Recently in Environment Category

(from Rob Grant) Dear Members of the CRT Council of Advisors:
 
The Recreational Trails Program is in very deep trouble.  The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has approved transportation reauthorization legislation known as MAP-21 that would effectively eliminate the RTP by stripping the program of its dedicated funding.  
 
But all hope is not lost.
 
CRT and its member organizations have been working to identify key Champions in the Senate with the aim of having an amendment to restore dedicated funding for the RTP added to the bill before it is considered by the full Senate.
 
Reaching this goal will not be possible without your help.
 
Now is the time for all organizations and individuals who support RTP to tell their Senators to protect dedicated funding for this absolutely essential program.
 
The key messages are simple:
·        Unless the bill is changed, MAP-21 will effectively eliminate the Recreational Trails Program; and
·       Please amend MAP-21 to include dedicated funding for RTP.

Other helpful messages include:

·       For the last two decades, RTP has received a portion of the gas taxes paid by users of off-highway motorized vehicles to fund trail building, maintenance and other trail-related projects.  More than 13,000 projects have been funded across the country for all kinds of trail uses.  This is a very successful program.
·       At its current level of annual funding - $85 million - RTP receives less than 42% of the Federal Highway Administration's conservative estimate of the federal gas taxes paid by America's nonhighway recreationists.  The Senate bill would reduce that percentage to zero and represents a substantial new tax on motorized recreation enthusiasts.
·       The return of gas taxes to trail users through the RTP is in keeping with the user-pay, user-benefit philosophy of the Highway Trust Fund.  Ending dedicated funding for RTP takes these gas taxes away from the people who pay them.  Ending dedicated funding for RTP is bad public policy and just plain wrong.
·        The RTP is the foundation of state trail programs.  If the RTP loses its dedicated funding, organized trail planning and development will simply vanish in many areas of the country.

Now is the time to act.  Write, email or call your two Senators.  Here's a link if you need it:  http://www.senate.gov/.   Make sure your entire grassroots organization is engaged as well.

We need to show the United States Senate just how many Americans are committed to the Recreational Trails Program.  If we don't act, the very backbone of trails in America may be forever lost.

Please be sure to send us a copy of your message.  Thank you for your help.
 
Marianne Fowler, Co-Chair, Coalition for Recreational Trails
Derrick Crandall, Co-Chair, Coalition for Recreational Trails
 
1225 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 450
Washington, D.C.   20005
(202) 682-9530  Fax (202) 682-9529
cahern@funoutdoors.com

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is currently accepting applications through its Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) to continue longleaf pine restoration efforts in Alabama. The grant was awarded through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and will be made available to qualifying landowners for longleaf pine restoration on private lands.

Landowners are encouraged to submit applications to receive assistance with the site preparation, seedlings, planting, native grass restoration and/or exotic control costs.  For landowners to be considered eligible to receive funding, the property must be within the historic range of longleaf pine in Alabama, or contain suitable soils to support longleaf pine.  Program details include: cost share at 50 percent, no minimum acreage is required, and cutover sites and agricultural sites are eligible.

The LIP funds are administered to complement habitat restoration goals of the longleaf pine ecosystem.  This program provides financial and/or technical assistance to private landowners to conserve, manage or enhance the habitats of species in greatest conservation need associated with Alabama's longleaf pine ecosystem. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2012.  For application information contract Traci Wood at 334-353-0503 or Traci.Wood@dcnr.alabama.gov.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Imagine walking up to a trailhead... There's a sign with the expected trail map, a bear advisory posted last spring, and some rules tacked up behind Plexiglas.  But there can also be an instant link to a wealth of current information using the Smartphone in your pocket.  Welcome to the trailhead QR.
 
Quick Response (or QR) codes are a rapidly emerging media tool.  You've seen these square-shaped black-and-white codes in stores and magazines.  Are you ready to put QRs to work in your favorite outdoor space?  It can be simple.
 
You can use QR codes to quickly and easily put information on the trail.  The code is a picture that smartphones can translate into a web address.  Users just point a Smartphone's camera at the QR code, and in a moment (if there's cell phone coverage) the phone will access current trail information, tips, interpretive materials, a trail user census or questionnaire... or anything relevant to using that particular trail.  See how the North Carolina Arboretum is using QR codes, or this short video from Lake Metroparks in Ohio that explains how their new system works.
 
