November 2011

America’s Great Outdoors

Department of the Interior

Fifty-State Report
© Harold E. Malde

ON THE COVER

Silver Creek Preserve
November 2011

America’s Great Outdoors

Department of the Interior

Fifty-State Report
Contents

Introduction

Alabama 7

Gulf Coast Restoration 7

Conservation Education for Alabama’s Youth 7

Alaska 8

Denali State Park Trails 8

Kachemak Bay Water Trail 9

Arizona 10

Rio Salado 10

Lake Havasu National Bluewater Trail System 11

Arkansas 12

Delta Heritage Trail 12

Arkansas River Trail 13

California 14

San Joaquin River 14

Los Angeles River Trail & San Gabriel River Trail Improvements 15

Colorado 16

Rocky Mountain Greenway 16

Yampa River Basin 17

Connecticut 18

Connecticut River 18

Naugatuck River 19

Delaware 20

First State National Historical Park 20

Delaware National Bayshore 21

District Of Columbia 23

Anacostia Riverwalk Trail 23

Florida 24

Shingle Creek Trail 24

East Central Regional Rail-Trail Project 25

Georgia 27

Get Outdoors Georgia 27

Panola Mountain State Park 27

Hawaii 28

North Kona – South Kohala Coastline / 28

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Wailua River National Blueway 29

Idaho 30

Boise River Greenbelt 30

Owyhee Land Exchange 31

Illinois 32

Calumet Millennium Reserve 32

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge 33
Indiana 34

Wabash River—Healthy Rivers Initiative 34

Indiana Dunes 35

Iowa 36

Loess Hills 36

Southern Prairie Pothole National Wildlife Refuge 37

Kansas 38

Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area 38

Kansas River Water Trail 39

Kentucky 40

Kentucky River Water Trail 40

Dawkins Line Rail-Trail 41

Louisiana 42

Urban Waters Initiative 42

Restoration of Lake Pontchartrain Basin 43

Maine 44

Penobscot River Restoration Project 44

Keeping Maine’s Forests 45

Maryland 46

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park 46

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail 47

Massachusetts 48

Blackstone River Valley Greenway 48

Connecticut River 49

Michigan 50

Detroit River 50

Detroit River Restoration 51

Minnesota 52

Upper Minnesota River Watershed 52

Twin Cities Parks: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area 53

Mississippi 54

Mississippi Coastal Heritage Trail 54

Pascagoula River National Blueway 55

Missouri 57

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Revitalization 57

Ozark Trail 57

Montana 59

Crown of the Continent 59

Fort Missoula Regional Park 59

Nebraska 60

Platte River Recovery Implementation Program 60

Platte River Access 61
Nevada 62

Lorenzi Park Renovation 62

Colorado River Heritage Greenway Park and Trails 63

New Hampshire 64

Northern Forest 64

Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge 65

New Jersey 66

Barnegat Bay 66

Barnegat Bay 67

New Mexico 68

Price’s Dairy 68

Aztec Ruins National Monument 69

New York 70

Harlem River/Roberto Clemente State Park 70

Finger Lakes Trail and Water Access Improvements 71

North Carolina 72

Waccamaw River National Blueway 72

Elk Knob—Long Hope Valley 73

North Dakota 74

Dakota Grasslands 74

Missouri River Forest Restoration Project 75

Ohio 76

Ohio to Erie Trail Connections 76

Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed Wetland Development 77

Oklahoma 78

Honey Springs Battlefield Park 78

Blue River 79

Oregon 80

Table Rocks 80

Willamette Valley Conservation Plan 81

Pennsylvania 82

Lower Susquehanna Landscape Initiative 82

Urban Greening 83

Rhode Island 84

Blackstone River Valley Greenway 84

Blackstone River Valley Project 85

South Carolina 87

Longleaf Pine Focal Area 87

Three Rivers Greenway 87

South Dakota 88

Blood Run National Historic Landmark 88

Dakota Grasslands 89
Tennessee 90

Paint Rock River Watershed 90

Tennessee Riverpark’s Chattanooga Riverwalk 91

Texas 93

Rio Grande Watershed 93

West Galveston Bay 93

Utah 94

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge 94

Jordan River Parkway 95

Vermont 96

Winooski River Watershed Project 96

Connecticut River 97

Virginia 98

Fort Monroe National Historical Park 98

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail 99

Washington 101

Pacific Northwest Trail - Olympic Discovery Trail Convergence 101

Lower Columbia Water Trail 101

West Virginia 102

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge 102

New River Gorge National River 103

Wisconsin 104

Lake Michigan Water Trail 104

Ice Age Trail 105

Wyoming 107

Devils Tower Conservation Easement 107

Grand Teton National Park Multi-Use Pathways Program 107

Appendix A: Youth Engagement 108

Appendix B: Multi-State Projects 110

Mississippi River Bluffs 110

Connecticut River 110

Dakota Grasslands 111

Blackstone River Greenway 111

Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem 111

Indiana Dunes 112

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail 112

Appendix C: Glossary 113

Appendix D: Acronyms 117
Introduction

President Obama launched the America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative on April 

16, 2010, to foster a 21st-century approach to conservation that is designed by and 

accomplished in partnership with the American people. He charged the Secretaries of 

the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality with leading this initiative. The President directed senior Administration officials to undertake an unprecedented listening tour to learn from communities 

outside of the Nation’s Capital that have developed innovative and successful conservation initiatives. The result was perhaps the most robust public conversation about 

conservation in American history: 51 public listening sessions with more than 10,000 

participants and more than 105,000 comments submitted. Building on this conversation, on February 16, 2011, federal agencies submitted to the President “America’s 

Great Outdoors: A Promise to Future Generations,” a report which defines an action 

plan for conservation and recreation in the 21st century. 

The AGO report identified 10 major goals and 75 action items to advance this initiative, from expanding youth programs to increasing public awareness about conservation to better managing our public lands. Among these were three major place-based 

goals to focus the collective conservation and recreation efforts of the federal government: create and enhance urban parks and greenspaces, renew and restore rivers, and 

conserve large, rural landscapes.

During the spring and summer of 2011, Secretary Salazar continued the conversation 

with Americans outside Washington, this time seeking recommendations in each state 

about opportunities that support the three place-based goals of the America’s Great 

Outdoors Initiative. Secretary Salazar and his leadership team at the Department of 

the Interior asked Governors and their senior leadership and stakeholders in all 50 

states to identify specific projects in which the federal government could partner with 

states to advance the AGO goals. The response we received was outstanding. Many 

states identified far more worthy project ideas than we could list in this report. 

Based on this input, this America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report summarizes 

two project ideas in each state for the Department of the Interior and other federal 

agencies to partner with state and local governments and other stakeholders on a 

shared conservation and recreation agenda. Here are some highlights and themes we 

heard from states and stakeholders around the country: 

1. People value close-to-home places to access the outdoors.

Many of the projects identified seek to create, expand, or improve parks, 

trails, recreational access, and open space for people to get outdoors in places 

near to where they live or work. From completing trail connections all over 

the country to re-establishing access to the Harlem River in New York City 

to restoring Lake Calumet in South Chicago to supporting the Boise River 
Greenway, all over the country are focused on improving the quality of life for 

their citizens through parks, trails, and open space. Close-to-home parks and 

greenspaces are especially valuable in connecting young people with the outdoors. 

2. People love their rivers.

Since most communities are located along a river, rivers are a particularly good way 

to connect Americans to the great outdoors. And rivers can be restored through 

community-scale efforts, encouraging people to become and stay involved. From

riverside trails for hiking and biking, to water trails, to multi-dimensional river 

recreation and restoration initiatives, to projects that aim to restore river ecology,

we are inspired and encouraged by the range and diversity of proposed riverrelated projects at the local, state, and regional levels. 

3. People want to conserve our large, rural landscapes.

Americans have a deep appreciation for farmers, ranchers, and foresters and for 

conserving habitat for wildlife. They also understand the need to think big—at the 

watershed or landscape scale—to maintain these working lands for food and fiber

and the wildlife that depend upon them. Across the country, we heard about the

need to protect river valleys, lands that connect public lands to private lands, and

areas that should be set aside for their special values. 

AGO takes as its premise that lasting conservation solutions should rise from the American 

people—that the protection of our natural heritage is a non-partisan objective shared by all 

Americans. The locally supported outdoor projects identified in this report aim to reconnect 

Americans to the natural world through parks, trails, and rivers and to conserve and restore 

working lands and wildlife habitat. The projects will also create jobs through travel, tourism, 

and outdoor recreation activities. Since the number of ideas received far exceeded what we 

are able to put in this report, those listed are intended to be a first set of projects on which 

the Department can partner with states and communities to make America’s Great Outdoors a reality. In future years, we hope to expand our partnership with states, communities, 

and stakeholders. 

Given the fiscal constraints facing the federal government, the Department of the Interior 

will not be in a position to provide significant financial resources to most projects. Interior 

will work with states and communities to advance these projects with existing resources 

through technical support and with its administrative authorities. It will also partner with 

states and communities to leverage grants, private funding, and other resources to help 

ensure a project’s success.

The release of this Fifty-State Report represents the conclusion of another chapter in the 

ongoing dialogue with the American people on building a conservation and recreation 

agenda for the 21st century and the beginning of an important chapter of translating the 

AGO vision into on-the-ground action.
6 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY US DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR UNLESS CREDITED.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 7

Alabama

Gulf Coast Restoration

Landscape Conservation

Gulf Coast

Project Description and Need: The Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama, more than 31,000 square 

miles and home to two million people, is a key area in need of conservation. The region’s 

wetland and pine forest ecosystems are critical habitats for many threatened and endangered 

species like the Red Cockaded Woodpecker and Red Hills Salamander. The region is expected 

to see significant new development and population growth during the next 25 years, putting 

more pressure on these species and their habitat. The State of Alabama has partnered with 

federal agencies and conservation organizations to acquire easements to conserve habitat, 

protect migration corridors, and enhance recreational opportunities. The partnership’s primary 

focus is on conservation of the remaining longleaf pine ecosystem. Another important goal 

of this project is to provide a conservation buffer for local military activities, including “Dark 

Areas.”

