Albuquerque, NM, November 20, 2020 - USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region is seeking public feedback on a proposed list of deferred maintenance projects under construction for Great American Outdoors Act funding in fiscal year 2022.
The Forest Service projects, which are now open for public feedback on the forest service website, aim to address the agency’s $5.2 billion deferred maintenance backlog and improve public access and quality of visitor experience through repair and restoration of roads, trails, bridges, recreation sites, and other facilities. Information about Great American Outdoors Act in the Southwestern Region is available online.
The proposed projects were selected based on seven criteria:
Reducing deferred maintenance
Promoting management of America’s forests
Improving visitor experience
Contributing to rural economic development
Improving visitor access
Ensuring health and safety
Leveraging partner contributions and resources
Signed into law this summer, the Great American Outdoors Act provides funding that will enable federal land managers to take aggressive steps to address deferred maintenance and other infrastructure projects on national forest and grasslands through 2025. The Forest Service is working closely with all interested stakeholders to ensure the selected projects continue to meet local needs and maximize the benefits experienced by millions of Americans who visit and use their national forests and grasslands.
The public has until Nov. 30, 2020, to review and provide feedback on the proposed list. For more details on how to submit your feedback, visit the Great American Outdoors Act virtual sensing webpage.