To create your own QR, you just need a web address and content of your choosing, and a free QR code generator app like this one.  All you have to do is follow the instructions on the generator app, and you just created a code that you can print for use at the trailhead, a visitor center, nearby lodging, or bike rental and sporting goods stores.  QR technology is license free, so you can easily adapt this free tool for use within your organization. It's easy to add QR codes as an image to your website, blog, or printed publications too.
 
There are a number of different ways to read QR codes. The easiest is to take a Smartphone and use a QR code reader app like the Google Goggles, which can scan any code and immediately launch the content in a web browser.
 
The possibilities are wide open.  A QR code at the trailhead can allow quick access to a digital trail map. At an interpretive sign, a QR code can enable visitors to learn about history or local wildlife, or post to Facebook that they are visiting the site.  You can start turning users into advocates by using QR codes to share your organization's membership invitation.  QR codes can be installed as easily as putting a small sticker on existing signposts, and the information they channel can be changed at any time just by keeping the associated web page up to date, without anyone needing to run out and re-post the trailheads!

Our annual photo contest is another way to publicize your designated National Recreation Trail. Please see details at: http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/photocon.html

American Trails sponsors the annual contest for photographs of National Recreation Trails and provides awards in several categories. The DEADLINE for entries is December 31, 2011.

Photos must be in JPEG or TIFF format. Submit via our website at: http://atfiles.org/ftp/web/ATUpload.html or email to NRT@AmericanTrails.org. Check the online searchable database for a list of NRTs in your state and more information on individual trails.

Entries will be displayed on the NRT website. See the 2010 galleries at:
http://www.americantrails.org/photoGalleries/photocontest2010/index.html

ALABAMA'S NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS AS OF JULY 2011
Alabama Scenic River Trail
Bartram Trail
Chattahoochee Valley Railroad (CVRR) Trail - North
Chattahoochee Valley Railroad (CVRR) Trail - South
Chewacla State Park Trail System
Chief Ladiga Trail (Jacksonville Section)
Chief Ladiga Trail (Piedmont Section)
Citronelle Walking Trail
City of Foley Antique Rose Trail
DeSoto State Park Trail System
Eastern Shore Trail
Florala-Lake Jackson Scenic Trail
George Ward Park Exercise
Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Lake Guntersville State Park Trail System
Lake Lurleen State Park Trail System
Limestone County Canoe & Kayak Trail
Minooka Park Trail System
Montevallo Greenway Trail
Muscle Shoals
Pinhoti
Queen City Park Trail
Richard Martin Trail
Smith Lake Park Walking/Bike Trails
Sportsman Lake Trails
Stony Lonesome OHV Park Trail System
Sunset Drive Trail
Swan Creek Greenway Trail
Talladega-Lincoln Outdoor Park & Trails (T.O.P.TR
Tannehill Tramway Trail
The Larry and Ronna Dykes Trail
Veterans Park Trail
Village Pointe Preserve Park Trail System
Wind Creek State Park Trail System
Yoholo-Micco, The Creek Indian Trail

From the article "Tourism effort takes flight" by Dennis Sherer in the Times Daily:

A tourism effort that hatched in the Shoals is taking flight statewide. The Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail in east-central Alabama officially opens Nov. 17 with 34 bird-watching sites in nine counties. It is one of eight bird-watching trails open or being developed to include every county in the state. Mark Sasser, coordinator of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources non-game wildlife program, said inspiration for the statewide network of birding trails came from the success of the North Alabama Birding Trail that opened in 2005. The North Alabama Birding Trail, which stretches from Mississippi to Georgia primarily along the Tennessee River, consists of 50 bird-watching sites, including 12 in the Shoals. The trail is being expanded to include Franklin and Winston counties. It was the second birding trail in the state. The Coastal Alabama Birding Trail opened in 2002.

"After we created the North Alabama trail, Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell said he wanted every county in the state to have at least one birding site," Sasser said. "The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is providing technical advice for the new trails, but they are being created by the Alabama Tourism Department and local agencies throughout the state." Two of the bird watching trails in the new initiative, the Pinewoods Birding Trail in southwest Alabama and the Black Belt Nature and Heritage Trail across the middle of the state, are open. Three other trails are in the development or planning phases.