Potential Action: Support acquisition of conservation easements to conserve critical habitat 

for protected species and the continuation of military activities at Fort Rucker, Fort Benning, 

and Eglin Air Force Base.

Partners: FWS, DOD, State of Alabama, and University of Alabama.

Conservation Education for Alabama’s Youth

Education

Alabama

Project Description and Need: As in many parts of the country, there is an increasing disconnect between Alabama’s citizens and the outdoors. This disconnect shows up in the decreased 

amount of time young people are in the outdoors, the increased time they spend in front of 

electronic devices, and the decline in outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing. Alabama 

is seeking partners to help it address this growing disconnect between people and nature, 

between urban and rural communities, and between youth and outdoor recreation. Opportunities include an expansion of outdoor recreation in public schools curricula, including hunter 

and angler education.

Potential Action: Partner with the State of Alabama to develop environmental education 

programs and to connect young people to the outdoors.

Partners: NPS, Alabama State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama 

Department of Public Health, and Alabama Department of Education.
8 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Alaska

Denali State Park Trails

Trails

Central Alaska

Project Description and Need: Denali State Park sits on the south side of the Alaska 

Range, adjacent to Denali National Park and Preserve. The 325,000-acre park is remarkable for its spectacular views of towering glaciers and ice-carved gorges. Glacial streams 

wind down to the tundra, home to moose, grizzly bears, caribou, and other wildlife. 

With its beautiful views and unique landscape, the region is popular for sightseeing and 

recreation by both residents and out-of-state visitors, and anticipated developments in 

the region are expected to increase demand. The state park provides a range of recreation 

experiences that often complement those available in the national park, including a trail 

system with several trailheads along the state’s major north-south highway. The state 

needs assistance to plan, develop, and maintain an all-season trail system that allows for 

optimum outdoor recreational use of the area while protecting the natural and cultural 

resources of the park.

Potential Action: Provide technical assistance from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation 

Assistance Program (RTCA) to develop a trail management plan with recommendations for design, construction, management, and potential funding sources.

Partners: NPS, State of Alaska, and Denali State Park.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 9

Kachemak Bay Water Trail

Water Trail

Homer, Alaska

Project Description and Need: The goal of the Kachemak Bay Water Trails Association in 

Homer is to identify a designated water trail suitable for small watercraft from the Homer 

Spit up the north shore of Kachemak Bay and down the south shore to Seldovia. This trail 

would connect communities at both ends of the bay to one another and to the outstanding 

recreational and educational offerings of the bay. The proposed trail is approximately 125 

miles long and the proposal will identify access points, landing sites, and recreational facilities 

available to the public. Educational information related to flora and fauna, Native cultures, and 

geology will greatly enhance recreational and educational opportunities and promote water 

safety. The Kachemak Bay Water Trail will emphasize stewardship of the resources and providing Alaska youth and adults with a fun way to learn about the bay, beaches, estuaries, and 

uplands and their importance to the marine ecosystem.

Potential Action: Provide technical assistance from RTCA to develop a marine-based water 

trail system, provide recommendations for development of the water trail, build partnerships, 

identify funding sources, and designate the project as a National Water Trail.

Partners: NPS, Homer Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, Homer Wooden Boat 

Society, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, Center for Coastal Studies, Alaska State Parks, 

FWS National Maritime Wildlife Refuge, Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research 

Reserve, and City of Homer.
10 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Arizona

Rio Salado

Urban Park and Youth Engagement

Phoenix

Project Description and Need: The Nina Mason 

Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is a nature cen-

ter in the heart of the City of Phoenix’s Rio Salado 

Habitat Restoration Area, a 600-acre park along 

the Salt River. Located less than two miles from 

downtown Phoenix, the center is a gateway to lush 

Sonoran riparian habitat used by over 200 species of 

birds and other wildlife.

The River Pathways Program supports the AGO pri-

orities of restoring and revitalizing a significant river 

while creating more green space, urban parkways, and 

fishing opportunities for residents of Phoenix. The 

project will engage youth in conservation and moni-

toring in the Agua Fria National Monument; open a 

new recreation area near the shore of Lake Pleasant 

Regional Park on lands managed by the Bureau of 

Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and 

Maricopa County Parks; and build and maintain 18 

to 20 miles of trails within the Rio Salado Habitat 

Restoration Area.

The River Pathways Program has a goal of educating 

25,000 Phoenix inner city youth (94 percent of whom 

are minority students) in basic environmental literacy 

by 2015. As part of the project, young people will 

build regional trails, monitor fragile riparian resourc-

es, and restore avian and aquatic habitat.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial 

support to build trails and develop the recreation site 

at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. Expand urban fish-

ing opportunities.

Partners: BLM, BOR, FWS, ACE, Audubon 

Arizona, City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Valley 

Forward, Arizona Department of Water Resources, 

Phoenix Union High School District, local Work-

force Investment Boards, Phoenix College, and 

Student Conservation Association.

dIANE LIGGETT
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 11

Lake Havasu National Bluewater Trail System

Water Trail, Recreation, and Access

Lake Havasu City

Project Description and Need: Lake Havasu provides boating, fishing, camping, and other 

outdoor recreation for two million visitors a year. The river/lake-based trail will be complemented by a parallel non-motorized trail along the lakeshore. Both would connect the city to 

two national wildlife refuges at either end of Lake Havasu, three state parks, new public fishing facilities, six new accessible shoreline camps to accommodate disabled visitors, and over 80 

existing boating camps on BLM public lands.

The project would highlight over 10 years of work by public/private partners to improve the 

reservoir’s fisheries habitat, shoreline access, and recreation opportunities, as well as its economic and education potentials.

The partners plan to engage a Youth Conservation Corps team in 2012 to do some of the 

land-based restoration and enhancement work. The project will support the local and regional 

economies and advance AGO recreation goals.

Potential Action: Provide financial support for the public access and campground projects. 

Work with DOI bureaus to engage local Youth Conservation Corps. Support designation as a 

National Water Trail.

Partners: BLM, FWS, BOR, Arizona State Parks Department, Colorado River Indian Tribes, 

Youth Conservation Corps, Anglers United, Lake Havasu Marine Association, Mohave 

County Workforce Investment Board, Havasu for Youth, Lake Havasu City.

dIANE LIGGETT
12 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Arkansas

Delta Heritage Trail

Rural Landscapes

Helena to Arkansas City, Arkansas

Project Description and Need: Arkansas State Parks acquired the Delta Heritage Trail 

in 1993 when the abandoned Union Pacific Rail line was converted to the “Rails to Trails” 

program. Ultimately, the state hopes to complete a 73-mile hiking and biking trail through 

the heart of the delta that would provide recreational access to a largely inaccessible area. The 

area includes vital habitat for 265 species of neotropical migratory and resident songbirds and 

is the most important wintering area for mallard ducks in the United States. Designated as a 

Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the area includes the largest contiguous block 

of bottomland hardwood forest remaining on any tributary of the Mississippi River.

The state has now completed 14 miles of the trail, and there is an opportunity to build more. 

The trail skirts the White River National Wildlife Refuge and Rohwer Relocation Center 

Cemetery National Historic Landmark, part of the NPS Japanese American Confinement 

Sites Program. It also runs along the Osotuoy Unit of Arkansas Post National Monument.

When completed, the project promises to provide greater opportunities for outdoor recreation, to increase public understanding of the diverse landscapes of the Arkansas delta, and to 

enhance partnerships between DOI, agricultural interests, state agencies, and environmental 

organizations. It also will engage young people in outdoor recreation and education.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance for trail construction.

Partners: NPS, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University, Arkansas 

Delta Heritage Development Initiative, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Arkansas 

Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas State Parks, and the communities of McGehee and 

Dumas.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 13

Arkansas River Trail

Urban Parks and Wildlife Areas

Downtown Little Rock, Arkansas to West Little Rock, Arkansas

Project Description and Need: Arkansas, “The Natural State,” takes pride in their 

connection to the outdoors. Already, a chain of parks, on both sides of the Arkansas 

River, links a complex of city trails and parks that runs from the Clinton Presidential 

Center in downtown Little Rock to the Big Dam Bridge in West Little Rock. The state 

and the communities envision the Arkansas River Trail reaching from downtown Little 

Rock to Pinnacle Mountain State Park (and the 225-mile Ouachita Wilderness Trail) 

on the southern shore, and from downtown North Little Rock to Cook’s Landing on the 

northern shore. These routes will directly connect city residents to the surrounding rural 

areas. A pedestrian bridge across Murray Lock and Dam and a renovated railroad bridge 

near the Presidential Library Center and Park will help create another 14-mile loop. All 

together this project will open approximately 24 miles of trail in central Arkansas.

While a great deal of progress has already been made in developing these trails and 

parks, another 12.5 miles of the Arkansas River Trail needs to be completed.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to acquire and complete the 

Arkansas River Trail.

Partners: NPS, State of Arkansas, and City of Little Rock.
14 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

California

San Joaquin River

National Blueway, Restoration, and Recreation

Friant Dam to Confluence at Merced River

Project Description and Need: In 2006, the San Joaquin River Restoration Program settled 

an 18-year lawsuit regarding the provision of sufficient water for fish habitat in the San 

Joaquin River. The program is a comprehensive, long-term effort to restore flows from Friant 

Dam to the confluence with the Merced River. It will re-establish vital habitat on an important stretch of river and achieve the conservation goals of both the state and AGO. Among 

the benefits are restoring large areas of desiccated habitat and reinstating salmon runs in the 

watershed while avoiding adverse impacts on water supply. Along today’s San Joaquin River is 

a sparse, but vital, network of places where people can experience and enjoy the river. The San 

Joaquin River Partnership is a collaboration of 13 private, nonprofit organizations committed 

to seeing the river restored. Working with the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance 

Program, and with other federal and state agencies, the Partnership has adopted a vision for a 

San Joaquin River National Blueway as a mosaic of parks, wildlife refuges, and other publicaccess areas that create recreational opportunities on land and water. The blueway is anticipated to become a regional and statewide asset that fosters health, strengthens community ties, 

enhances learning, and supports restoration and conservation efforts.

