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Conservation + Recreation: 
July, 2012 
In the News

The Penobscot River maintains hydroelectric output after dam removal and restoration. Recently in Maine, in a sterling example of a multi-stakeholder, multi-agency, watershed wide restoration efforts, the Penobscot River Restoration Trust removed a dam and managed to maintain the same output of hydroelectric power, while substantially increasing the habitat for Atlantic salmon, and additional recreation and tourism benefits.

 

Finding nature online. In an intellectually stimulating article, Carol Yoon explores the idea that young people will make their first contact and connections with nature differently than previous generations did - via the internet. Read the column and tell us what you think on our Facebook page.

 

The Los Angeles River Greenway is declared a National Recreation Trail. Recently, a seven mile stretch of trail in Los Angeles was declared a National Recreation Trail by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis. The designation indicates the high value of the trail, and provides for enhanced visibility as all National Recreation Trails are featured in a database.

 

A new web resource: Rivers.gov. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers system has a new website. The online resource has a lot of great information for outdoor professionals as well as anyone who just loves rivers.

 

Water trail improving shoreline access in Wisconsin. A plan to create a water trail would give kayakers, canoeists, and other nonmotorized users improved access to Lake Michigan shoreline in Wisconsin. A total of 450 miles of shoreline will be accessible. Read about the plan here.

 

Pascagoula River Blueway becomes a reality. Just in time for a southern Mississippi festival called Summerfest, the local community was able to designate the first of many sections of Blueway on the Pascagoula River. The kayaking trail highlights the local area's national features. 

Findings and Publications

Paddle Culture. Recently, some students at the Corcoran College of Art and Design produced a short video about kayaking on the Potomac River. Check out their documentary, which features an interview with Great Falls Park Ranger Jin Prugsawan who shares some of the wonder of this powerful river.

 

Google Maps takes on hiking trails. Google's mapping service has recently expanded to include marking trails on maps. In order to make that service better, they are using a backpack mounted camera to enable the "street view" feature for trails. Has your trail been featured? If so - tell us about it

New Tools

The Junior River Rangers Program is here! The Farmington River is overseeing a Junior River Ranger Program, designed to encourage kids to gain exposure to the river. The activities and guidelines are published in a river ranger booklet. 

Upcoming Events

International Urban Parks Conference (July 14-17). This year at the International Urban Parks Conference, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will both deliver keynote addresses. The conference invites city officials, park professionals, nonprofit executives, health practitioners, park advocates and others who are committed to improving urban environments to attend. 

 

News and events. The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program maintains a list of upcoming conferences and recent events. Were you able to attend one? If so, tell us about it on our Facebook page.  

Grants and Job Opportunities

Do Good Outdoors Grants (ends 7/19/2012). Do you have a good idea for a project that would help people spend more time outside? If so, check out the Do Good Outdoors grant, which offers support for all types of innovative ideas to help individuals get outside.

 

Funding opportunities for improving the Susquehanna River (ends 8/20/2012). Are you in a position to make a difference improving the water quality of the Susquehanna River? Take a look at the Susquehanna greenway mini-grants, which are aimed at providing individuals and groups the opportunity to improve water quality.

 

Enhance the built environment (ends 8/9/2012). The Convergence Partnership is calling for proposals that enhance the built environment or expand access to healthy foods for low-income communities. 

 

The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program's technical assistance application deadline is August 1. Head to the application page to see how the National Park Service can help you. 

Trail of the Month
A Tip of the Hat to... 

FLATS Steering Committee

Forest Lake Area Trail System

Kirksville, Missouri

 

Thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, Kirksville, Missouri is on its way to realizing a multi-use trail that will connect the City of Kirksville to nearby Thousand Hills State Park. The trail connection will provide a more direct, non-vehicular access route to the park and will serve as a local and regional recreation resource. "This type of trail can do wonders for rural, college towns, like Kirksville," says Royce Kallerud, Professor of English at Truman State University and co-founder of FLATS.

 

The Forest Lake Area Trails System (FLATS) is an all-volunteer community organization that was formed in April 2009 to support the development, use, and maintenance of trails in Adair County. Members of the FLATS steering committee have collectively volunteered thousands of hours and successfully leveraged community support and donations to secure Recreation Trails Program grant funding to begin construction on phase one of the trail this summer. FLATS continues to partner with area service organizations and the Kirksville community to host various fundraising events, including the annual F*L*A*T*S Trail Half Marathon, to raise funds for future phases of the trail system.

 

FLATS is working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Thousand Hills State Park, the City of Kirksville and Adair County on the design and construction of the trail system. According to Dan Martin, Director of Wellness Programs at A.T. Still University and co-founder of FLATS, "It's something that will add value to life in Kirksville and have an economic, as well as a public health impact. Our hope is that after it's all done, people can't imagine not having it."

 

FLATS volunteers have worn many hats in their quest: visionaries, fundraisers, trail advocates, event coordinators, grant writers and brush clearers, to name just a few. Hats off to FLATS for their continued hard work and dedication to making their community a better place to live and play!

Let's Work Together
Could your project benefit from collaboration with a National Park Service specialist?
 
If you're restoring a river, building a community trail, or making an urban park flourish, we'd love to talk with you about ways we could work together.  
 
   
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Conservation + Recreation is written to support and inform our organizational partners, friends of the program, potential partners, and Department of the Interior staff. It's our chance to share activities and successes and those of our partners. For details on specific projects, please contact the staff person involved with each project.

Images courtesy National Park Service except as noted.