Susann Hamlin, executive director of Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said creating birding trails throughout the state will boost tourism."The North Alabama Birding Trail has been extremely successful," said Hamlin, who helped spearhead the effort to create the trail. "We are constantly receiving requests for information from people who want to come to our area to see birds and other wildlife along the North Alabama Birding Trail." Dana Lee Jennings, president and CEO of the Decatur-based Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, said a brochure about the North Alabama Birding Trail is one of the most popular publications the organization distributes. Hamlin said the birding trail aids the local economy. She said bird watchers often stay in motels, eat at restaurants, shop and buy gas in communities they visit. A study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found Americans spent nearly $45 million in 2006 observing, feeding and photographing wildlife. The average spending per person was $798.

For the complete article please see http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Tourism-effort-takes-flight,183869?sub_id=183869&print=1.

TALLADEGA -- Cheaha Trail Riders Inc., based in Talladega County, was awarded the "Club of the Year" for 2011 by the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council at its annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.

Of all the Off Highway Vehicle organizations in the 50-state region, Cheaha Trail Riders Inc. was chosen for this award.

"This is fantastic," co-founder and president Glenn Myers said. "Our people have worked hard in advocating OHV Safety and Education, along with promoting the building of new OHV trail systems throughout Alabama and the USA."

Read more: The Daily Home - Cheaha Trail Riders win national award

Key Congressional leaders are attacking Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational trails and are taking steps to cut off dedicated federal funding for bicycling and walking.  We need every single person who simply wants safe options to walk or bicycle to contact their Senators and Representative today!
 
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced today that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourage states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are "not in the federal interest."  Chairman Mica's statement that these programs remain "eligible" for funding is worthless; without dedicated funding for these three programs, they are effectively eliminated.
 
Things on the Senate side are not much better. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate 'frivolous spending for bike trails.'  This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for biking and walking.  However, the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, and Senator Inhofe's comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination. 
 
Help protect Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails. Contact your Members of Congress  , and tell them to reach out to Senators Inhofe, Boxer, and Congressman Mica to urge them to continue dedicated funding for these important bicycling and walking programs. 
 
Need some good facts to bolster your argument?  Read on:
 
Not in the federal interest?  Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips in the US - even as funding for biking and walking projects only accounts for 1.5% of the federal transportation budget. That is more than 4 billion bicycle trips and 40 billion walking trips a year, including trips to work, school, shopping and for recreation and tourism.
 
Frivolous?  Two-thirds of all pedestrian deaths are on federally funded highways.  One-third of children's traffic deaths happen when children are walking or bicycling and are struck by cars.  Bicycling and walking programs build sidewalks, crosswalks and bikeways--improving accessibility and saving lives.
 
The Facts
Biking and walking are important forms of transportation, and funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements is a very efficient use of federal transportation dollars.  Portland, OR built 300 miles of bike lanes and trails for the cost of one mile of highway.
These projects create jobs and build local economies.  Building bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure creates 46% more jobs than building road-only projects per million dollars spent.  Cities that invest in bicycle and pedestrian projects turn downtowns into destinations, and capitalize on increased business activity.
Eliminating the 1.5% of transportation funding spent on bike/ped would have no meaningful impact on the federal budget, but instead, decreases transportation options for American families in a time of rising gas prices and an uncertain economy. 
 
Why Act Now?  Both the House and Senate long-term transportation bills are being written as we speak.  We still have a chance of influencing the outcomes.  Let's make sure that funding for biking and walking programs don't disappear for many years.
 
We need every Senator to tell Senators Boxer and Inhofe that bicycling and walking are vital parts of our transportation system, and that there must be dedicated funding for sidewalks, bike lanes and trails to ensure that bicyclists and pedestrians are safe.  And we need every Representative in the House to tell Chairman Mica the same.
 
Please contact your Senators and Representatives TODAY to tell them that bicycling and walking are a critical part of a safe and equitable transportation system.  Ask them to tell Representative Mica and Senators Boxer and Inhofe that a federal transportation bill must continue dedicated funding for bicycling and walking.
 

OK, now that I have your attention-
 
Did you know that the National Park Service has a program known as the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program?
 
