Trail maintenance is a vital function in preserving the integrity and accessibility of trails in national forests and other public lands. However, with the increasing demand for outdoor recreation and the current federal funding crisis, trail maintenance is facing unprecedented challenges.
The Role of the Deschutes Trails Coalition
The Deschutes Trails Coalition is a nonprofit organization that plays a crucial role in maintaining the trails in the Deschutes National Forest. They dispatch a small crew into the forest to improve trail conditions, removing fallen trees, repairing trails impacted by erosion, and cutting back overgrown vegetation.
Threats to Trail Maintenance
The coalition is facing significant threats to their trail maintenance efforts. The Trump administration has ordered federal funding cuts, which will indefinitely pause trail maintenance performed by professionals. A hiring freeze for seasonal workers will only compound problems for the Forest Service. “The public needs to know that our public lands are struggling right now,” said Jana Johnson, executive director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition. “There’s obviously a lot of staffing shortages. There have been firings. People have been leaving our federal agencies due to the current budget and offers from the current administration.”
Consequences of Funding Cuts
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead. “Without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
Broader Concerns
Concerns that trail maintenance won’t happen this year on the Deschutes and other national forests reflect broader worries that the Trump administration is sidelining environmental protections and recreation in favor of resource extraction. Executive orders are already in place to increase logging and fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
Impact on Visitors
Nate Wyeth, vice president of strategy for Visit Bend, says abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public. “Our unparalleled access to outdoor recreation is the top reason many folks visit or live in Bend, and the current federal funding crisis will undoubtedly impact trail conditions, creating a negative visitor experience,” Wyeth said.
While volunteer crews occasionally maintain local trails, the Deschutes Trail Coalition crew is the only paid, professional crew working on the Deschutes National Forest.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone acknowledged that the Trump administration is tightening the purse strings, impacting groups like the trails coalition. “These are times of action, obviously, from Washington D.C. when the dollars are stopping in different directions,” said DeBone. “People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government.”
DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish. “Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” he said.
Trail maintenance on the Deschutes National Forest usually starts in May and continues until mid-October. Johnson said there are some funds leftover from a year ago along with some new grants that can be used to get some work done at the start of the season. But the coalition’s account will be drained fairly soon, she predicts. “We desperately need funds,” Johnson said. Courtney Braun, co-owner of Wanderlust Tours in Bend, said she is anxious about what federal funding cuts mean for national forests’ partner organizations and public lands. “We feel this could impact not only the health and maintenance of the forest including trails, but could impact visitor safety without as many boots on the ground or trail maintenance,” said Braun. “This also will affect future projects of trail building that will delay some major improvements for both our community and visitors alike.”
Braun said she hopes the community can “rally around” public lands and support federal employees who have been left with large funding gaps in their departments. “We can encourage visitors to really lean into volunteering and understanding or educating themselves about the lands upon which we recreate,” said Braun. “Hopefully with all of our powers combined we can still offer a high quality visitor experience. It just may look a bit different.”
Approximately two dozen organizations conduct volunteer trail maintenance in Central Oregon, including:
- Sisters Trail Alliance
- Oregon Equestrian Trails
- Central Oregon Trail Alliance
- Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness
- Central Oregon Nordic Club
Maintenance Backlog
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work. “We already have millions of dollars of backlog of maintenance that needs to be done on our trails,” said Johnson. “So we’re just going to keep falling further behind if we don’t have crews that are working on maintenance and projects.”
Funding Crisis
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead.
Impact on Visitor Experience
Abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public. The current federal funding crisis will undoubtedly impact trail conditions, creating a negative visitor experience.
Potential Solutions
While volunteer crews occasionally maintain local trails, the Deschutes Trail Coalition crew is the only paid, professional crew working on the Deschutes National Forest. Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish.
DeBone emphasized the importance of local support for organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition. “These are times of action, obviously, from Washington D.C. when the dollars are stopping in different directions,” said DeBone. “People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government.”
Volunteer crews occasionally maintain local trails, but the Deschutes Trail Coalition crew is the only paid, professional crew working on the Deschutes National Forest.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
We urge readers to consider supporting organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition and to explore alternative solutions to the funding crisis.
| Organization | Trail Maintenance Efforts |
|---|---|
| Sisters Trail Alliance | Volunteer-led maintenance of local trails |
| Oregon Equestrian Trails | Volunteer-led maintenance of local trails |
| Central Oregon Trail Alliance | Volunteer-led maintenance of local trails |
| Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness | Volunteer-led maintenance of local trails |
| Central Oregon Nordic Club | Volunteer-led maintenance of local trails |
“We feel this could impact not only the health and maintenance of the forest including trails, but could impact visitor safety without as many boots on the ground or trail maintenance,” said Courtney Braun, co-owner of Wanderlust Tours in Bend.
By exploring alternative solutions and rallying around public lands, we can still offer a high-quality visitor experience. It just may look a bit different.
Trail maintenance is a vital function in preserving the integrity and accessibility of trails in national forests and other public lands. However, with the increasing demand for outdoor recreation and the current federal funding crisis, trail maintenance is facing unprecedented challenges.
The Deschutes Trails Coalition is a nonprofit organization that plays a crucial role in maintaining the trails in the Deschutes National Forest. They dispatch a small crew into the forest to improve trail conditions, removing fallen trees, repairing trails impacted by erosion, and cutting back overgrown vegetation.
The coalition is facing significant threats to their trail maintenance efforts. The Trump administration has ordered federal funding cuts, which will indefinitely pause trail maintenance performed by professionals. A hiring freeze for seasonal workers will only compound problems for the Forest Service.
