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Resource Management
Trail Standards and Best Management Practices
Florida Trail - Trail Standards, Minimums, and Guidelines (PDF) and the Florida Trail - Abbreviated Trail Standards, Minimums, and Guidelines (PDF)
- These documents reflect the minimum standards for Florida National Scenic Trail designation and management as described in the 1983 Florida National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan.
- The Florida National Scenic Trail has segments representing each of the five trail classes which encompass diverse recreational and environmental experiences. The Florida Trail Interactive Map includes a layer of trail classes that can be turned on or off. The map’s depiction of trail classes represents the class management objective for each segment and does not necessarily reflect conditions on the ground.
FNST Trail Class Matrix (PDF)
- This document describes the general attributes that reflect trail development along a continuum of five trail classes.
Trail Class Design Parameters (PDF)
- Design Parameters are technical guidelines for the survey, design, construction, maintenance, and assessment of the FNST.
FNST Trail Class PowerPoint (PDF)
- This presentation describes and displays photos of the five trail classes along the FNST and examples of the infrastructure associated with each class.
Assessment Tools and Examples
FNST Optimal Location Review Guidelines (PDF)
- This document outlines the format, process, and location criteria for an Optimal Location Review (OLR) on the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST). The OLR process helps ensure that the trail is located in the setting that best meets the congressional intent for a National Scenic Trail: to provide outstanding recreation opportunities, and promote and protect access to the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources along the Trail.
Example: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Assessment (PDF)
- This assessment details the current issues and concerns with this section of Florida National Scenic Trail and provides recommendations for trail location, maintenance, and facility and sign improvements for the long term social, environmental and economic sustainability of this section of Trail. It is also intended to be used as a template for subsequent assessments of the FNST in the future.
Example: Ocala National Forest Maintenance Assessment (PDF)
- The ONF Maintenance Assessment provides an inventory of the maintenance needs of the FNST on the Ocala National Forest for the 2011-2012 volunteer season.
Example: Ocala National Forest Trail Location Assessment (PDF)
- This assessment identifies FNST problem and opportunity areas and explores the alternatives or solutions for locating Trail realignment.
Request for Projects
Priority will be granted to those projects which address critical safety concerns, involve updating existing kiosk and sign infrastructure to communicate with the public, and which further the objectives of the Florida Trail's Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2023.
General Application Requirements
- Projects must be located on, or within the priority planning corridor of, the Florida National Scenic Trail.
- Trail and infrastructure projects must be submitted by, or with concurrence of, the underlying land manager.
- Project financial plans must demonstrate a minimum 20% partner contribution, direct or in-kind.
- Any submitting partner must have a recently completed Trail Assessment as justification for the proposed project.
Please complete the FNST Project Application form and e-mail to FNST@usda.gov or your local FTA Regional Program Manager.
Florida Trail Association's Volunteer Hours Reporting System
The Florida Trail Association debuted its updated volunteer hours reporting system at the end of summer 2013. The previous system had the ability to track what maintenance and construction happened on various trail sections. It also tracked how many volunteers participated and the number of volunteer hours contributed. The updated system has the ability to track individual hours and will provide more maintenance-related details.
Through the updated system, FNST land managers will be able to pull reports of work done on their sections of trail, in addition to having the ability to enter their own volunteer hours. Tracking volunteer hours is key to tracking progress on the trail and acknowledging the hard work that that the volunteers contribute to the FNST. A user guide on the updated system will be available at the end of summer 2013.
Interested in learning more or curious as to how many hours were contributed to your section of trail this past season? Reach out to the Florida Trail Association at fta@floridatrail.org.
To report hours, visit the Florida Trail Association's Volunteer Reporting Portal.