Potential Action: Support restoration flows to the San Joaquin River as well as the reintroduction of salmon. Support new recreation access to the river for exploring the San Joaquin 

River from headwaters to Delta. Designate the San Joaquin River as a National Blueway.

Partners: FWS, BOR, NPS, San Joaquin River Partnership, NOAA-NMFS, California 

Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Water Resources, Friant Water 

Users Authority, NRDC, and others.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 15

Los Angeles River Trail & 

San Gabriel River Trail Improvements

Trails and Urban Park

Los Angeles, California Region

Project Description and Need: Almost 5.7 million people live within 10 miles of 

California’s Los Angeles River Trail, and 5.5 million are within 10 miles of the nearby 

San Gabriel River Trail. These recreational trails along Los Angeles County’s principal 

rivers connect urban residents to a network of the region’s great parks and outdoor 

recreation areas, including Los Angeles State Historic Park, Griffith Park, the Arroyo 

Seco, and Angeles National Forest. Improvements to these trails will ensure they continue 

to provide healthy recreation, connect neighborhoods to existing outdoor recreation areas, 

and provide a non-motorized transportation alternative.

The City of Los Angeles has committed to connecting people to the rivers and trails 

through the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (LARRMP), which identifies 

over 240 potential projects to restore riverside habitat, increase public access to the river, 

and promote recreational opportunities around the river. Construction of these projects 

is expected to create as many as 19,000 new permanent jobs. Proposed projects include 

bike trails, parks, and wetland restoration. Federal support for the LARRMP through the 

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has already made possible several projects to 

restore ecosystems in the Sepulveda Basin and along the Arroyo Seco, conserving highvalue wildlife habitat with up-to-downstream connections and links between in-channel 

riparian to outer-bank habitats. These actions will be greatly expanded with completion of the USACE LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, which proposes 

extensive habitat restoration along a 10-mile stretch of the river that includes the cities 

of Los Angeles, Burbank, and Glendale; connections to the Verdugo Wash and Arroyo 

Seco confluences, critical links between the river’s soft-bottom Glendale Narrows habitat 

and upstream habitats in Griffith and Elysian Parks; and future development of the Juan 

Bautisa de Anza National Trail. 

Potential action: Provide technical and financial support for the parks, trails, and habitat 

restoration aspects of the LARRMP. 

Partners: NPS, State of California, local governments, and many nonprofit partners. 
16 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Colorado

Rocky Mountain Greenway

Urban Parks, Trails, and River Access

Denver, Colorado Metropolitan Area

Project Description and Need: As a result of decades 

of private, local, state, and federal investment, signifi-

cant areas of open land are now protected and avail-

able for public use in and around the Denver metro-

politan area. This investment includes establishment 

of 40,000 acres of parks and open space, creation of 

over 140 miles of trails, and completion of water qual-

ity and recreation improvements within the Denver 

metro greenway system. There has been significant 

federal, state, and local investment in the cleanup and 

restoration of the Rocky Flats and Rocky Mountain 

Arsenal National Wildlife Refuges, as well as private 

and public investment in the creation of Confluence 

and Commons parks in the Central Platte Valley in 

Denver. An investment of $100 million in these envi-

ronmental and recreational improvements has created 

an estimated $10 billion of related economic benefits.

To maximize the benefit of these disparate assets, 

federal, state, and local partners want to create links 

to creeks, river corridors, and local, state, and fed-

eral parks and open space areas. The state and DOI 

are joining forces to create a “Rocky Mountain 

Greenway”—a system of uninterrupted trails linking 

the three national wildlife refuges in the metro region 

(Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Two Ponds NWR, 

and Rocky Flats NWR) and other trail systems in 

the Denver Metro Region. The NPS also will explore 

creating connections from Rocky Mountain National 

Park to the Denver metro area.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial 

support to connect the three national wildlife refuges 

in the metro region. Provide financial assistance for 

water quality and riparian habitat improvements and 

for work to extend trails and open space along the 

South Platte River and Sand Creek Greenway.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of Colorado, local govern-

ments, and nonprofit and private sector partners.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 17

Yampa River Basin

River Basin Conservation and Restoration; 

Large Landscape Conservation

Northwestern Colorado

Project Description and Need: The Yampa River Basin in northwestern Colorado is one 

of the most hydrologically and biologically intact watersheds in the West. As the largest 

naturally flowing river in Colorado, the Yampa hosts high-quality recreational experiences 

for boaters and fisherman. It provides roosting and nesting habitat for the sandhill crane, 

blue heron, and bald eagle. The river is also vital winter habitat for Colorado’s second 

largest elk herd, and large deer herds, making the area a world-class hunting destination.

Good stewardship and conservation of these lands and waters—both public and private—is critical to ensuring strong local economies built around ranching, wildlife, and 

recreation that contribute greatly to the economic and ecological health of the state of 

Colorado and the Colorado River basin as a whole. Two recent successes in the area 

include 61,485 acres of private land on 131 different properties that have been placed 

under conservation easement and extensive public and private investment in the Upper 

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. The creation of the Yampa River 

State Park, the reconstruction of important buildings at Dinosaur National Monument, 

and recreation improvements at Elkhead Reservoir are the first of many steps that will 

help spur tourism, recreation, jobs, and greater public use, all goals of AGO. The stronger 

and better coordination among governments at all levels and local communities afforded 

by AGO will help leverage current resources to increase the pace and scale of future 

accomplishments, including voluntary conservation of working agriculture lands, investment in forest management and wildlife corridors, and support for a diverse and sustainable outdoor recreation economy.

Potential action: Support the acquisition of conservation easements from willing sellers. 

Increase efforts to control invasive vegetation that seriously threatens important river values, and work at the headwaters of the river to conserve and promote important fisheries.

Partners: BLM, FWS, NPS, State of Colorado, county and local governments, land conservation groups, veterans organizations, and youth corps.
18 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Connecticut

Connecticut River

National Blueway with Urban Park Connections

Hartford

Project Description and Need: Over the course of the Connecticut River’s 410-mile 

journey from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound, the river ties together four 

New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The 

river is also the centerpiece of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge 

that encompasses the entire watershed, including several federally designated Wild and 

Scenic Rivers in Connecticut. The river flows through Hartford where public agencies 

have made significant strides to reconnect residents to the river through new riverside 

parks, a new science center, recreational trails, and a highly successful urban youth 

rowing program.

Despite the success in developing varied recreational opportunities on the Connecticut 

River, there is still a need for more access points for water-based recreation and to draw 

citizens to the river. The goal is to continue to support local efforts to enhance river 

access. The state envisions new launch sites for canoes and kayaks, more trails along the 

river and its major tributaries (including the Farmington and Salmon rivers), added 

camping areas, hosting public events, and making further investments in open space 

near the river.

The state also is working in Hartford to expand the city park system and join it to the 

Connecticut River. Its centerpiece, the GreenWalk, is a one-mile chain of parks and 

plazas connecting the gold-domed Capitol in Bushnell Park to the Connecticut River 

waterfront.

Potential Actions: Provide technical and financial support to increase access to the 

Connecticut River. Designate a portion of the Connecticut River in Connecticut as a 

National Blueway.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of Connecticut, City of Hartford, Riverfront Recapture, 

Friends of Conte Refuge, and other nonprofit partners.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 19

Naugatuck River

National Blueway, Access, and Restoration

Western Connecticut

Project Description and Need: Western Connecticut’s Naugatuck River encompasses 

a 310-square-mile watershed that includes former heavily industrialized urban areas, 

including the City of Waterbury. Over the last decade, the river has undergone a rebirth 

with millions of dollars invested to improve water quality, restore habitat, and enhance 

recreational opportunities. The state has focused on upgrading treatment plants—including a $100 million project in Waterbury—and removing dams and other structures.

Associated with the above efforts, the state has embarked on a comprehensive program 

to revitalize major urban areas along the river. The state envisions a multi-sector partnership with NPS, NOAA, Trout Unlimited, and the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce 

to help shape a comprehensive corridor initiative to enhance recreational access, increase 

fishing opportunities, restore and improve natural resources, and stimulate economic 

development along this National Blueway.

Potential Action: Help the state and communities to restore and enhance the river by 

completing the Naugatuck River Greenway, creating new public access to the river, and 

opening fish passages on the river.

Partners: NPS, FWS, NOAA, Trout Unlimited, and regional Chamber of 

Commerce.
20 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Delaware

First State National Historical Park

Urban Parks and Historic Preservation

New Castle - Eastern Shore

Project Description and Need: Delaware was the first state to ratify 

the U.S. Constitution and is now the only state with no National Park 

area. Designating a National Park area would boost tourism and provide urban outdoor recreation opportunities to residents and visitors. 

The purpose of the park would be to preserve and interpret resources 

associated with early Dutch, Swedish, and English settlements, as well 

as Delaware’s role in the birth of the nation.

The concept is that the park connects four interpretative centers linked 

to sites across the state to tell a comprehensive story of Delaware’s 

coastal heritage. In cooperation with state agencies and local governments, NPS would manage the centers and provide interpretation 

staff at various attractions. With this “hub and spoke” concept, park 

boundaries would be drawn loosely to include as many sites as possible 

that are representative of the themes.

The First State National Historical Park Act was introduced in 2009 

and awaits Congressional approval. It is supported by the State of 

Delaware.