“There’s obviously a lot of staffing shortages. There have been firings. People have been leaving our federal agencies due to the current budget and offers from the current administration,” said Jana Johnson, executive director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
“Without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead.
“But without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
Concerns that trail maintenance won’t happen this year on the Deschutes and other national forests reflect broader worries that the Trump administration is sidelining environmental protections and recreation in favor of resource extraction. Executive orders are already in place to increase logging and fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
Nate Wyeth, vice president of strategy for Visit Bend, says abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public.
“Our unparalleled access to outdoor recreation is the top reason many folks visit or live in Bend, and the current federal funding crisis will undoubtedly impact trail conditions, creating a negative visitor experience,” Wyeth said.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone acknowledged that the Trump administration is tightening the purse strings, impacting groups like the trails coalition.
“People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government,” said DeBone.
DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” he said.
Courtney Braun, co-owner of Wanderlust Tours in Bend, said she is anxious about what federal funding cuts mean for national forests’ partner organizations and public lands.
“We feel this could impact not only the health and maintenance of the forest including trails, but could impact visitor safety without as many boots on the ground or trail maintenance,” said Braun.
“This also will affect future projects of trail building that will delay some major improvements for both our community and visitors alike,” said Braun.
Braun said she hopes the community can “rally around” public lands and support federal employees who have been left with large funding gaps in their departments.
“We can encourage visitors to really lean into volunteering and understanding or educating themselves about the lands upon which we recreate,” said Braun.
“Hopefully with all of our powers combined we can still offer a high-quality visitor experience. It just may look a bit different,” said Braun.
Potential Solutions
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” said DeBone.
The Importance of Local Support
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone emphasized the importance of local support for organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition.
“People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government,” said DeBone.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” he said.
Approximately two dozen organizations conduct volunteer trail maintenance in Central Oregon, including:
- Sisters Trail Alliance
- Oregon Equestrian Trails
- Central Oregon Trail Alliance
- Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness
- Central Oregon Nordic Club
Maintenance Backlog
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
“We already have millions of dollars of backlog of maintenance that needs to be done on our trails,” said Jana Johnson, executive director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
“So we’re just going to keep falling further behind if we don’t have crews that are working on maintenance and projects,” said Johnson.
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
The Funding Crisis
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead.
“But without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
Concerns that trail maintenance won’t happen this year on the Deschutes and other national forests reflect broader worries that the Trump administration is sidelining environmental protections and recreation in favor of resource extraction. Executive orders are already in place to increase logging and fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
The Impact on Visitor Experience
Abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public. The current federal funding crisis will undoubtedly impact trail conditions, creating a negative visitor experience.
Nate Wyeth, vice president of strategy for Visit Bend, says abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public.
Potential Solutions
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” said DeBone.
The Importance of Local Support
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone emphasized the importance of local support for organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition.
“People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government,” said DeBone.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” he said.
Approximately two dozen organizations conduct volunteer trail maintenance in Central Oregon, including:
- Sisters Trail Alliance
- Oregon Equestrian Trails
- Central Oregon Trail Alliance
- Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness
- Central Oregon Nordic Club
Maintenance Backlog
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
“We already have millions of dollars of backlog of maintenance that needs to be done on our trails,” said Jana Johnson, executive director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
“So we’re just going to keep falling further behind if we don’t have crews that are working on maintenance and projects,” said Johnson.
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
The Funding Crisis
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead.
“But without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
Concerns that trail maintenance won’t happen this year on the Deschutes and other national forests reflect broader worries that the Trump administration is sidelining environmental protections and recreation in favor of resource extraction. Executive orders are already in place to increase logging and fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
The Impact on Visitor Experience
Abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public. The current federal funding crisis will undoubtedly impact trail conditions, creating a negative visitor experience.
Nate Wyeth, vice president of strategy for Visit Bend, says abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public.
Potential Solutions
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested local organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships with local businesses.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” said DeBone.
The Importance of Local Support
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone emphasized the importance of local support for organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition.
“People could or need to think differently this year. This is the time where if those resources aren’t there, what’s the next plan? Being able to open up a trail can be done in partnership with the federal government,” said DeBone.
Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone suggested that organizations like the Deschutes Trail Coalition find out what is possible to accomplish.
“Volunteers can get quite a bit done,” he said.
Approximately two dozen organizations conduct volunteer trail maintenance in Central Oregon, including:
- Sisters Trail Alliance
- Oregon Equestrian Trails
- Central Oregon Trail Alliance
- Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness
- Central Oregon Nordic Club
Maintenance Backlog
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
“We already have millions of dollars of backlog of maintenance that needs to be done on our trails,” said Jana Johnson, executive director of the Deschutes Trails Coalition.
“So we’re just going to keep falling further behind if we don’t have crews that are working on maintenance and projects,” said Johnson.
Maintaining trails in national forests and other public lands has only become more challenging in recent years, due to increased demand for outdoor recreation and the growing backlog of maintenance work.
The Funding Crisis
The Deschutes Trails Coalition was expecting a $200,000 grant to pay for a trail crew to operate through the summer. However, that funding has been cancelled, casting doubt about how the nonprofit will pay for trail maintenance in the years ahead.
“But without that $200,000, we are just left scrambling to try to figure out how we are going to fund them,” said Johnson.
Concerns that trail maintenance won’t happen this year on the Deschutes and other national forests reflect broader worries that the Trump administration is sidelining environmental protections and recreation in favor of resource extraction. Executive orders are already in place to increase logging and fossil fuel extraction on public lands.
The Impact on Visitor Experience
Abandoning professional trail maintenance won’t go unnoticed by the public.
