O RTHW N RT O ES H N IC T F W IC T I E C F R S I A T A P C I ANA HINGTON MONT L A AS W

P ASSOCIATION

Pacific Northwest National Scenic FY 2016 Funding Request

Prepared By: Pacific Northwest Trail Association www.pnt.org O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

FY 2016 Funding Request

The Pacific Northwest Trail Association (PNTA) respectfully asks Congress to support the following FY 2016 funding request to protect, preserve and promote the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNNST):

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Budget Request II. Capitol $1 million - annual allocation for PNNST in USFS Region 6 Improvement CMTL account to fund the following programs: & Full-time USFS PNNST Program Manager Maintenance Staffing for PNTA Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the PNTA to (CMTL) support volunteer trail Maintenance and public education programs Trail maintenance, construction, reconstruction, and interpretation Trail management and operations $1 million Youth and Corps Trail Crew Programs

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I NA Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 1 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

Trail Funding Justification - FY 2016

The USDA-FS has overall responsibility for the PNNST, but operational responsibility is shared by the NPS, the BLM, State Forest Lands, and several state and county parks through which the trail passes. The PNTA is the major private partner, as codified in a Challenge Cost Share Agreement with these land management agencies. As such and as demonstrated below, the PNTA leverages limited federal dollars through the extensive use of grants, volunteer labor, and private donations to ensure the PNT is protected, preserved, and promoted as an internationally significant resource for the enjoyment of hikers, Equestrians, and where permitted mountain-biking, and for the value that wild and scenic lands provide to all people. Pacific Northwest Trail Association (PNTA) Funding Sources and Contributions to the PNNST 2005 - 2014

32% Volunteer Hours Value = $5.64 million (60%) 3% Private Donations = $0.3 million (3%)

5% Contract Work Value = $0.52 million (5%)

Grants Value = $2.99 million (32%) 60%

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I ANA Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org HINGTON IDAHO MONT L A AS W

P ASSOCIATION Page 2 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

II. Capital Improvement & Maintenance Trails (CMTL) – USFS: $1 million CMTL Funding Request: Allocate $1.0 million for the PNNST in the USFS Region 6 CMTL to fund the following ongoing programs: Full-time USFS PNNST Program Manager PNTA Staffing and Operations Costs Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the PNTA to support volunteer trail maintenance and public education programs Trail maintenance, reconstruction, and interpretation Trail management and operations Youth and Corps Trail Crew Programs

Need: The PNTA and the USFS Region 6 manange the PNNST through a model public-private partnership. The PNTA also handles all requests for public information on the PNNST.

This CMTL funding request will be used to maintain consistant interagency management of the PNNST across all regions and agency jurisdictions; support the work of the PNTA in recruiting, mobilizing, and training volunteers, and providing public information and education; and to continue the reconstruction of trail damaged by fire, flood, and improper use of the trail. Ongoing maintenance is critical and federal funding is needed to ensure preservation of the PNNST.

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org I NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 3 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

Progress 2005 - 2014:

The PNTA has continued to produce outstanding results. Volunteer hours have increased significantly over the last years due to our youth programs and our regional programs. Better knowledge of the PNNST by local communities has spurred an interest in the PNNST. Volunteers now have access to trail project information, training, tools, and supplies needed to maintain the trail. Total Volunteer hours: 275,338 Value of Volunteer hours: $5,643,086 Private and Grant dollars raised: $3,798,418 Total PNNST Contribution: $9,441,504 Volunteer Hours 40000

35000

30000

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 Over the past 10 years, PNTA volunteers have increased their annual hours of labor by over 150% from 26,700 to 38,800 hours. ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org C I NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 4 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P

2014 Volunteer & Youth Crew Project Highlights

On the Kootenai and Flathead NF volunteers spent over 5,400 hours working on the PNNST.

On the Olympic, Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie, Okanogan, and Colville NF volunteers spent over 26,000 hours reconstructing and maintaining the PNNST.

On State, County, and private lands that the PNNST crosses over 7,400 hours of trail work was done by PNTA Volunteers

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org I NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 5 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

2014 SKY Crew Programs

PNTA developed our SKY (Service-Knowledge-Youth) Program in 1999. Growing from one program working 4-weeks in 1999 to 10 programs working 8-weeks each in 2014. These programs work in conjunction with local school districts, State University 4-H, and Job Corps. In 2014 these crews provided over 26,000 hours of trail maintenance on the PNNST and feeder trails.

