Great American Outdoors Act

Signed into law the summer of 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act enables federal land managers to take aggressive steps to address deferred maintenance and other infrastructure projects through 2025. The Salmon-Challis submitted several projects for first-year funding consideration. Land managers at the Forest Service's national headquarters evaluated projects and recommended them to the Secretary of Agriculture. The proposed projects were selected based on seven criteria:

• Reducing deferred maintenance
• Promoting management of America’s forests
• Improving visitor experience
• Contributing to rural economic development
• Improving visitor access
• Ensuring health and safety
• Leveraging partner contributions and resources

The following Salmon-Challis projects were funded for implementation in 2021:

Dagger Creek Bridge Replacement

This project replaces a 5-foot diameter culvert that is continually blocked by beaver dams with a 40-foot steel bridge. Crews will also raise the road level 3 feet more above the stream so the beaver and road can coexist with minimal conflict. The Boundary-Dagger Road is the only road access to the Boundary Creek boat launch for the Middle Fork River.

Boundary-Dagger Road System Repairs

This project involves major repairs of the Boundary Creek Road System. On Stanley-Landmark Road, crews will:

• install a culvert and improve drainage along 1.5 miles;
• reconditioning 4 miles of road surface; and
• raise nearly 2 miles of road surface two feet to mitigate spring flooding.
• additionally, crews will perform heavy maintenance along 0.4 miles of road adjacent to Bear Valley Creek crossing on Boundary-Dagger Road.

Central Idaho Wilderness Complex Priority Area Trails Maintenance on Three Forests, including the Salmon-Challis

This project addresses trail maintenance on approximately 900 miles of trail on the Boise, Payette and Salmon-Challis national forests that fall within the Central Idaho Complex Priority Area. Partners will do the majority of the work.

Central Idaho Wilderness Complex Priority Area Trails Maintenance on Salmon-Challis

For this project, the Salmon-Challis will use a trail crew strike team to address deferred trail maintenance issues on the Salmon-Challis National Forest portion of the Central Idaho Complex Priority Area. The forest contains 2,070 miles of trail within the area.  Many of these trails are currently impassable or are difficult to use due to substantial deadfall and landslides created by wildfires and wind events that have occurred over many years. Consequently, significant tread work, re-routes, and logout are needed to provide access, safety, and a positive visitor experience.

Salmon River Road Corridor Recreation Site Maintenance

This project will reduce deferred maintenance at all 11 recreation sites within the Salmon River Road Corridor. Once complete, these sites will be offered for operation by a concessionaire to reduce deferred maintenance obligations in the long term. This project is a companion project to a not-yet-funded transportation project that aims to improve the condition of the Salmon River Road.

Silver Creek Road Repair

For this project, crews will complete heavy road maintenance on 14 miles of National Forest System Road 60108, Silver Creek Road. This will include:

• grading and shaping the road surface to repair an extensive network of potholes and soft spots;
• hauling and placing pit run surfacing on the entire road;
• conducting drainage system maintenance;  
• stabilizing 200' of fill slope that is failing; and
• stabilizing 500' of road embankment along the stream edge.

    

Salmon-Challis Recreation Site Maintenance on Sawtooth National Recreation Area Satellite Sites

For this project, crews will complete deferred maintenance and site improvements at 11 recreation sites on the Salmon-Challis National Forest just outside the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Work will include repair or replacement of picnic tables, fire rings, picnic table pads, and other site feature.