Potential action: Support Congressional approval of First State 

National Historical Park.

Partners: NPS, State of Delaware, local governments, and nonprofit 

organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 21

Delaware National Bayshore

Landscape Conservation

Eastern Shore, Delaware

Project Description and Need: The Delaware Bayshore is a widely recognized area 

of global ecological significance. Extensive coastal marshes, beaches, and agricultural 

lands annually support more than a half-million shorebirds during both spring and fall 

migration. This makes the Bayshore one of the best birding and hunting areas on the 

East Coast. More than half of the Bayshore region is protected as refuges, wildlife areas, 

agriculture preserves, parks, and cultural heritage sites.

The state seeks DOI’s assistance to conserve, restore, and provide access to the Bayshore 

by leveraging federal, state, and private resources. Coordinated landscape-scale conservation among federal, state, and local agencies, private conservation organizations, private 

landowners, and local communities would ensure protection of diverse natural habitats 

and improve recreational opportunities for 30 million Americans who live within a 

three-hour drive of the Bayshore. Delaware would also like to partner with DOI to evaluate the potential for designating its eastern shore as America’s first “National Bayshore.”

This project aligns with many AGO objectives: landscape-scale conservation, enhancement of vital habitat, restoration of waterways, connection of local communities to the 

outdoors, and recreation.

Potential Action: Collaborate with Delaware to conserve and restore the Delaware 

Bayshore and to enhance recreation. Evaluate the possibility of designating the area as 

the first National Bayshore.

Partners: NPS, FWS, State of Delaware, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
22 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 23

District of Columbia

Anacostia Riverwalk Trail

Recreation and Access

Project Description and Need: The Anacostia Riverwalk is a planned multi-use trail 

along the east and west banks of the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. The trail will 

provide a safe and convenient means for people to access the Anacostia Waterfront and 

enjoy Anacostia Park. Once completed, the Riverwalk will consist of a 48-mile trail 

system that will include 20 miles of trail along the Anacostia waterfront within the 

District of Columbia. The Riverwalk will connect 16 waterfront neighborhoods to the 

Anacostia Park and the Anacostia River. 

District of Columbia residents and visitors will be able to walk and bike on the Riverwalk to several popular destinations, including the Fish Wharf, new baseball stadium, 

Poplar Point, Navy Yard, historic Anacostia, RFK stadium, Kingman Island, and National Arboretum. At either end, the trail will connect to the National Mall at the Tidal 

Basin and to Bladensburg Marina Park in Prince George’s County, MD. Access points 

are being linked to neighborhoods and points of interest along the length of the trail. 

Regionally, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail will connect to the Fort Circle Trails, Bladensburg Trail, Mount Vernon Trail, and C&O Trail. Nationally, the Riverwalk Trail will 

provide access to the East Coast Greenway, a network of bicycle trails linking Maine to 

Florida. The District of Columbia’s Metrorail system will interface with the Riverwalk 

Trail to create a full range of transportation alternatives in the region.

Many sections of the Riverwalk are now complete. The District of Columbia has been 

working with the NPS to complete sections located on NPS lands. Currently the NPS 

is working closely with the DC Department of Transportation to complete a missing 

section of the Riverwalk, which would connect the District of Columbia part of the 

Riverwalk to the Maryland part. 

Potential action: Provide technical and financial assistance to complete missing links in 

the Anacostia Riverwalk. 

Partners: NPS. Other partners include USDA for access to the National Arboretum, 

and CSX railroad for trail sections that traverse railway lines.
24 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Florida

Shingle Creek Trail

Trails and River Access 

Orlando, Florida

Project Description and Need: Shingle Creek Trail is a multi-use recreational trail 

being developed through cooperation between the local governments of Orange County, 

Osceola County, City of Orlando, and City of Kissimmee. When fully acquired, it will 

stretch 32 miles through one of Florida’s heavily urbanized metropolitan areas. This trail 

will become part of an extensive trail network that extends from Kissimmee to Wekiwa 

Springs State Park and from Orlando to Mascotte. In its entirety, it will serve as a key 

north-south connector in a larger regional trails network that includes the West Orange 

Trail, South Lake Trail, Cross Seminole Trail, and Seminole Wekiva Trail. Completing 

the Shingle Creek Trail will significantly increase outdoor opportunities for bikers and 

pedestrians in urban central Florida. It will also connect the public to the growing areas 

of protected land along the Shingle Creek watershed. These parcels connect to form a 

regional linear open-space park, creating even more opportunities for recreation near the 

Shingle Creek water body—the northernmost headwaters of the unique KissimmeeOkeechobee-Everglades ecosystem.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to complete key sections of 

the Shingle Creek Trail.

Partners: NPS; State of Florida; local governments of Orange County, Osceola County, 

City of Orlando, and City of Kissimmee; South Florida Water Management District; 

The Trust for Public Land; Florida Communities Trust; Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Recreation and Parks; Office of Greenways and Trails; 

and other partners.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 25

East Central Regional Rail-Trail Project

Trails

East Central Florida

Project Description and Need: The 50-mile East Central Regional Rail-Trail is the most 

extensive abandoned rail corridor purchased through Florida’s Greenways and Trails acquisition program. The multi-use trail will link Lake Monroe on the St. Johns River to the City of 

Titusville on the Indian River Lagoon, mirroring a historic path of commerce and travel. The 

St. Johns River is an American Heritage River, and the Indian River Lagoon is considered 

North America’s most biologically diverse estuary.

The East Central Regional Rail-Trail is envisioned as part of a larger 260-mile-long trail loop 

known as the St. Johns River to the Sea Trail Loop. Trail partners hope to complete the loop 

by 2013, to tie their celebration to the 500th Anniversary commemoration of the landing of 

Hernando de Soto in Florida. When complete, the trail will link the metro Orlando area, 

Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife 

Refuge, and Daytona’s beaches. It will provide recreational opportunities and better access to 

public lands in one of Florida’s most populated and most visited regions.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance in designing and building the 

East Central Regional Rail-Trail. Assist the State of Florida in collaborating with Canaveral 

National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on planning and developing 

this project.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of Florida, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
26 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

ROBERT CLARK
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 27

Georgia

Get Outdoors Georgia

Recreation and Education

Georgia

Project Description and Need: The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 72 

million American adults are medically obese and 40 percent do not exercise regularly. 

Georgia created a platform, Get Outdoors Georgia, to achieve a healthier population 

through outdoor activities. This program targets both youth and adult populations in 

urban and rural areas. Get Outdoors Georgia could benefit from a partnership with the 

NPS Healthy Parks Healthy People Initiative. This NPS program works with national, 

state, and local parks, as well as businesses, healthcare providers, scientists, foundations, 

and advocacy organizations to foster the health-related role that parks and outdoor spaces 

play in our society. In the Parks Prescription Program, for example, doctors prescribe 

activities like a daily walk in a park as a part of their treatment. Bringing NPS expertise 

to these issues could greatly benefit Georgia’s program.

Potential Action: Partner with Georgia to demonstrate and promote health benefits of 

parks and to enhance recreational access and opportunities for urban youth.

Partners: NPS, State of Georgia, health care providers, and foundations.

Panola Mountain State Park

Greenway, Recreation, and Access

Atlanta Area

Project Description and Need: Just 20 miles from downtown Atlanta, Panola Mountain 

State Park is a recreational jewel for metropolitan Atlanta. Panola Mountain’s designation as a National Natural Landmark recognizes its 100-acre granite outcrop that 

shelters rare plants of the Piedmont region. The park encompasses 1,635 acres of critical recreation and conservation lands and protects four miles of frontage on the South 

River. Neglected for decades, the South River needs improved water quality and riparian 

habitat. Because of its proximity to Atlanta, the park is accessible to millions of Georgians and visitors. Panola Mountain State Park connects with Arabia Mountain National 

Heritage Area and its sister granite outcrop, Arabia Mountain. The park also connects 

with eight local schools through a network of multi-use, paved paths weaving through a 

variety of ecosystems and across the South River.

The State of Georgia wants to extend the multi-use trail system as a regional network 

that would connect with adjoining partner agencies’ and nonprofit partners’ lands. It also 

wants to develop overnight camping areas and recreation access points along the South 

River.

Potential Action: Provide planning and technical assistance through the Rivers, Trails 

and Conservation Assistance and National Heritage Areas programs.

Partner: NPS, State of Georgia, Monastery of the Holy Spirit, and DeKalb, Henry, and 

Rockdale counties.
28 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Hawaii

North Kona-South Kohala Coastline / Ala Kahakai 

National Historic Trail

Greenway and Water Trail

Island of Hawaii 

Project Description and Need: Thirty-one miles of coastline on the Island of Hawaii 

make up the North Kona-South Kohala Coastline String of Parks, beginning at 

Honokohau Small Boat Harbor and ending at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site. 

Hawaii wants to connect these seven national, state, and county parks via aquatic and 

terrestrial trails interspersed with multi-use recreation facilities. The NPS Ala Kahakai 

National Historic Trail already provides land links through parks in coastal areas, and it 

could be linked by sea as well, via recreational boating opportunities.

In addition to providing recreation access, the North Kona-South Kohala Coastline has 

a rich cultural history, including ancient artifacts at sacred sites, and great potential for 

environmental education and interpretation. The NPS is working with a dozen local 

communities in the trail corridor to develop community-based trail management plans. 

The plans include an economic development component focused on creating jobs in the 

recreation and visitor services fields. This project meets AGO outdoor recreation goals 

and is supported by state and community entities.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to the Island of Hawaii to 

enhance the Ala Kahakai Trail and provide new access along the Kona Coast. Work 

with the state and local communities in greenway, water trail, and interpretive planning 

for 31 miles of the Kona Coast.