SKY Crew working on the PNNST in the Loomis State Forest, summer of 2014

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 6 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

2014 Experience theWild Youth Camp

In 2013, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association began a new program for 8 - 12 year students. “Experience the Wild” is an environmental learning experience! The students take day trips to various locations on the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie NF and learn about the life-cycle of Salmon, wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, Old- Growth Forests, the only natural ice-caves in the lower 48, and a myriad of other issues surrounding the environment in which they live. They even get to go out and work on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.

Thanks to funding by private individuals and the United States Forest Service the PNTA provides this 3-week program at no cost to the kids and their families.

Exploring Nature The Age of Trees

Big Four Ice Caves Northwest Wildlife

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 7 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T P 2014 Volunteer & Youth Crew Project Hours

OLYMPIC REGION

Adult Volunteers 1981 Youth Volunteers 2564 SKY Youth Crews 4162 Backcountry Horsemen 202 TOTAL 8909 CASCADE WEST REGION Adult Volunteers 3708 Youth Volunteers 377 SKY Youth Crews 3238 Backcountry Horsemen 2047 TOTAL 9370 PASAYTEN REGION

Adult Volunteers 897 Youth Volunteers 958 SKY Youth Crews 2888 Backcountry Horsemen 1019 TOTAL 5762 COLVILLE REGION

Adult Volunteers 902 Youth Volunteers 1266 SKY Youth Crews 2694 Backcountry Horsemen 879 TOTAL 5741 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION

Adult Volunteers 1026 Youth Volunteers 3314 Backcountry Horsemen 1062 TOTAL 5402 Non-Trail in Support of the PNT

Board Participation 1029 Experience the Wild 2660 TOTAL 3689

Grand Total for 2014 38,873

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org I NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 8 ORTHWE PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL N ST IC T F R I A C I ANA SHINGTON IDAHO MONT L and Washington Congressional Districts, 114th United States Congress A A W

P ASSOCIATION

O N RT H IC F W CANADA I E C Str S ait A T of P Ge org ia BRITISH COLUMBIA

114th Oroville Blaine Whatcom Congress Bellingham S San Republic tra Juan 2 it o Okanogan Pend f J Anacortes Skagit Oreille Washington Senators uan Ferry de Omak Stevens Fu ca 2 Mount Vernon 1 Patty Murray - D Island Maria Cantwell - D Lakewood Newport Clallam Port Angeles Snohomish

Everett Washington Forks Chelan Grand Coulee 5 Jefferson Lynnwood Representatives Chelan Douglas Spokane 7 Wilbur Valley LincolnSpokane Seattle Spokane 6 Kitsap Bremerton Bellevue Coulee City 1 Susan DelBene - D 9 King Page 9 2 Rick Larsen - D Mason Renton Federal Way 8 Wenatchee Grant 3 Jaime Herrera-Beutler - R Grays Harbor Ephrata Tacoma Kittitas ID 4 Dan Newhouse - R Whitman Pierce Puyallup Moses Lake Adams 5 Cathy McMorris-Rodgers - R Thurston Ritzville Hoquiam Olympia Aberdeen 10 6 Derek Kilmer - D Ellensburg 4 7 Jim McDermott - D Colfax Pacific Lewis 8 Dave Reichert - R Centralia PullmanGarfield Raymond Franklin Yakima 9 Adam Smith - D South Bend Benton Wahkiakum Yakima 10 Denny Heck - D Cowlitz Columbia Walla Walla Asotin Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail 3 Clarkston Dayton Skamania Richland Pasco

N LongviewKelso Klickitat Kennewick Clark 020406080 A Walla Walla

Albers equal area projection E

C

O Vancouver

C

I

F

I

C OREGON

A

P ORTHWE PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL N ST IC T F R I A C I ANA SHINGTON IDAHO MONT L and Idaho Congressional Districts, 114th United States Congress A A W

P ASSOCIATION

O N RT H IC F W Boundary I E C S

A T

P

Sandpoint Bonner

WASHINGTON Kootenai

Coeur d'Alene 114th KelloggShoshoneWallace Benewah Congress St Maries Latah Idaho Senators Clearwater MoscowNez Perce Lewis Lewiston Jim Risch - R

Mike Crappo - R Idaho Idaho Representatives 1 Page 10 Lemhi Adams Salmon 1 Raul Labrador - R Valley New Meadows

2 Michael Simpson - R Washington McCall Clark Custer Fremont

Cascade Challis Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Weiser Dubois

