The recommendations in this proposal are the culmination of four years of collaborative work by the Cascade Head Scenic Research Area (CHSRA) Trails and Access Coordination Team, a diverse group of stakeholders, residents, nonprofits, and federal, state, and local agencies. Together with information gathered through stakeholder input, this Coordination Team developed recommendations that both improve the recreational experience and protect the resources of the CHSRA.
Since any solutions designed to address concerns in one part of the CHSRA could have consequences for other areas, the Coordination Team recognized the need to take a holistic look at trails across the entire area of interest. The Coordination Team included the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Westwind Stewardship Group, Cascade Head Ranch and the Sitka Center, among others, with technical assistance from the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA), which supports locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the United States. NPS-RTCA assists communities and public land managers in developing or restoring parks, conservation areas, rivers, and wildlife habitats, as well as creating outdoor recreation opportunities and programs that engage future generations in the outdoors.
The intent of this work is to provide suitable dispersed trail opportunities to maintain sustainable levels of visitor use in order to achieve one of the main objectives of the CHSRA Act-To provide present and future generations with the use and enjoyment of the area. This recreational use will be well supported by functional, connected trails, signage, and associated facilities while minimizing negative impacts on the natural resources and neighboring landowners to the extent feasible.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service