Partners: NPS, State of Hawaii, Island of Hawaii, local communities, and nonprofit 

organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 29

Wailua River National Blueway

National Blueway Restoration and Access

Island of Kaua’i

Project Description and Need: The slowly meandering Wailua River on the Island of 

Kauai is a heavily used recreational destination. Its culturally and historically significant 

features include the sacred Fern Grotto site, several Hawaiian Heiau, and ancient petroglyphs at the mouth of the river. Commercial tours and paddleboat entrepreneurs crowd 

the banks.

Managing the Wailua River’s limited area presents the challenge of balancing its heavy 

recreational use with public safety and impacts on natural and cultural resources. The 

demand for public recreation access has increased, but an aging marina infrastructure 

must be addressed.

The state needs help with increasing the access to the river, enhancing existing facilities, 

and assisting in the conservation of the natural and cultural resources. The long-term 

goal is to manage river use sustainably to protect river values while increasing recreation 

use along the blueway.

Potential Action: Designate the Wailua River as a National Blueway. Provide technical, 

financial, and planning assistance to Hawaii both for increasing public access and for 

restoring the Wailua River.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of Hawaii, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and 

private businesses.

ROBERT CLARK
30 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Idaho

Boise River Greenbelt

Urban Park

Boise, Idaho

Project Description and Need: The Boise River Greenbelt offers over 22 miles of 

pathways on both sides of the river. A signature attraction of the city of Boise, it connects 

parks, historic features, residential areas, and the downtown area. This project will extend 

the greenbelt to 63 miles long, from Lucky Peak Dam to the confluence of the Snake and 

Boise rivers, creating a recreational expressway to Eagle Island State Park. Connecting 

pathways will provide recreation access and bicycle commuting to and from 10 cites in 

Idaho’s Treasure Valley. The project also will clear barriers and provide portages for boating and increase access for fishing and wildlife viewing.

Some 1.5 miles of the Boise Greenbelt Trail have been built on Bureau of Reclamation 

lands in southeast Boise. BOR is part of the Idaho Recreation and Tourism Initiative. 

This coalition of federal, state, local, and private partners supports recreation and tourism, 

including the Boise River Trails and Parks Project. This project has substantial support in 

the area.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance for the extension of the Boise 

River Greenbelt. Extend an agreement allowing the existing Greenbelt Trail to remain on 

Bureau of Reclamation lands.

Partners: BOR, NPS, FWS, BLM, State of Idaho, City of Boise, local governments, and 

nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 31

Owyhee Land Exchange

Landscape Conservation

Southwestern Idaho

Project Description and Need: The Owyhee Wilderness is a BLM-managed wilderness 

area in southwest Idaho along the Owyhee River. This landscape is defined by rivers cutting steep canyons out of high desert and sagebrush plateaus. Only rough roads provide 

access to empty, open land.

BLM and the State of Idaho have been working on a potential land exchange under the 

Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. The exchange would swap stateowned trust lands within the Owyhee Wilderness for BLM lands outside the area. This 

will result in more contiguous wilderness and provide the potential for more revenue for 

the new state trust lands. There are 32,538 acres of federal land and 38,440 acres of state 

of Idaho land included in this exchange, but it will not be executed until both BLM and 

the State of Idaho have completed several tasks.

Potential Action: Provide matching funds for cultural resource surveys, boundary surveys, market appraisal, and other work required to complete the land exchange.

Partners: BLM, State of Idaho, and nonprofit organizations.
32 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Illinois

Calumet Millennium Reserve

River Restoration and Recreation

Chicago, Illinois Region 

Project Description and Need: The Calumet Millennium Reserve project will promote 

redevelopment of an underused industrial zone while rehabilitating wetlands habitat on 

Chicago’s South Side. The project will restore drained wetland basins, historic prairie 

and forest habitats, and create a link to existing conservation lands. By acquiring and 

restoring brownfields, wetlands, streams, and coastline on the Calumet River, Lake 

Calumet, and Wolf Lake and in the Indiana Dunes region, this project will provide 

high-quality wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities in an urban setting. 

Chicago’s Calumet Millennium Reserve Plan has slated over 4,000 acres to become part 

of the Calumet Millennium Reserve. The plan calls for extensive multi-use trails and 

other outdoor recreation opportunities in the metropolitan area. The City of Chicago 

continues to acquire environmentally important tracts of private land in the target area 

to become a state forest preserve or Chicago Park District natural area.

Potential Action: Coordinate with state and local entities to integrate the conservation, 

recreation, and restoration activities at Lake Calumet with Indiana Dunes National 

Lakeshore and Lake Michigan National Recreation Trail. Provide financial and technical support to acquire lands in the Calumet Millennium Reserve target area. Provide 

technical assistance to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to advance the 

project.

Partners: NPS, USGS, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Illinois Department of 

Natural Resources.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 33

Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

Landscape Conservation

Northeast Illinois

Project Description and Need: In 2010, the Governors, Senators, and Representatives of 

Wisconsin and Illinois requested a feasibility study for a potential new National Wildlife 

Refuge. The proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, on the western edge of the 

Chicago/Milwaukee metropolitan region, is now approaching final stages of planning 

within the FWS. Hackmatack’s planned area encompasses over 60 public and private 

parks, preserves, and conservation areas whose natural ecosystems total about 23,000 

acres and provide habitat for 109 species of concern, including 49 birds and 47 plants. 

The refuge would be the nucleus of disparate fragments of conserved land in a 350,000-

acre study area, giving a cohesive picture of landscape-scale conservation. The refuge 

would also provide outdoor education opportunities to the estimated 3.5 million people 

within 30 miles of the project area. This includes hundreds of thousands of children and 

their families who otherwise lack ready access, with the next nearest Refuge 150 miles 

away. The state of Illinois has formally supported the plan. McHenry County, Illinois has 

expressed support for establishing the refuge and has open space conservation revenues 

that may be available to leverage protection of lands near the proposed refuge.

Potential Action: Establish Hackmatack as a National Wildlife Refuge. Work with state 

and local governments, private organizations, and landowners to expand the impact of 

the refuge through cooperative management of private and public lands. Continue coordination with the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to ensure that 

potential refuge conservation projects complement planning activities for parks and open 

space in southeast Wisconsin.

Partners: FWS, NPS, States of Illinois and Wisconsin, local governments, nonprofit 

organizations, and private landowners.
34 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Indiana

Wabash River—Healthy Rivers Initiative 

River Restoration 

Central Indiana

Project Description and Need: The Wabash River is the largest undammed river east of 

the Mississippi. It forms the border between Illinois and Indiana for nearly 200 miles 

and has greatly diverse plant and animal life. The many creeks, streams, and rivers that 

feed the Wabash River have been ditched and tiled, significantly altering the natural 

flow of water. This contributes to more frequent and intense flooding from rainstorms. 

The June 2008 floods affected 1.4 million acres of Hoosier farmland, causing $200 million in damages. Indiana is the second largest state source of phosphorus and nitrogen 

pollution in the Mississippi River system, which in turn contributes to the large dead 

zone (hypoxia) in the Gulf of Mexico. Six major stresses degrade the river: changes in 

natural water flow; high nutrient, herbicide, and insecticide levels; localized problems 

with pollution from cities; alteration of land adjoining the river; elimination of tree 

cover along the river; and invasive species. Strategic and science-based conservation and 

restoration action is needed, given the watershed’s large size and the great complexity of 

the land it drains—from farmland and homes to cities and industrial sites.

Potential Action: Provide financial assistance to acquire strategic land parcels to provide 

flood relief to riparian land owners, protect critical threatened species and habitat, and 

provide a natural buffer and filter between agricultural fertilizers and the river. Work 

with public agencies and private landowners to expand investment that reduces runoff 

and creates wildlife habitat.

Partners: FWS, USGS, State of Indiana, The Nature Conservancy, and other stakeholders.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 35

Indiana Dunes

Water Trail Access

Northwest Indiana

Project Description and Need: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, in northwest 

Indiana, is managed by the NPS. It runs for nearly 25 miles along the southern shore of 

Lake Michigan, from Gary, Indiana to Michigan City, Indiana. The recently dedicated 

Lake Michigan Water Trail spans some 75 miles along the southern Lake Michigan 

shoreline from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan. The Water Trail increases public 

access to Lake Michigan shoreline and offers water-based recreation to more than nine 

million people. It provides otherwise inaccessible shoreline views, as well as exposure 

to unique ecological areas with rich, regionally characteristic biodiversity. Programs at 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore introduce underserved populations of urban residents and youth to these special areas. For example, special-education and interpretive 

youth programs get young people out onto Lake Michigan in kayaks and canoes. The 

challenge now is to increase access to the Lakeshore’s various public environmental 

education programs and facilities. One of the best ways to do this would be to extend the 

trail from Indiana Dunes to the Illinois border. This would not only create an additional 

amenity for Indiana citizens, but open up the opportunity to access a trail connection all 

the way to Chicago. Linking the Indiana Dunes more broadly to regional trails could 

also bring added economic benefits to the state of Indiana through increased recreation 

visits.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to increase local access to the 

National Lakeshore and to complete the trail from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 

to the Illinois border.

Partners: NPS, State of Indiana, Save the Dunes, foundations, NW Indiana Regional 

Planning Commission, Lake Michigan Water Trail Association, Northwest Indiana 

Paddlers Association, and communities along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
36 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Iowa

Loess Hills

Rural Landscape Conservation and Recreation

Western Iowa

Project Description and Need: This 650,000-acre region is considered the best example 

of “loess” topography in the world, a rare geologic formation that provides habitat to 

49 species of rare plants and animals. Hawks and other raptors are a common sight in 

this major migration corridor, and the area is also home to rare native prairie grasses 

that are quickly disappearing. The region also contains numerous cultural and historic 

landmarks. The Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, which runs through prairie, woodland, and farmland at the heart of the region, is one of the nation’s “10 most outstanding 

byways,” a reflection of the landscape’s natural beauty and scenic value. Thirty thousand 

acres of the Loess Hills are currently protected, mostly through conservation easements 

and inclusion in the Loess Hill State Forest. This area provides opportunities for youth 

engagement and recreation in seven counties. Furthermore, the Loess Hills area is 

within reach of Council Bluffs and Sioux City, the two urban areas in western Iowa and 

eastern South Dakota. A strong foundation for advancing this project has been laid with 

conservation organizations like the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to work with 

willing sellers of working lands to conserve the few remaining relatively undisturbed 

areas.