Did you know that in 2010 alone, the RTCA assisted in the development of 1,251 miles of trails; the conservation of 1,694 miles of rivers; the protection of 25,370 acres of open space and parkland; and they enjoyed a 94% satisfaction rate with their community partners!
 
They assisted us with our first Alabama Statewide Trails Conference, and they can help you with your trail or recreation project, too!
 
BUT HURRY- the deadline to apply is coming soon!
 
http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/index.htm
 
from Rob Grant, ADECA

MONTGOMERY-- For the second year in a row, Alabama has surpassed all other states in the number of hiking and other trails honored with a National Recreation Trail designation.
Twenty-one Alabama trails are included in a group of 41 selected for designation this year. The official announcement comes Thursday in Chicago as U.S. Department of Interior officials kick off celebration of National Trails Day.

The latest designations bring to 30 the number of Alabama trails to be recognized within the past two years. The National Recreation Trails Program recognizes exemplary trails of regional significance to encourage the use and care of existing trails and stimulate the development of new trails.

Each trail receives special markers indicating its designation and it is promoted as part of America's national system of trails.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs encouraged and assisted local trail managers to seek the recognition by submitting an application to the National Park Service.

 "Alabama is blessed with a rich diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities," ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said. "These designations not only prove our state has many high-quality trails, they also are evidence of the hard work and the community pride of countless Alabamians."

Rob Grant who manages ADECA's Recreational Programs Unit said the national recognition should encourage more people to visit the trails. Recreational Programs administers federally funded trail and park grants in Alabama.

"We have known all along that we have quality trails in Alabama," Grant said. "A lot of it was convincing our cities and state parks to brag on themselves and their accomplishments. I think anyone venturing on these trails will agree that each one has features that make them distinct and unique."

With the one year anniversary of the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill approaching, Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange visited Bayou La Batre on Monday to remind residents of an upcoming deadline in the Gulf oil spill lawsuit. "This oil spill greatly affected countless individuals and business owners. In order to preserve the ability to recover money damages against Transocean and be included in the February 2012 trial, a claim must be filed with the federal court by April 20, 2011," Governor Bentley said at a press conference held at Dominick's Seafood Restaurant in Bayou La Batre. "I am dedicated to working with General Strange to make sure Alabamians are informed of this fast approaching deadline."
 
A New Orleans federal court is overseeing litigation against companies involved in the oil spill. A trial date has been set for February 2012 and will determine whether Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded on April 20, 2010, can limit what it pays claimants under Maritime law. Individuals and businesses which experienced personal injury, loss of earnings, property damage, business loss, or other economic loss from the oil spill may be able to participate by filing a form to preserve their rights. The Court has simplified the process to file a claim against Transocean by approving a Direct Filing Short Form. The Short Form is available by calling 1-800-831-8814 or visiting www.AlabamaOilSpill.info. Filing this Short Form may also join the claimant in the master lawsuit that has been filed against BP and the other defendants. No one is required to use the Short Form. The deadline for filing claims against Transocean regardless of whether the Short Form is used is April 20, 2011. There is no filing fee and a lawyer is not required to file the Short Form. However, anyone needing legal advice regarding their legal rights or about filing this Short Form, should contact a lawyer.
 
"Filing with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility is not the same as filing in court. The federal lawsuit is separate from the claims process in the GCCF. A claimant may be able to participate in the federal lawsuit even if they already filed a claim with the GCCF," said Attorney General Luther Strange. "The coordinated and united efforts of the Governor's Office, the Attorney General's Office, United States Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, Congressman Bonner, the local Gulf coast mayors and commissioners, and the Alabama State Bar Association, are significant and strong.  I am proud of this team that has committed to work tirelessly until Alabama recovers from the 2010 Gulf oil spill tragedy." The Attorney General's Office has a website for more information including a list of frequently asked questions and toll-free hotline for individuals seeking more information regarding this process and obtaining free legal assistance or referrals. The website is www.AlabamaOilSpill.info and toll free hotline is 1-800-831-8814.

You are invited to enter an online drawing called, "Where Memories Are Made." To enter, submit a written memory and/or photo of your favorite Alabama State Park memory for a chance to win a $250 State Parks gift card. A total of six gift cards will be given way during three drawings in 2011, with the first drawing to be held on June 1. The winning entries will be posted on the Alabama State Parks website, Facebook and YouTube. Visit www.alapark.com for complete details.

