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Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)
The USDA Forest Service announced in March 2021 the investment of $285 million to fund Great American Outdoors Act projects across the nation that will address critical deferred maintenance and improve transportation and recreation infrastructure on national forests in California. This investment will assist in the improvement of recreation facilities, trail maintenance, and restoration and repairing of roads, bridges, tunnels and parking areas by leveraging National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Funds provided by Congress.
This $285 million investment across the nation is made possible by the newly created National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, established in 2020 by the Great American Outdoors Act. These funds will allow the Forest Service to implement more than 98 California-specific infrastructure improvement projects essential to the continued use and enjoyment of national forests lands.
There are 5 projects planned for the Six Rivers National Forest:
- Recreation Facilities Water Systems Upgrades for Safe Water Use: This project will complete a full modern replacement of antiquated drinking water treatment facility equipment for 12 campgrounds and administrative sites across the Forest.
- Forest Recreation Sign Maintenance for Public Clarification Purposes: This project will replace signs at campgrounds and day-use sites on the Forest.
- Campground Deferred Maintenance: This project will repair signs, bear boxes, fire rings, picnic tables, parking barriers, host site screening, information kiosks, and brushing at the Dillon, Fir Cove, Fish Lake, and Patrick Creek campgrounds.
- Forest-wide Boat Ramp and River Access Maintenance: This project will repair the boat ramp and river access. The road will be graded with new rock, as needed.
- Patrick Creek Bath House Restoration: This project will complete the Patrick Creek Bath House restoration, including repair and/or replacement of windows, doors, and flooring.
The projects will also serve as a catalyst for economic development and employment opportunities in rural communities. These new investments will strengthen shared stewardship of national forests and grasslands by expanding the Forest Service work with public and private partners. Projects funded by the Legacy Restoration Fund will contribute to efforts to develop more sustainable infrastructure resilient to climate change impacts. Projects may also address Administration objectives to provide improved recreational opportunities and access to underserved communities.
For more information on these projects in the Pacific Southwest Region, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/projects/?cid=fseprd796823.
For more information on the Great American Outdoors Act and related projects, visit www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa.
Background
The Great American Outdoors Act responds to the growing $5 billion backlog of deferred maintenance on national forest and grasslands, which includes $3.7 billion for roads and bridges and $1.5 billion for visitor centers, campgrounds and other facilities. The Forest Service currently administers more than 370,000 miles of roads, 13,400 bridges, 159,000 miles of trails, 1,700 dams and reservoirs, 1,500 communications sites, 27,000 recreation sites, and 40,000 facilities of other types. In addition to helping address deferred maintenance for these critical facilities and infrastructure, the Great American Outdoors Act will help the Forest Service to continue supporting rural economies and communities in and around national forests and grasslands across the country.