Boise St Anthony Gem Payette OREGON Idaho City JeffersonRexburg Canyon MadisonTeton Sun Valley Butte 0 25 50 75 100 Boise Ketchum Caldwell Arco Albers equal area projection Ada Camas Hailey Idaho Falls Elmore Bonneville Blaine 2 Bingham WYOMING

Blackfoot Gooding Lincoln

Pocatello Jerome Bannock Caribou

Minidoka Power Owyhee Rupert Soda Springs Twin Falls Burley Twin Falls Downey Bear Cassia Lake Oneida Franklin

Preston

L AI 11 Page TR T

S ND

E

A A

N N A

W A

T T

Fallon

N N

Wibaux Baker Carter

H

Sidney

MO

Ekalaka

Glendive T T HO

Sheridan

R R

IDA

O O Richland

TON

Plentywood

N N

Dawson

HING

C

C S S

I I A A

W W

F F

I

I ASSOCIATION C C

A A P

P Roosevelt Broadus Circle Prairie

Custer

Scobey Miles City Miles Powder River Daniels

McCone

Forsyth Glasgow Valley Rosebud

Garfield Jordan Treasure

Big Horn

Hardin

SASKATCHEWAN WYOMING

Phillips Roundup Yellowstone Petroleum

Musselshell

Billings A

Blaine Red Lodge Red Carbon Valley

Golden Lewistown Fergus

Stillwater

D

Big Timber

A Havre Wheatland Sweet Grass

Hill N

Livingston Judith Basin

Fort Benton Chouteau Park

A

White Sulphur Springs Liberty Meagher

Great Falls

C Gallatin

Townsend Cascade

Bozeman Broadwater Toole

Conrad

TA Madison

Helena Teton Jefferson Pondera

Butte

Virginia City Lewis and Clark

Cut Bank

ALBER Bow Silver

Dillon Glacier

East Glacier Park Powell Beaverhead Deer Lodge Granite

Hamilton Missoula Lake Flathead Ravalli

Missoula

Kalispell

Eureka Mineral Sanders

Libby Lincoln

BRITISH

IDAHO

COLUMBIA 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

T ES W H 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 T 38 39 40 41 42 R

O

N

C

I

F

I

C 17 18 19 15 16 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 A P Albers equal area projection 0 25 50 75 100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 12 13 14 114th Congress Montana Senators Jon - D Tester Steve Daines - D Montana Representatives Zinke - R 1 Ryan Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL and Montana Congressional Districts, 114th United States Congress Districts, 114th and Montana Congressional O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

Fact Sheet

From the wonders of Glacier National Park to the majestic Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail showcases much of the beauty of the Northwest United States, and why it needs to be protected.

Background: The PNT spans 1220 miles from Chief Mountain, at the northeast corner of Glacier National Park, through western Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Thousands of users have been enjoying segments of this, our nations newest National Scenic Trail, for many years. In 2009 Congress authorized the PNT as a National Scenic Trail, allowing it to join the ranks of trails such as the PCT, CDT, FT, AT, and NCT. Congress charged the USDA - FS with the responsibility to administer the PNT in cooperation with the many land managers along its route.

Designated by Congress on March 30, 2009 as our nations newest National Scenic Trail Contiguous route (but not trail or totally protected) Location: Canadian border at Chief Mountain, MT, through Montana, Idaho, and Washington Length: 1220 + miles Private Land: 130 + miles Land Managers: 7 National Forests 3 National Parks 7 State Parks Bureau of Land Management Scenic and State Recreation Areas County Parks and Tribal Lands Lowest Point: O feet at the Pacific Ocean Highest Point: 7600 feet at Cathedral Pass, WA Congressional Districts: 5 in Washington, 1 in Idaho, 1 in Montana

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org ANA HINGTON IDAHO MONT L A AS W

P ASSOCIATION Page 12 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

Pacific Northwest Trail Association Fact Sheet

PNTA Mission The mission of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association is to construct, protect and maintain the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail in a manner that makes a lasting contribution to the recreation, education, and enjoyment of present and future generations. The PNTA strives to achieve this mission by promoting the PNNST as a unique educational and recreational treasure, with hopes that one day the PNNST will be one of the finest hiker/equestrian trails in the world. The PNTA is a private nonprofit and is recognized as a 501 (c) (3) by the Internal Revenue Service. The PNTA provides a broad range of services to youth through our SKY (Service-Knowledge-Youth) Programs, members and the general public, and serves as a communications link among users and land managers.