Want to get involved in an exciting research project? The National Wildlife Federation is interested in how much time kids spend outdoors, what activities they engage in and what influences kids to spend time outdoors. Join their webinar on Thursday, March 17 to meet the researcher, review project goals and discuss issues. Email Jenna Peters at petersj@nwf.org or visit www.nwf.org.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has appointed N. Gunter Guy Jr. as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Guy is a graduate of Auburn University and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Most recently he practiced law with the firm of Ball, Ball, Mathews & Novak, P.A. in Montgomery.

 

Guy is a native of Alabama and lives on a family farm near Pintlala, Ala. He is an avid hunter and angler and looks forward to serving as Conservation Commissioner. "I am honored to have been selected by Governor Bentley for this position," he said. "I have a lifelong love of the outdoors and am looking forward to overseeing the agency that is responsible for managing much of Alabama's natural resources." Read more.

The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is currently accepting applications through its Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) to continue longleaf pine restoration efforts in Alabama. The grant was awarded through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and will be made available to qualifying landowners for longleaf pine restoration on private lands.

 

Landowners are encouraged to submit applications to receive assistance with the site preparation, seedlings, planting, native grass restoration and/or exotic control costs.  For landowners to be considered eligible to receive funding, the property must be within the historic range of longleaf pine in Alabama, or contain suitable soils to support longleaf pine.  Program details include: cost share at 50 percent, no minimum acreage is required, and cutover sites and agricultural sites are eligible. Read more.

ALABAMA'S FOREVER WILD PROGRAM IS UP FOR REAUTHORIZATION IN 2012. THIS VITALLY IMPORTANT STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM PRESERVES OUR BEAUTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCES AND MAKES THEM AVAILABLE FOR US AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY!

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! "Keeping Alabama Forever Wild" wants you!
They are seeking entries from people who want to share their special outdoor place in Alabama. It can be a state park, wildlife area, nature preserve, stream, wetland, forests, or wildlife.

Your entry can be in the form of an essay (no more than 600 words), photo or even a video. It simply needs to represent a place in Alabama with special meaning to you.

http://blog.al.com/keeping-alabama-forever-wild/2011/02/calling_all_outdoor_enthusiasts.html

Urban farming is growing to accommodate more than community gardens grown in backyards and abandoned lots. Innovations for both individual and industrial scale urban farming are being developed across the continent. Business owners are beginning to use warehouses to meet the urban demand for locally grown and organic food. One example is an indoor farm that opened in Vancouver Canada, growing lettuce and spinach with high-efficiency LED lighting and a hydroponic system. Another farming opportunity for the individual agriculture enthusiast is the Windowfarms Project, which allows urban apartment dwellers to grow food in a modular, hydroponic "farm" that hangs in a window. www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7873

Taking a proactive step to help Alabama recover from the impacts of the BP oil spill, Governor Bob Riley launched the Coastal Recovery Commission (CRC). The CRC's mission was to draft a set of strategies to make the coastal region more resilient to future threats not only from events like oil spills, but also from hurricanes and other disasters.

From American Farmland (Fall/Winter 2010)
by Jennifer Dempsey AND Kirsten Ferguson

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2007National Resources Inventory tells the story in numbers. During the 25-year period from 1982 to 2007, more than 23 million acres of America's agricultural land were lost to development--an area the size of Indiana. Every state lost agricultural land. In Texas, the loss was a staggering 2.9 million acres, while in New Jersey more than a quarter of the state's agricultural land was lost.

Despite the bad news, there were some positive signs in the data. Despite a booming housing market during portions of the 25-year reporting period, the nationwide rate of farmland loss actually declined over time, thanks to growing awareness and smart growth policies that encourage more efficient development. And some states launched ambitious efforts to counter land development with permanent protection. Read the full article from American Farmland on their website:
http://www.farmland.org/documents/NRI_feature_Fall10.pdf

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take six months to review its options about how to proceed with a proposed expansion of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge's acquisition boundary - a procedural requirement needed to work with willing sellers in the years ahead.

