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Great American Outdoors Act

The Great American Outdoors Act became law on August 4, 2020, and it is helping public land managers fix existing infrastructure such as roads, trails, campgrounds, and day use sites in support of the public’s use and enjoyment of their public lands. 

 

What is the Great American Outdoors Act?

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) enables federal land managers to address deferred maintenance and other infrastructure projects on national forests and grasslands through 2025. Projects funded by GAOA focus on enhancing visitor experience and access opportunities, improving the condition of public-facing recreation and outdoor infrastructure, providing quality-of-life and economic opportunities for our local communities, and increasing the resiliency of our forests for present and future generations.

The Great American Outdoors Act covers two separate funds: The Land and Water Legacy Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF).

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation fund invests in projects to conserve critical forest and wetland habitat, support rural economic recovery, and increase public access to national forests and grasslands. Funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund provided by Congress was announced March 18, 2021. The list of funded projects included support for the Snow Rivers Wetland project on the Chugach National Forest.

National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund

The Forest Service established multiple criteria to evaluate and prioritize National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) projects. These criteria include: 1) reduction of infrastructure deferred maintenance; 2) promoting management of America’s forests; 3) improve visitor experience and access; 4) contribute to rural community economic development; 5) ensure health & safety; and 6) leverage external funding resources.

On March 8, 2021, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture would invest $285 million to help the Forest Service address critical deferred maintenance and improve transportation and recreation infrastructure on national forests and grasslands. In its first year, the Alaska Region received $12.3 million in funding to help address these critical maintenance backlogs, and we received $11.5 million in 2022. In 2023 the Alaska Region received $16.5 million, funding 38 deferred maintenance projects across the Chugach and Tongass National Forests.

Since 2021, the Forest Service has completed more than 122 deferred maintenance projects across 53 national forests in 25 states with more than 880 additional projects currently funded and in various stages of completion. The Alaska Region currently has 80 LRF projects in various stages of development 

 

How is the Alaska Region implementing the Act?

The Alaska Region is using Great American Outdoors Act funds to maximize the benefits experienced by the many residents and visitors who use and enjoy the Chugach and Tongass National Forests.

Funds are being used for a variety of projects, including: cabins, trails, day-use sites, campgrounds, access roads, road and trail bridges, boat ramps and marine access facilities, etc. We are also making improvements for fish and other aquatic organism passage and improving the resiliency of outdoor recreation infrastructure to climate and landscape changes.

While the Great American Outdoors Act was enacted less than two years ago, we have already been asked to identify projects for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Each funding decision was made weighing and considering the public input we received during three comment periods in September 2020, October 2020, and June 2021. See the “What we heard about” section, below, for a summary of two of the public comment periods.  

News releases

What we heard about

What projects have been funded, for how much, and where are those projects located?

The Alaska Region received $12 million for projects in 2021, $11.5 million for projects in 2022 and $16.5 million in 2023.

When a project is funded and is a multi-year project (meaning the project will take more than one year to accomplish), it does not have to compete for additional funding each year. When Congress selects a project for funding, they will provide funding for each year of the project until it is completed. 

Over 100 projects have been funded in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and every ranger district on both forests received funding for specific projects. For a map of projects and additional information on project-specific funding, please refer to the national GAOA dashboard. You can also view a list of projects by forest and district in the Alaska Region.

 

View national dashboard   View Alaska Region list

 

What progress is being made implementing projects?

The Washington Office of the U.S. Forest Service developed a dashboard that provides the public with project-specific status updates. Use the map to locate a project and right click on the project icon for project details. You can also go to the “Explore a Project” screen to learn additional status and funding details.

 

Can I engage in project work?

Projects are being accomplished by partners, volunteers, contractors, and Forest Service employees.

If your organization is interested in helping implement a Great American Outdoors Act project, please contact your local ranger district office.

If you are interested in volunteering, we encourage and appreciate that interest. Anyone interested in helping or volunteering should reach out to their local ranger district on the Chugach or Tongass National Forest.

 

How can I comment on projects or present new project ideas?

The Alaska Region submits projects to compete for national funding one or more times each year. Prior to each funding submittal, we have solicited feedback from the public on Forest Service proposed projects and new project ideas. We have used this input to help prioritize projects for funding.

We greatly appreciate the comments and ideas you have already provided through our previous comment periods (September 2020, October 2020, and June 2021). All those comments have been read and are being retained for use at the district and forest levels. When we have a new commenting opportunity, we will update this page with information on how to comment, and we will share information via a press release to local and regional media outlets.

Additionally, you can always connect with your local Ranger District at any time regarding Outdoor Project ideas and questions.

View ranger districts on the

 

Where can I find additional information?

The following links provide additional information about how the Alaska Region is implementing the Great American Outdoors Act.

 

What are some examples of completed projects?

Last updated May 8th, 2025

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