The Biden-Harris administration announced a $36 million investment in 100 projects to enhance national forest and grassland infrastructure, improving water, roads, trails, bridges and fish habitats as part of the Investing in America agenda.
These investments are possible due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which commits unprecedented resources to improving infrastructure, according to a May 1 news release. The funds will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service through the Legacy Roads and Trails Program, which supports 98 projects in fiscal year 2023.
“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to make a difference in the lives of Americans, and especially across our national forests and grasslands," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. "Through these investments, we are ensuring roads and bridges on national forests and grasslands can withstand the unpredictable climate and weather so visitors and surrounding communities stay safe, and so that millions of Americans continue to enjoy the clean water and recreation opportunities forests and grasslands provide.”
The program is designed to improve water quality, aquatic habitat, and transportation systems' safety, sustainability and durability, the release reported. Apart from improving roads and trails for communities, businesses and visitors, the program also generates employment opportunities, including jobs in stream restoration, environmental design and heavy equipment operations.
The program's long-term goals include reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, promoting habitat for threatened and endangered species, enhancing sustainable recreation opportunities and improving the safety and reliability of transportation infrastructure, the release said.
The Forest Service takes care of more than 160,000 miles of trails, 6,700 road bridges, 7,200 trail bridges and 370,000 miles of roads, according to the release. Additionally, approximately80 million people rely on the water sources on those national forests and grasslands for their drinking water.
These trail improvements will "improve ecological connectivity and watershed health while protecting infrastructure and ensuring national forests continue to provide drinking water to communities," the release reported.