2/13/2007

Trail adopters needed to assess, clear storm-blocked trails

Volunteers can help get trails ready for hiking, biking and horseback-riding.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-As communities shift from crisis mode to the long task of recovery from January's catastrophic ice storms, the Missouri Department of Conservation is starting to assess damage on its lands. One of the emerging needs is for clearing fallen timber from dozens of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

"We don't even have a good idea of the extent of the problem yet," said Teresa Kight, who coordinates the Conservation Department's Adopt-A-Trail program. "Like everyone else, our first priority was people's emergency needs. Now that that phase of the response is finished, we are looking at conservation lands. Some of it looks pretty bad."

Kight said the Conservation Department has more than 700 miles of trails on 136 areas statewide. Many of those trails are in the corridor hardest hit by ice storms.

"I have had reports from trail adopters saying that a lot of trails are in terrible shape due to fallen trees and limbs blocking trails," Kight said. "As soon as weather permits, we need trail adopters to check their areas and report their findings so we can start setting priorities for the work ahead of us."

Kight hopes to have an idea of which areas have the greatest need for trail clearing and organize agency personnel and volunteers to attack the problems this spring. She said the Conservation Department could use more volunteers for the Adopt-A-Trail Program. So far, several hundred people have banded together to adopt 45 trails. That leaves just under 100 available for adoption. More volunteers would be welcome, especially in the storm-ravaged area along I-44 between Joplin and St. Louis.

Adopt-A-Trail participants include families, Scout troops, hiking clubs and other organizations with an interest in the outdoors or a strong connection to a particular area. Adopt-A-Trail offers outdoors people a way to make a personal, concrete contribution to conservation.

Volunteers monitor, maintain and enhance trails and trailhead facilities. Common work projects include clearing loose rocks, sticks and branches that accumulate on trail surfaces, cutting back limbs and brush, cleaning water bars and drainage ditches, clearing debris from bridges, stairs and viewing decks and picking up trash.

Kight said Adopt-A-Trail volunteers make a huge difference in the quality of outdoor experiences for themselves and others who visit conservation areas. Anyone who wants to take one on can contact her at (573) 522-4115, ext. 3636, or Teresa.Kight@mdc.mo.gov.

-Jim Low-