Potential Action: Provide financial support for strategic land protection, including acquisition of conservation easements on working lands. Explore the potential designation 

of the area as a national preserve. Provide technical and financial assistance to communities to better conserve and manage the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of 

the Loess Hills.

Partners: NPS, State of Iowa, and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and other 

nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 37

Southern Prairie Pothole National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Habitat Conservation

North Central Iowa

Project Description and Need: Glacially formed prairie potholes and their surrounding 

wetlands in north-central Iowa provide critical habitat for over 90 species of birds. They 

produce at least 50 percent of the North American continental duck population each 

year. This wetland landscape is also an important resource for flood control, water quality, 

and aquifer recharging. Iowa’s Prairie Pothole region offers many outdoor recreation 

opportunities along the American Discovery Trail. To protect this unique landscape, 

the State of Iowa, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations seek to expand the existing 

Dunbar Slough/Willow Creek wetland complex by 5,000 acres and to establish the area 

as a National Wildlife Refuge. These partners also aim to develop a veteran-led youth 

conservation education pilot program.

In addition, this project would complement the Northern Plains Migratory Bird Habitat 

Initiative—a new NRCS initiative designed to enhance migratory bird habitat and 

improve the water quality and the health of grasslands in the Prairie Pothole Region of 

the Northern Plains. The Northern Plains Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative provides 

technical and financial assistance for restoring wetlands drained for agricultural uses, 

managing farmed wetlands in ways that reduce impacts on wildlife and water quality, 

and keeping unaltered wetlands in their current condition.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance in expanding the Dunbar 

Slough/Willow Creek Wetland Complex and designate the Southern Prairie Pothole 

National Wildlife Refuge.

Partners: FWS, NRCS, State of Iowa, national and local nonprofit organizations, and 

local government leaders. 
38 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Kansas

Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area

Rural Working Land Conservation

Eastern Kansas

Project Description and Need: Only three percent of the native-prairie grasslands 

that once stretched from Canada to Texas remain today. Establishing a new easementbased conservation area by working with key ranching community partners will protect 

up to 1.1 million acres of North America’s last landscape-scale tallgrass prairie. The 

Flint Hills area is also an important part of the conservation and recreation agenda of 

the State of Kansas. Rolling prairies provide ample hiking, biking, river, and equestrian 

trails. The state has partnered with a variety of government and private organizations 

to secure over 70,000 acres of voluntary conservation easements in addition to 11,000 

square miles that wind energy developers have agreed to conserve. The Flint Hills plan 

calls for construction of the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, an educationfocused visitor center for the NPS Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The plan also 

calls for campsite and cabin improvements along the Flint Hills’ trails, as well as development of a wetland-management plan to preserve crucial habitats. Kansas recognizes 

the importance of youth engagement and aims to create educational and interpretive 

opportunities throughout these facilities.

Potential Action: Establish a new easement-based conservation area; provide technical 

and financial assistance to the State of Kansas toward construction of the Flint Hills 

Discovery Center, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Visitor Center, and campsite 

improvements.

Partners: FWS, NPS, USGS, State of Kansas, and agricultural, recreation, and 

conservation organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 39

Kansas River Water Trail

Water Trail

Topeka, Kansas

Project Description and Need: The Kansas River, one of only three publicly navigable 

waterways in Kansas, flows for 170 miles through both urban areas and rural landscapes. 

The history of the Kansas River—sometimes locally known as the “Kaw”—includes 

significant events in the development and settling of the nation. Lewis and Clark’s Corps 

of Discovery camped at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers in 1804 and 

noted that the river was “navigable for 80 leagues.” The river valley provided a route for 

overland migration to California and Oregon. The United States military used the river 

route to establish Fort Riley and as a supply route between other frontier posts, like Fort 

Leavenworth. Significant riverside historic sites open for visitors include Fort Riley, The 

First Territorial Capital, Historic Lecompton, Topeka, Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, 

and the Kansas History Center. The Kansas River historically linked these sites.

The Kansas River is a unique natural resource for Kansas and provides an attractive 

regional recreational opportunity. Over two million people live in the various cities 

and towns along the river, from the Kansas City metro area west to Junction City. The 

designation and development of a “Kansas River Water Trail” is a high priority for the 

Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, and would be the state’s first public water 

trail. Historically, the lack of river access sites has limited paddle sports in Kansas and 

forced people to travel to other states for these pursuits. Currently there are 17 developed 

public access points on the river and another under construction. Last year, Kaw River 

State Park opened to the public in Topeka. Even with these developments, there are gaps 

in desired access points, including one 37-mile segment, which is significantly more than 

the 10 to 15 miles required for day trips.

Potential Action: Designate the Kansas River Water Trail and provide financial and 

technical assistance to increase access to the river.

Partners: NPS, City of Topeka, State of Kansas, local governments, and nonprofit 

organizations. 
40 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Kentucky

Kentucky River Water Trail

Water Trail Extension

Lexington, Kentucky

Project Description and Need: The Bluewater Trails Program of Kentucky’s Department 

of Fish and Wildlife Resources has designated 10 state water trails throughout the 

Commonwealth, including the Kentucky River Water Trail southeast of Lexington. A 

19-mile section of the river was designated a State Water Trail and a National Recreation 

Trail on National Trails Day in 2011.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Riverkeepers, and 

the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program are partnering to 

extend the water trail upstream with an eventual goal of a water trail along all 400 miles 

of the river. The water trail currently includes Pool 9 and will eventually reach Pool 14 

in Lee County. The Commonwealth of Kentucky highlights this water trail as one of 

Kentucky’s wild adventure tourism attractions.

Potential Action: Provide planning and technical assistance to the Commonwealth of 

Kentucky through RTCA to extend the Kentucky River Water Trail from Pool 10 to 

Pool 14. Designate this section as a National Water Trail. Provide financial support for 

the construction of boating infrastructure at access sites along the trail.

Partners: NPS, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and Kentucky 

Riverkeepers.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 41

Dawkins Line Rail-Trail

Trails

Eastern Kentucky

Project Description and Need: The proposed 36-mile-long Dawkins Line has the 

potential to be become the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s longest rail-trail, doubling 

the miles of rail-trail in the Commonwealth. This unused rail corridor stretches from 

West Van Lear in Johnson County, through Magoffin County, to Evanston in Breathitt 

County. It was named after the former Dawkins Lumber Company. This scenic, heavily 

wooded corridor features 35 trestle bridges and a pair of tunnels—the 662-foot-long 

Gun Creek Tunnel and the 1,555-foot-long Carver Tunnel.

The Commonwealth purchased the corridor from the R.J. Corman Railroad Group 

in spring 2011. Kentucky State Parks will manage the rail-trail and has some funds to 

develop the trail. Additional funds are needed to complete planning for the extension of 

the trail.

When completed, this rail-trail will bring tourism to Eastern Kentucky and provide 

invaluable recreational opportunities for residents in an area with a high rate of obesity, 

diabetes, and heart and vascular disease.

Potential Action: Provide planning and technical assistance through RTCA for the next 

phase of the Dawkins Line Rail-Trail.

Partners: NPS, Commonwealth of Kentucky, local governments, and nonprofit 

organizations.
42 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Louisiana

Urban Waters Initiative

Urban Recreation Access

New Orleans, Louisiana 

Project Description and Need: As one of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership’s 

seven pilot locations, the City of New Orleans is collaborating with state agencies, 

local NGOs, and the federal government to revitalize and increase access to rivers, 

lakes, and streams in an area that has been damaged by recent natural disasters. Lake 

Pontchartrain, an estuary that connects to the Gulf of Mexico, continues to recover 

from lingering impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Spill. Notwithstanding these challenges, it has also become an important center for recreation 

and education opportunities. It covers over 630 square miles, serving six Louisiana 

parishes and 1.5 million people.

Urban residents rely on lakeshore access for important recreational opportunities. To 

that end, the Partnership is working on initiating the Lafitte Corridor Greenway, a 

multi-use recreational path that will link a network of parks, playgrounds, and community centers to the lake and to each other. Other Partnership projects include 

developing environmental and historical education programs on the area’s ecology 

and maritime industry, improving water quality, rebuilding recreational facilities, and 

engaging local youth to design signage for completed projects. One specific project is 

the construction of a fishing pier in Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge. The pier 

will increase recreational opportunities and access for refuge visitors.

These efforts are community-generated and community-led, but they are supported by 

a wide variety of federal agencies and other partners.

Potential Action: Continue to provide technical and financial support for the Lafitte 

Corridor Greenway, construction of a fishing pier in Big Branch National Wildlife 

Refuge, and other projects through the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

Partners: FWS, EPA, NPS, NOAA, USGS, USACE, City of New Orleans, and other 

conservation partners.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 43

Restoration of Lake Pontchartrain Basin

Habitat Restoration

New Orleans, Louisiana Region

Project Description and Need: Over the past decade, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service has provided recommendations and technical assistance regarding water 

quality and wetland restoration programs and projects in the Lake Pontchartrain 

Basin. Using funds from the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration 

Act, the FWS has also restored wetlands on Goose Point Marsh and on Big Branch 

National Wildlife Refuge. The next significant project in the Basin would create 

marshland in the Bayou Bonfouca, in St. Tammany Parish. Hydraulically dredged 

material from Lake Pontchartrain would be used to create and nourish 575 acres of 

marsh, providing valuable habitat. Crews will construct tidal creeks to provide tidal 

connectivity and access for marine organisms. 

