The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded 98 projects $36 million in Legacy Roads and Trails Program grants to improve bridges, fish habitat, roads, trails, and water quality in national forests and grasslands.
The program supports projects that improve infrastructure durability, protect water quality and aquatic habitat, and prevent roads from flooding and washing out.
The projects receiving funding will improve ecological connectivity and watershed health while protecting infrastructure and ensuring national forests continue to provide drinking water to communities.
“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. “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.”
Approximately 80 million Americans drink water that originates on or flows through national forests and grasslands.
The Forest Service is responsible for 370,000 miles of roads in various ecological settings and landscapes, more than 160,000 miles of trails, 7,200 trail bridges, and 6,700 road bridges.