Staff and Board of Directors In 1999, the PNTA hired its first paid staff. Today, the PNTA has a full time staff of four, including an acting executive director/trail director, two Regional Coordinators, and bookkeeper. During the summer season the PNTA employees over a hundred seasonal staff, based on grants and funding received.

A 12-member volunteer board of directors provides leadership and governance for the PNTA. Board members are elected for a 3-year term. Membership and Budget Since the PNT was designated in March 2009, membership has started to increase from 300 members in 2008 to over 400 at present. Without adequate funding the PNTA has struggled to make a more pronounced effort to promote the trail. The annual budget remains at around $250,000, with a seasonal budget (based on grants) of around $400,000. Financial support is desperately needed for the PNTA to successfully promote and advocate for the PNNST. Partnerships The PNTA has successfully partnered with the USFS, the NPS, WADNR, WA State Parks and many county and private landowners to preserve and protect the PNT. Hopefully we will be signing a Multi-Agency Memorandum of Understanding in the near future to further enhance the PNTAs ability to continue the coordination, management, and operation of the PNNST and feeder trails. ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org ANA HINGTON IDAHO MONT L A AS W

P ASSOCIATION Page 13 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

History Ron Strickland, credited as the “father” of the PNNST, founded the Pacific Northwest Trail in the early 1970s, as a way to hike from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean by linking together existing trails. “Stay high for the view” was the mantra for the PNNST.

The PNTA was formed in 1977. The organization was a concerted effort of those who shared the vision of a Pacific Northwest Trail, working to establish the trail as a premier hiker/equestrian trail and eventually see it join the likes of the PCT and AT.

PNTA volunteers, a battalion of the British Army, and many partners of the PNTA, worked to maintain the trail with little financial support. Their shared goal being a way to get users to see some of the most scenic country in the Northwest United States. A contiguous route was identified with about 440-miles being on trail. Today over 800-miles are on trail, with many miles still left to be developed. In order to complete the trail, many segments were located on private timberland, roads, and other inappropriate places.

ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 14 O N RT H IC F W I E C S

A T

P Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail

Partners

National Parks: Trail Coalitions: Other: Glacier Washington State Partnership for National North Cascades Peninsula Trails Olympic Foundation Colville Washington Recreational National Forests: Idaho Conservation Office Flathead American Society Kootenai Maintaining Groups: American Trails Idaho Panhandle SWITMO Wilderness Society Colville Evergreen Mountain Biking Wilderness Connect Okanogan Oroville Trail Club WA Trails Association Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie Gray Wolf Group Mountaineers Olympic Washington Trails Ass’n. Boy Scouts of America TC Okanogan Conservation BLM: Eureka Trail Group Association Central Washington Montana Conservation Okanogan Snowmobilers Habitat for Humanity Indian Tribes: School Districts: Skagit Audubon Quileute Forks, WA Retired Seniors S’Klallam Sedro-Woolley, WA Green Trail Maps Makah Chimicum, WA Skagit Trekkers Skagit Port Angeles, WA Skagit Alpine Nooksack Tonasket, WA Sedro-Wooley Lock & Key Colville Oroville, WA National Geographics Republic, WA Mays’ Honda State: Ace Hardware Washington DNR Colleges: Wholesale Sports Washington State Parks UW Steel State Forest WSU WWU SPONSORS: Counties: Peninsula Weyerhaeuser Flathead, MT MSU Columbia Sportswear Glacier, MT Tesoro Lincoln, MT Back Country Horseman: The Ford Fund Bonner, ID Washington State Ford Motor Company Boundary, ID Whatcom Chapter Williams Foundation Pend Oreille, WA Skagit Chapter Northwest Horticulture Stevens, WA Solduc Valley Chapter Energy Ferry, WA Buckhorn Chapter Gates Foundation Okanogan, WA Okanogan Valley Chapter Fisher and Sons Whatcom, WA Methow Valley Chapter Spring Family Trust Skagit, WA Northeast Chapter Skagit Community Island, WA Inland Empire Chapter Foundation Jefferson, WA Kalispell Chapter Bullet Co. Clallam, WA Tobacco Valley Chapter Echo Bay Minerals ORTHWE N ST IC T F R I A C I Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association January 2015 (360) 854-9415 www.pnt.org NA HINGTON MONTA L A AS IDAHO W

P ASSOCIATION Page 15