Conservancy

Legacy Trails LLC

Leominster Trail Stewards

Loudoun County Department of Parks Recreation and Community Services

Love in Motion

Lowelifes Respectable Citizens' Club

Marin County Bicycle Coalition

Marquette Area Chapter of the North Country Trail Association

ME4E

Milestepper, LLC

Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Mineral County MT Rails-to-Trails

Montachusett Regional Trails Coalition

Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club

MORE The (Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiast) Inc

Mormon Trails Association

Mount Rogers Trail Coalition

Muskegon County Trail Riders

National Association for Interpretation

National Coast Trail Association

National Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association

Natural Sporthorse

Nature Legacies

Nevada Off-Highway Vehicles Program

Nevada Outdoor School

New England Mountain Bike Association

New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition

New Mexico Sportsmen

New York Bicycling Coalition

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

Newtown Parks and Recreation

North County Land Trust

Northwest Pennsylvania Trail Association

Northwestern Ohio Rails-to-Trails Assn., Inc.

NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Oregon Equestrian Trails

Oregon Horse Council

Oregon Timber Trail Alliance

Oregon Trails Coalition

Ozark Trail Association

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Palmetto Trail

 

Patten Area Outdoors

The PC Help Desk, Inc

Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society

PeopleForBikes

Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance

Pima Trails Association

Potomac Heritage Trail Association

Rappahannock County Recreation Facilities

Red Line Parkway Initiative

Rio Grande Indivisible, NM

River Region Trails, Inc.

Rocky Mountain Backcountry Horsemen

Rocky Mountain Field Institute

San Diego Mountain Biking Association

San Luis Valley Great Outdoors

Sandy Creek Nature Center Inc.

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship

Shawnee Trail Conservancy

Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

The Sierra Club

Singletrack Trails, LLC

Siskiyou Upland Trails Association

Sitka Trail Works, Inc

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists

South Penn Enduro Riders

Southborough Trails Committee

Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance

Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association

Sports Backers

St. Skutla Icelandic Horse Club

super genius inc.

Tahoe Rim Trail Association

Terra Active, LLC

Trails and Open Space Coalition

Trails Inspire

Trails Unlimited

Trails Utah

Truckee Meadows Trails Regional Trail Program, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation

Trust for Public Land

The Trustees of Reservations

Twin State Rails-to-Trails Working Group

Upper Valley Trails Alliance

Urbana Park District

Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance

The Vermont Mountain Bike Association

Vinton County Park District

Virginia Bicycling Federation

Virginia Trails Alliance

Washington County, Ohio, Board of Commissioners

Washington Trails Association

Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association

Western Riding Club

Western States Trail Foundation

The Wilderness Society

Willamette Valley Visitors Association