"Our number one priority is to work in tandem with landowners, community and business leaders, the state, our conservation partners, and others, who are interested in the future of Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and the protection of these extraordinary natural resources for generations to come," said Cindy Dohner, the Service's Southeast Regional Director. "Moving forward, we are committed to doing a better job collaborating with citizens throughout the Cahaba River basin." 

The Service will use the next six months to re-evaluate the proposal and its scope, assess workload and funding requirements, and address staff transitions at the refuge. The decision comes after the Service completed a Draft Environmental Assessment and Land Protection Plan in June 2010 proposing to expand the refuge's acquisition boundary, held two public hearings about the proposal, and extended the comment period through December 6. The agency will consider all comments it receives as future steps are determined to meet conservation goals for the Cahaba River NWR. 

Acquisition boundaries are administrative lines on a map that delineate areas where the Service can negotiate with owners willing to sell their land or otherwise protect it through the establishment of a lease or conservation easement. Land within the acquisition boundary is not part of the refuge until the Service acquires a legal interest in the land through a management agreement, easement, lease, donation, or purchase, working with willing sellers. Private lands and state-owned and managed lands that occur within an acquisition boundary are not subject to any refuge regulations or jurisdictions the Service follows.

Cahaba River NWR, located in Bibb County, shelters globally unique species and habitats and includes 3.5 miles of the Cahaba, Alabama's longest free-flowing river. It is presently one of the nation's smaller national wildlife refuges, but is the fifth largest of Alabama's 11 national wildlife refuges. Since the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2002, the approved acquisition boundary, which includes the refuge's current holdings, has been expanded to 7,600 acres.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about Cahaba NWR, please visithttp://www.fws.gov/cahabariver/

NOTE: You can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail -- at the Service's Southeast Regional home page athttp://www.fws.gov/southeast/news. Atlanta, GA 30345, Phone: 404/679-7289 Fax: 404/679-7286. Our national home page is at: http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/

NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1!

 Benefits of NRT Designation 

THE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS (NRT) program works to preserve and celebrate our nation's pathways. We invite you to explore America's great national system of trails and greenways.

Search over 1,000 National Recreation Trails in the online database

See the 2003 U.S. Department of Agriculture NRT Designations page for additional trails on National Forests and Grasslands

What are the benefits of becoming a National Recreation Trail?  

National Recreation Trails benefit from the prestige and increased visibility of being a part of the National Trail System. New designations are announced annually by the Secretary of Interior as part of the nationwide celebration of National Trails Day the first Saturday in June, and recognized at the National Trails Symposium. ALABAMA RECEIVED 9 NRT DESIGNATIONS IN 2010!

Other national publicity includes such events as the annual NRT Photo Contest, sponsored by American Trails, which has attracted hundreds of entries from across the country.

Successful applicants receive a letter and certificate signed by the Secretary of the Interior, designating their trail as an NRT. Trail managers are entitled to use the NRT logo in appropriate settings and trail publications. New 3.5" x 3.5" and 8"x 8" NRT logo signs are now available at a nominal cost from American Trails. For information contact American Trails at NRT@americantrails.org.

All NRTs will be included in the online searchable database of trails on the website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails which includes descriptive information, maps, and pictures for trail users. Trail managers provide information about their NRTs for the site. Keep it up to date by going to the Trail Update Page, or send corrections and additions by e-mail to NRT@americantrails.org.

A web page for each state highlights Featured Trails with links to more information. For trails without a website, we are providing a page with photos, history, and useful facts about the project.

Other benefits include:

Access to technical assistance from NRT Program partners

An NRT newsletter with program updates, newsworthy activities, technical information, and innovative solutions to trail issues from around the country. Available in PDF format are the Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Spring 2002, Fall 2001, and Summer 2001 issues.

Access to an e-mail news group for NRT managers only to receive updates on funding, resources, and technical assistance opportunities

Access to networking and training opportunities

Assistance with recognition and special events highlighting the trail

Trail markers with the NRT logo for your trail: download the order form (Word 25 kb)

Letters of support for fundraising and trail protection efforts

Access to funding opportunities available from the NRT Program partners; trails with NRT designation are eligible to be considered for support from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program, Bureau of Land Management, and USDA Forest Service Challenge Cost Share Programs.

Some state funding programs also consider NRT designation in allocating Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Enhancements, and other funding administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (and the Recreational Trails Program in Alabama awards extra points for NRT designated trails!)