This project will create approximately 424 net acres over the 20-year project life. It is 

currently in the engineering and design phase and will require additional financial and 

technical assistance to be completed.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial support for Bayou Bonfouca Marsh 

Creation.

Partners: FWS and State of Louisiana.
44 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Maine

Penobscot River Restoration Project

River Restoration

Central Maine

Project Description and Need: The Penobscot River and its tributaries flow from 

the North Woods through the heart of Maine into Penobscot Bay. Maine’s largest 

watershed provides a critical link between fresh water and the sea and is also a valuable natural resource in energy production through hydroelectric dams. The Penobscot 

River Restoration Project (PRRP) is a landmark conservation effort to restore natural 

processes and ecological benefits to the watershed through dam removal.

As the result of a multi-party hydropower settlement agreement, the Penobscot River 

Restoration Trust purchased three dams owned by PPL Corporation, with plans to 

remove the Veazie and Great Works dams and to build a fish bypass at the Howland 

Project. This will restore hundreds of miles of migration and spawning habitat for 

11 species of sea-run fish, including the endangered Atlantic salmon and shortnose 

sturgeon. This habitat includes the ancestral home and present-day reservation of the 

Penobscot Indian Nation, who will benefit both economically and culturally from the 

return of the fish. PPL will increase energy production at five existing sites on the river, 

so energy production levels will remain the same. PRRP has secured the permits necessary for dam decommissioning and removal. Great Works Dam removal is expected to 

begin in 2012, and removal of Veazie Dam will start in 2014. Although national, state, 

and local partners have raised $25 million for the project, additional financial and technical resources are needed to complete the removal of both dams and to construct the 

fish by-pass. The project has a high priority for the FWS, which has invested $2 million 

in the project in the past four years.

Potential Action: Continue to provide technical and financial assistance in support of 

the Penobscot River Restoration Project.

Partners: FWS, State of Maine, Penobscot River Restoration Trust, and Penobscot 

Indian Nation.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 45

ROBERT CLARK

Keeping Maine’s Forests

Landscape Conservation

Statewide

Project Description and Need: Keeping Maine’s Forests is a partnership of forest 

landowners, recreationists, conservation and environmental organizations, and state and 

federal agencies working to demonstrate new ways of promoting forest stewardship. The 

group’s goal is to enhance the forest-based economy in rural communities while preserving the wild, healthy nature of Maine’s forests. Proposed pilot projects are already poised 

to have a significant impact on wildlife habitat across the state. The Downeast Project in 

eastern Maine builds on an existing base of conserved lands to protect white-tailed deer 

habitat and endangered Atlantic salmon rivers. In western Maine, the Western Mountains and Lakes Pilot Project will protect high-value recreation land central to the state’s 

tourism industry. The project’s holistic approach to forest conservation is advantageous 

for the entire state. Economics, recreation, and youth-engagement are the priorities in 

this whole-landscape conservation initiative. The project advances the landscape conservation goals of AGO while operating on a community-led, voluntary basis. Keeping 

Maine’s Forests is a pilot project set forth by the New England Governors’ Conference. 

The initiative’s larger goals include heavy engagement with private landowners, conservation incentives that reward stewardship and best management practices, and support for 

local timber industries to encourage the benefits of responsible forestry. The landscapelevel approach to Maine’s effort is intended to be scalable to all of New England, eventually providing a model for preserving the integrity of all of the region’s forests.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to public and private 

agencies to conserve working forests and restore healthy populations of native brook 

trout and salmon.

Partners: FWS, State of Maine, and local, state, and national nonprofit organizations.
46 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Maryland

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad 

National Historical Park

Historic Preservation

Eastern Shore, Maryland

Project Description and Need: The proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad 

National Historical Park will trace Tubman’s early life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she was born, escaped from slavery, and then returned as one of the leaders 

of the Underground Railroad to lead others to freedom. In her later years, Tubman 

also recruited for the Union in the Civil War and was a nurse and spy. The Maryland 

Department of Natural Resources seeks to acquire four top-priority historic properties 

totaling 1,245 acres for the National Historical Park in Dorchester County. In addition 

to their connection with the Harriet Tubman story, these properties also fall within the 

boundary of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The state has gathered all funding 

needed to construct the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, which 

will be jointly managed by the National Park Service and the Maryland State Park 

Service, should the park be designated by Congress.

Potential Action: Support designation of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad 

National Historical Park. Provide financial assistance for acquiring conservation easements for priority historic properties to enhance the historical park.

Partners: NPS, USFWS, and Maryland DNR.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 47

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

National Blueway

Eastern Maryland – Chesapeake Bay Area

Project Description and Need: The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic 

Trail follows the historic water routes of Smith’s travels, based on his map and journals. 

The trail, which the NPS administers, includes some 3,000 miles in parts of present-day 

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. It also connects with 16 

National Wildlife Refuges, 12 National Park areas, and three National Trails. It offers 

opportunities for tourism, environmental and cultural education, conservation, and recreation. The multi-dimensional nature of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National 

Historic Trail makes it a model for a new system of National Blueways.

As a major partner with NPS, the State of Maryland is developing a comprehensive interpretive and trails plan for 4,600 acres of historic and ecologically significant lands (the 

recently acquired Maryland Province Properties). This land links the Captain John Smith 

Trail to the founding of Maryland, integrating cultural history with ecological protection 

and providing citizens access to unique natural areas. The plan will call for additional 

investment in land, restoration, historic preservation, recreation, and interpretation of the 

cultural and natural resources.

Potential Action: Support implementing the Captain John Smith National Historic 

Trail plan through investments in land, restoration, preservation, recreation, and interpretation. Designate the entire multi-state trail as a National Blueway.

Partners: NPS, BLM, and State of Maryland, with the support of several national and 

local entities, including The Conservation Fund.
48 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Massachusetts

Blackstone River Valley Greenway

Recreation Trails

Central Massachusetts - East Coast

Project Description and Need: Massachusetts and Rhode Island have committed to 

work as partners to complete the Blackstone River Valley Greenway, which consists of 

the Blackstone River, historic Blackstone Canal, and a bike path. The Greenway runs 

the length of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which extends 

from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island. The Massachusetts 

Department of Conservation and Recreation is currently constructing a segment of the 

50-mile bi-state greenway to connect these New England cities and link the Rhode 

Island border to the State Heritage Park in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. A major facet 

of the program in Massachusetts is the addition of bike trails that will traverse major 

cities, including Boston, and complement the commonwealth’s outdoor recreation 

legacy while providing an alternative to driving.

Potential Action: Support the Blackstone River Valley Greenway Initiative in Rhode 

Island and Massachusetts through planning, technical assistance, and funding.

Partners: NPS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of Rhode Island, FWS, and 

National Heritage Corridor Commission.

© mark muse
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 49

Connecticut River

National Blueway

Western Massachusetts

Project Description and Need: Over the course of the Connecticut River’s 410-mile 

journey from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound, the river ties together four 

New England states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. 

The river is the centerpiece of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, 

which encompasses the entire watershed. The FWS has invested in land conservation 

and habitat restoration activities throughout the watershed and is beginning to work 

with the states and other stakeholders in integrating the Refuge into a broader National 

Blueway project.

There are many communities in Massachusetts for whom the Connecticut River has 

been their lifeblood for commerce and recreation. Springfield, the major urban area in 

western Massachusetts that lies along the Connecticut River, is one of many communities needing more access points to and from the river to bring citizens to the waterway. 

Establishing a National Blueway will help to raise awareness of the river’s recreational 

and natural resources and reconnect people to the water.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to the state and communities to develop access points along the river. Once the water trail is established in areas 

along the river, designate those portions of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts as a 

National Blueway.

Partners: USFWS, NPS, local and state agencies in Massachusetts, and Friends of Conte 

Refuge and other nonprofit organizations.
50 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Michigan

Detroit River

Urban Park

Detroit, Michigan

Project Description and Need: The Detroit River goes along the U. S.-Canadian 

border and divides the major metropolitan areas of Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, winding through an area home to 5.7 million people. This 32-mile long 

American Heritage River is an important natural resource amidst an urban environment. It offers outdoor recreation and wildlife access that local residents would not 

otherwise have. The Detroit River Restoration Project will connect parks throughout 

the riparian corridor via trails and an extended boardwalk, providing improved landbased recreational opportunities that will benefit underserved minority populations. 

In addition, the project aims to reopen the city’s only access point for fishing and 

boating. The Detroit River Restoration Project will also focus on improving public 

access to the river and reestablishing water-based recreation in this area.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to improve access to the 

Detroit River and complete trail projects.

Partners: NPS, FWS, City of Detroit, State of Michigan, and other local and state 

partners.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 51

Detroit River Restoration

River Restoration / Youth Engagement

Detroit, Michigan

Project Description and Need: The City of Detroit plans to engage youth, particularly 

in underserved minority communities, to help with waterfront and river restoration 

work. The Detroit River, which the State of Michigan identified as a critical place for 

restoration and improved access, provides the opportunity for employing underserved 

youth in communities near the river through the hiring of the local youth conservation 

corps. 

This project would foster urban youth’s appreciation of the Detroit River and help 

establish a new generation of river caretakers. Conservation jobs for young people 

provide them with real-world employment experience that prepares them to enter the 

job market. Through conservation work on the river, these young people may be inspired 

to consider jobs in natural resource conservation and recreation management. In 

addition, youth employment opportunities would build the capacity of the youth corps 

organizations in the region.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial support to engage youth on river 

restoration of the Detroit River.

