OpportunityTitle: Recovery Act PMIS #154950A - National Park Service:  Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Trail Repair Along Appalachian Trail
Description: This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition. OVERVIEW Established as the first National Scenic Trail by Congress with passage of the National Trails System Act in 1968, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) is a continuous marked footpath extending approximately 2,175 miles across the Appalachian Mountains from the summit of Springer Mountain in Georgia to the summit of Katahdin in Maine, forming a greenway that connects more than 90 public land areas in 14 states. The initial route was constructed entirely by volunteers between 1923 and 1937 and to this day is largely maintained by a corps of more than 6,000 volunteers. Each year the NPS conducts Condition Assessments to determine the current condition of the trail and trail related facilities such as backcountry shelters, parking lots, major trail bridges, buildings, and other asset types. To date, more than 10,000 individual deficiencies have been identified. Many of these can be repaired by volunteers; however some projects require specific expertise or resources beyond the capacity of volunteers to complete. A recent pilot survey (NPS 2009) estimated that approximately 2 million visitors hike a portion of the A.T. each year. This combination of high use and documented backlog maintenance deficiencies necessitates the use professionally led trail crews. This project will address identified maintenance needs on two segments of trail in Vermont. The work will be in compliance with the standards outlined in Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance for the Appalachian Trail (Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2000) and bring the trail from poor condition to good condition. The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) will field four crews for two consecutive projects, each consisting of two crew leader and six team members and supplemented by volunteers from the Green Mountain Club. Each crew will operate for a four week period. The first project will be located on the trail section between Peru Peak and Styles Peak (8,976 linear feet). The second project will be located on the trail section between Baker Peak and Griffith Lake (10,500 linear feet). Both projects will consist of substantial treadway rehabilitation involving the repair or installation of trail structures including (with approximate associated number) drainage ditches (1,000 linear feet), step stones (150), turnpiking (100 linear feet), rock water bars (20), and puncheon bridges (20). STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN The objectives of this project are to rehabilitate approximately 19,476 linear feet of the Appalachian Trail in Vermont to meet trail condition standards that will provide for safe and enjoyable visitor experience while also protecting natural and cultural resources. In addition, the project will meet the goals of both the Public Lands Corps Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by partnering with a non-profit youth organization to provide employment opportunities for youth while working in and enjoying national parks and alleviating backlog maintenance work. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) will field four crews for two consecutive projects, each consisting of two crew leader and six team members. Each crew will operate for a four week period and perform substantial trail rehabilitation work in accordance with accepted trail standards. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT The National Park Service Appalachian Trail Park Office will coordinate the project with the appropriate management partners including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Green Mountain Club, the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and the USDA Forest Service Green Mountain National Forest, where the project is located. The National Park Service works with all of these partners to identify the specific projects to be accomplished, the priorities of those projects, and the means to complete the work.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: National Park Service
GrantorContactText: Heidi Sage &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist (Contractor) &lt;br/&gt;Phone 303-969-2378