GEORGIA—The Great American Outdoors Act will be responsible for numerous improvement projects across the public lands of the nation; in fact, it has been responsible for nearly 550 in its first year. Some projects are large, some relatively small, but their impacts can be equally great.

Take Pandapas Pond Day Use Area on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in southwestern Virginia as an example. The small, eight-acre pastoral pond just outside Blacksburg, Virginia, receives nearly 500 visitors daily. The one-mile hiking trail and fishing platform needed improvements to meet the level of use and to provide an even better experience for public enjoyment.

“We are so excited to have recently completed this small project on our forest,” said Beth Christensen, Eastern Divide district ranger. “This pond and the trail are local favorites and have been for years. Giving them some TLC is exactly what they needed.”

Even if the scale of the project wasn’t as large as others in the Southern Region, an army of contractors, partners and volunteers took part in the Pandapas Pond facelift. Members of Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services, Youth Conservation Crew and Student Conservation Association assisted with trail improvements, erosion mitigations and overall recreation site improvement. It was this collaboration that made this project so special for the forest.

“All parts and pieces came together perfectly for a successful implementation,” said Christensen. “I can only hope other public lands projects receive this kind of support and see success like we have here in Virginia.”

The project was completed in roughly 30 days and the site has since reopened to the public. Christensen said visitors have already returned to see and enjoy the improvements that will keep Pandapas Pond accessible for years to come.

“We so appreciate the patience of forest visitors and trail users during the temporary closure at Pandapas Pond. The improvements we made will ensure the trails continue to provide opportunities for people to recreate and connect with nature without compromising the health of the surrounding forest and water,” she added.

The Pandapas Pond repair project was funded by the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund established by the Great American Outdoors Act. The act addresses the deferred maintenance needs for recreation sites across the country.