The Artful Ways national survey of art on trails results are in the Art & Trails area and will guide development of a new grants program supporting art on National Recreation Trails.

State Trails funding encouraged for NRTs

The Recreational Trails Program, which provides funding for trails to each state through the Federal Highway Administration, provides this guidance on NRTs: "In consultation with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture through the Federal Interagency Council on Trails, States are encouraged to give extra project evaluation credit to projects on National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails (provided the project provides a recreational purpose), and trails designated as National Recreation Trails."

Where do I go for more information on National Recreation Trails?

Current information on the program is available on the NRT website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails.

See the list of Regional Contacts for National Recreation Trails for the appropriate person to contact in your area

 DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE 2010 AMERICAN TRAILS NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN CHATTANOOGA! YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!

The American Trails National Symposium is your best opportunity to network with the nationwide trails community and learn state of the art trail planning, development, and management techniques. The Symposium addresses both non-motorized and motorized issues and our vision for trails and greenways nationwide. Dozens of speakers and keynote presenters will join us from the trails community across America, November 14-17, 2010.

Hosted by our friends at American Trails, the Symposium is the largest gathering of trail enthusiasts and professionals in the country. American Trails champions the development and care of all trails (including rail-trails!) by fostering cooperation and communication among trail builders, planners, advocates and users.

REGISTER TODAY!

The National Trails Symposium is an excellent opportunity for those in the trails community to learn best practices, share experiences and network with others from across the country. There will be educational sessions and workshops on topics including rail-with-trail, trail safety and patrols, trail counts and economic development, and urban trail programming. In addition to these events, the Symposium provides you with the opportunity to:

Learn about federal funding sources and national efforts to expand funding for trails;

Understand the latest information available in trail construction, trail projects, new trail products, and new technologies to incorporate into trail use;

Have an adventure on one of the Mobile Workshops showcasing the Chattanooga area;

Enroll in one of the Featured Workshops to receive training in a variety of issues;

Explore the nationally known Exhibit Hall featuring the Indoor Trails and Greenways System;

Mingle with other trail enthusiasts at the Trails Rock Party at the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Keynote speakers are Dayton Duncan, co-writer and co-producer of the documentary National Parks: America's Best Idea, and Chris Balish, author of How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Out of Life. They will address the Symposium's theme, "Trails: The Green Way for America."

We hope to see you in Chattanooga!

(Brent, Al)  September 10, 2010 ---- The Talladega National Forest - Oakmulgee District and Americorps VISTA are joining forces to host a National Public Lands Day event.  Scheduled for September 25, 2010, the event welcomes all who want to celebrate their natural heritage.   Join us for an opportunity to fellowship and learn about the rich natural history of the Oakmulgee District.  Registration begins at 8 a.m.  Lunch, gloves and a t-shirt will be provided to those who participate.     

"We have a unique project planned for this year," said Cynthia Ragland, district ranger for the Oakmulgee District located in Brent, Ala.  "In partnership with the Lower Cahaba Recreation and Historic Corridor initiative, we are enhancing the landscape at the Oakmulgee District office. Our goal is to create a microcosm of the longleaf ecosystem that exists in the forest with an interpretive path allowing visitors to learn about their national forests."  The interpretive area will help the Oakmulgee District office be a gateway to the forest and the surrounding community by providing visitor information on the opportunities for bird watching, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, horseback riding and hunting.

The Americorps VISTA program provides coordination for the Lower Cahaba Recreation and Historic Corridor initiative by sponsoring volunteers in the local area.  Will James, a recent graduate in history and political science from the University of Alabama, is an Americorps VISTA volunteer and is coordinating the National Public Lands Day project.

The Bibb County Landfill will also be accepting trash this day, free of charge, made possible by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with the Bibb County Commission.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Will James at info_talladega_oakmulgee@fs.fed.us or (205) 926-9765 ext. 214 no later than September 20, 2010.

