We’re excited to announce that BMA, working in cooperation with Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest, has received a significant grant from The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA) for its work improving multi-use trails in Boulder County.
The grant funds several projects for trail maintenance using BMA volunteers and youth corps crews this summer. The Trail Stewardship Funding Program awards funds to trails and stewardship organizations for increasing trail maintenance accomplishments and reducing deferred maintenance (trail backlog) on National Forest System trails. A total of 42 projects were funded, totaling $402,000, for both motorized and non-motorized trail uses. 114 proposals were received, requesting over $1,400,000 in funding.
The $16,000 NWSA grant required a 1:1 cash match, which was generated through community donations to the BMA Trail Fund in 2017 and 2018. The initiative supports BMA volunteer-led trail work on the West Magnolia Trails and South St. Vrain Trails in Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest. The project will employ both youth corps members and volunteer trail work days. Volunteer days are scheduled in July, August and September and volunteers are invited to sign up to participate on the BMA website.
“We are thrilled to be selected for an NWSA grant this year,” said Wendy Sweet, president of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance. “We’re so grateful to our members and the community for supporting the BMA Trail Fund and coming out to volunteer. Without that backing this grant and trail work would not be possible. The West Magnolia trails receive such heavy recreational use and these funds are critical to help maintain and improve a quality trail experience.”
The Magnolia Non-motorized Trails Plan was approved in 2016 by the Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest. BMA is working collaboratively with them to implement the plan over the next several years. In 2017 the BMA supported over 360 volunteers in providing over 1700 hours of trail work on 19 trail projects in Boulder County. The BMA supports trail building and maintenance activities in partnership with Boulder County, City of Boulder Open Space Mountain Parks and the National Forest Service.
“NWSA is very enthused and committed to this funding program, especially since 2018 is the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act”, said Randy Welsh, Executive Director, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, manager of the program. “We thank the Forest Service for their expansion of the funding this year, and for the participation of Boulder Mountainbike Alliance in the program. Trails connect people to the National Forests, and this funding will help these local groups and volunteers participate in caring for and managing their Forests. The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Partnership Funding Program will encourage a huge increase in the number of volunteers and public involved with National Forest trails.”
Further information on the National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partnership Funding program can be found on the NWSA website at: www.wildernessalliance.org/trail_funding.
Questions about the NWSA Grant and BMA’s volunteer program may be addressed to the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, info@bouldermountainbike.org.