Between 1950 and 2004, the size of the average American home increased from 983 to 2,349 square feet. Consumers are moving toward smaller houses again, entering a ''right-sizing'' trend. Citing multiple earlier reports of a ''McMansion glut'' or ''backlash,'' and new market research, CNBC writer Cindy Perman says the era of giant houses is ''over.'' Case in point: a survey conducted in July 2010 by Harris Interactive for Trulia.com found that just 9 percent of respondents still believe the ideal home should have at least 3,200 square feet.
www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7762

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting proposals for up to eight $25,000 cooperative agreements to support the protection of human health and the environment in communities affected by the BP oil spill. Local incorporated non-profit community-based organizations--including faith based organizations and those affiliated with religious institutions, environmental justice networks, and local Native American tribal governments--located and working in areas within affected states, are eligible to apply.

EPA developed the grant program after meeting with local organizations in the Gulf Region and learning that there was a need for technical assistance to support educational outreach to communities affected by the BP oil spill. The grants will provide funding to help develop educational materials on what seafood is safe to eat, what to do if exposed to oil, and how to address and adapt to the spill's long-term effects. Providing grant funding directly to local organizations will help to ensure that information is distributed through trusted networks of communication and from organizations that will continue to support efforts to rebuild in the wake of disaster.

Organizations that are able to provide accurate and current information to a wide geographic area in the affected region are encouraged to apply by September 13, 2010.   To read the request for proposals and for information on how to apply: http://epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/bp-spill-grants.html

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American homes. These highly-qualified, multidisciplinary teams will receive a total of up to $30 million for the initial 18 months of the projects to deliver innovative energy-efficiency strategies to the residential market and address barriers to bringing high-efficiency homes within reach for all Americans.

A total of up to $20 million per year will also be made available for the partnerships for three potential one-year extensions. These research and deployment partnerships will provide technical assistance to retrofit projects and will leverage industry expertise and funding to support DOE's energy efficiency retrofit programs. This effort will support the Department's Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative, announced by Vice President Joe Biden in April, which brings communities, governments, private sector companies and non-profit organizations together to deliver energy-efficiency upgrades--or retrofits--to whole neighborhoods and cities.

''Home energy efficiency is one of the easiest, most immediate and most cost-effective ways to reduce carbon pollution and save money on energy bills, while creating new jobs,'' said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. ''By developing and using tools to reduce residential energy use, we will spur economic growth here in America and help homeowners make cost-cutting improvements in their homes.''   7/20/2010

Resource(s): http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/

The state's Forever Wild program has recently acquired hundreds of acres of biologically important forest in Jackson County, Ala. The 535-acre Sims, Swaim and Johnson addition to the Walls of Jericho Forever Wild tract was purchased in May 2010 from the Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy with support from a $640,000 Forest Legacy grant from the USDA Forest Service. The land is located along the Estill Fork tributary to the Paint Rock River and isadjacent to the James D. Martin-Skyline Wildlife Management Area. The Sims, Swaim and Johnson addition will be used for public recreation and conservation efforts, and will increase public access to the popular Walls of Jericho trail system located near the communities of Skyline and Hytop. State lands managers have documented more than 15,000 hiking and horse trail users annually on the growing trail system. New land acquisitions such as this ensure the public's access to the property and enhance the quality of life that state lands afford Alabamians. Considered one of the most biologically diverse and important regions in the United States, the Walls of Jericho Tract supports several species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and plants recognized under the Alabama Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation  Strategy as species of highest conservation concern. As part of the Paint Rock River watershed, this area contains several springs and more than 3,000 feet of perennial stream habitat along Estill Fork Creek. The habitats within and along the Estill Fork waterway support some of the last remaining populations of several species of fish and mussels protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
 
The plan to purchase the land was developed in 2008 through a partnership formed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Forever Wild Program, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), the Alabama Forest Resources Center (AFRC), the Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and the State of Tennessee's Wildlife Resources Agency. Working cooperatively with the AFC to administer the Forest Legacy Program, the AFRC helped direct the project grant towards this purchase. For more information about the Forest Legacy Program, visit either the AFRC website, www.alfrc.org or the AFC website, www.forestry.alabama.gov. Forever Wild has secured more than 210,000 acres for public use and conservation efforts since its inception in 1992. The program also provides affordable and accessible hunting opportunities for all Alabamians, and helps to generate $1.4 billion of annual economic impact throughout the state. To learn more about the Forever Wild Program, visit www.alabamaforeverwild.com. 

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions:  Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. For more information please see www.outdooralabama.com.