Partners: NPS, FWS, City of Detroit, Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps, SCA, 

State of Michigan, and other local partners.
52 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Minnesota

Upper Minnesota River Watershed

National Blueway, Restoration and Access

Southwestern and South Central Minnesota

Project Description and Need: The 335-mile-long Minnesota River flows through an 

agricultural watershed that encompasses 20 percent of the state. The upper Minnesota 

River Valley corridor has a high density of county and state parks, wildlife or aquatic 

management areas, natural areas, and a National Wildlife Refuge, Wild and Scenic 

River, National Scenic Byway, and Minnesota Water Trail. This corridor also has a rich 

natural and cultural history of regional and national significance. The area is a focus of 

numerous partnerships—between local governments, citizens, nonprofit organizations, 

and state and federal agencies—to plan and implement programs to connect people to 

the river. Supporting the expansion of the infrastructure in parks and trails along the 

river is a key component of this project that will help connect more people to the river. 

The Upper Minnesota Watershed project furthers AGO goals through the protection 

of additional critical natural areas for wildlife migration and expanding and improving 

access to the river for public use and enjoyment.

Potential Action: Designate the upper Minnesota River as a National Blueway. Provide 

technical or financial support for expansion and improvement of river access.

Partners: NPS, FWS, State of Minnesota, local governments, and nonprofit 

organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 53

Twin Cities Parks: Mississippi National River & 

Recreation Area

Urban Park and National Blueway

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Region

Project Description and Need: The confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers 

in the Twin Cities is an area of immense importance for conservation and recreation by 

virtue of the tremendous water, geologic, vegetative, and cultural resources there. The 

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service, 

includes 72 miles of the Mississippi River stretching from the cities of Dayton/Ramsey 

through the heart of Minneapolis/St. Paul. State agencies, the NPS, Army Corps of 

Engineers, FWS, and many local governments and nongovernmental organizations have 

a presence along the river in this area. This area has potential for accelerated work that 

supports the goals of America’s Great Outdoors to increase recreational access in an 

urban area, restore the natural systems, and engage young people and communities of 

color in activities along the river. Fort Snelling State Park and its historic and cultural 

resources could also be better integrated into the river experience. Partners believe that 

the federal government needs to take a leadership role in coordinating the restoration 

and management of, and increased access to the Mississippi River upstream, through, 

and downstream of the Twin Cities. Designating the Mississippi River in this region as a 

National Blueway could also benefit the region by helping to attract more tourists.

Potential Action: Create a Mississippi River recreation and wildlife coordinating body 

to maximize local, state, federal, and private partners’ restoration, recreation, and 

education accomplishments. Designate the Mississippi River in this region as a 

National Blueway.

Partners: NPS, FWS, USACE, State of Minnesota, and other stakeholders.
54 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Mississippi

Mississippi Coastal Heritage Trail

Recreational Trails

Coastal Counties of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson, Mississippi

Project Description and Need: The Mississippi Coastal Heritage Trail provides vital 

bikeway, water trail, and walking trail connections between people and destinations 

including Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, 

Pascagoula, and Moss Point.

Through the leadership of the Gulf Coast Heritage Trails Partnership, local planners are 

working together to provide the public with quality recreation areas while protecting 

sensitive coastal habitat. The culturally rich area along the trail corridor includes Bay of 

Biloxi’s fishing community and Turkey Creek’s historical African American settlement.

With collaborative leadership by the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance 

Program, local and regional planners have achieved a common vision of trail connectivity throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast that will eventually network throughout the 

State of Mississippi and the Southeast.

While planning for and providing a network connecting many recreation sites, waterways, islands, and forests, the opportunity also exists to provide conservation education to area residents and visitors. Building stewards who will protect the magnificent 

natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Mississippi Gulf Coast is critical to 

maintaining this area’s integrity.

Potential action: Designate the Mississippi Coastal Heritage Trail as a National 

Historic Trail. Provide technical or financial support to expand and improve trail 

access and promotion.

Partners: NPS, State of Mississippi, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 55

Pascagoula River National Blueway

National Blueway, Restoration, and Access

Southern Mississippi Region

Project Description and Need: The Pascagoula River is widely recognized as the last 

free-flowing river system in the contiguous United States. It also lies within the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. The 164-mile-long basin covers 9,600 square 

miles of southeast Mississippi and a portion of southwest Alabama. The basin features 

over 15,000 stream miles as well as key wetland habitats, including extensive hardwood 

bottomlands, river swamps, and extensive tidal marshes and swamps near the river 

mouth.

Upland habitats across the basin include the longleaf and southern mixed hardwood 

forest and a number of unique relict dune systems. These natural areas offer endless 

high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities. Although many of the public sites 

support recreational activities, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 destroyed much of the existing 

infrastructure. These communities need assistance in rebuilding recreational facilities and 

attracting recreational enthusiasts to their region.

Potential Action: Designate the Pascagoula River as a National Blueway. Provide 

technical assistance for restoration of the river and increasing recreation access.

Partners: NPS, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
56 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 57

Missouri

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Revitalization

Urban Park

St. Louis, Missouri

Project Description and Need: Plans are underway to revitalize the NPS Jefferson 

National Expansion Memorial by improving connections to the city and expanding 

programming, facilities, and partnerships to enhance the visitor experience. Connecting the Arch with the Dred Scott Courthouse would link the National Park System 

area with downtown St. Louis. This would form a larger urban park, providing increased 

opportunities for outdoor recreation, and inviting more people to fully enjoy the natural 

beauty, culture, and history of the area. The CityArchRiver2015 project (CAR2015) is 

building a foundation for expansion into East St. Louis, Illinois, eventually to provide 

green space in an urban area by breaking down long-standing cultural and economic 

barriers of accessing safe and convenient parkland and trails. The CAR2015 project will 

also partner with Great Rivers Greenway and Mounds Heritage Trail to launch a 

comprehensive regional trail system.

Potential Action: Work with federal, state, and local agencies, Congress, and the private 

sector to secure financing to realize the vision of connecting the Arch with the Dred 

Scott Courthouse. Provide technical assistance to public and private entities to continue 

the project’s positive momentum.

Partners: NPS, Great Rivers Greenway, City of St. Louis, CAR2015 Foundation, 

Bi-State Transit Authority, Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation, 

USACE, East-West Gateway MPO, and many other organizations and individuals.

Ozark Trail

Trail Development

Southwest of St. Louis, Missouri

Project Description and Need: A major conservation opportunity in Missouri is the 

completion of the Ozark Trail. Expanding the existing Ozark Trail in Missouri to 

the Ozark Highland Trail in Arkansas will enable hikers to walk over 800 miles from 

Arkansas to St. Louis. The majority of the existing Ozark Trail is southwest of St. Louis 

in numerous state parks and the Mark Twain National Forest. A major portion was 

recognized as a National Recreational Trail by the U.S. Forest Service in 2008. The longterm plan is to extend the Ozark trail system from its current reach north to downtown 

St. Louis through the southwest suburbs and then to the Ozark Mountains. This plan 

will require acquisition of conservation/recreation easements and trail construction to 

complete the 108-mile northern section and 125-mile southern section.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance for acquiring small land 

parcels and building the trail to complete gaps in the Ozark Trail.

Partners: NPS, State of Missouri, and nonprofit organizations.
58 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

MARK MUSE

© mark muse
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 59

Montana

Crown of the Continent

Landscape-scale Conservation / Conserve Rural Working Lands

Northwest to North Central Montana

Project Description and Need: From the North Fork of the Flathead, through the Swan 

Valley and Blackfoot Valley over to the Rocky Mountain Front, the proposed Crown 

of the Continent Conservation Area possesses largely intact ecosystems and a strong 

cultural identity. Public-private partnerships are making significant progress in preserving one of the premier mountain ecoregions in the world. Approximately 40 percent of 

the area is protected public land, with the remainder in private ownership. Project areas 

with mosaics of private and public ownership are under the greatest threat from fragmentation and are in most need of conservation protection. Strategic use of conservation 

easements can link together existing protected areas to preserve wildlife corridors and 

significant habitat while protecting and preserving the ranching culture that has fostered 

responsible stewardship of this incredible ecosystem for generations.

Potential Action: Support the acquisition of conservation easements from willing sellers 

in the Swan Valley, Blackfoot River Valley, and Rocky Mountain Front, in cooperation 

with partners.

Partners: FWS, BLM, NPS, USFS, private landowners, and local and national 

organizations.

Fort Missoula Regional Park

Urban Park

Missoula, Montana

Project Description and Need: The Fort Missoula Regional Park plan will preserve 

open views, provide the community with outdoor sporting event facilities, improve 

public transportation accessibility, improve access to a cultural heritage center, and install 

interpretive signage on an expanded 246-acre park plot. Three miles of trails, a 26-acre 

natural area, fishing ponds, connectivity to regional attractions, and access to the Bitterroot River will all attract tourists to the area and bolster the local economy. The park’s 

current 60-acre plot is an important asset to local schools, which use the fields for 

recreation and team practice.

Potential Action: Provide financial and technical assistance for the expansion of the 

park, construction of a cultural heritage center, and improvements to public access on 

the Bitterroot River.

Partners: NPS, Missoula Parks and Recreation Department, nongovernmental 

organizations, and local stakeholders.
60 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Nebraska

Platte River Recovery Implementation Program

River Restoration

Central Nebraska

Project Description and Need: The Platte River Recovery Implementation 

Program is a basin-wide effort by DOI and the states of Nebraska, Colorado, and 

Wyoming to manage the Platte River, whose waters support multiple uses. The longterm objective is to use incentive-based water projects to provide sufficient water to 

and through the central Platte River to improve and maintain habitat for target species. 

Platte River habitat is essential to the recovery of the whooping crane, interior least 

tern, piping plover, and pallid sturgeon, all threatened or endangered species under the 

Endangered Species Act. The program provides measures to help recover these species, 

thereby providing ESA compliance for existing water projects and certain new water 

projects in the Platte River Basin. The program has three main elements: (1) increasing 

stream flows in the central Platte River during relevant time periods through retiming 

and water conservation/supply projects; (2) enhancing, restoring and protecting habitat 

for target bird species; and (3) accommodating new water-related activities. Top priorities for Nebraska include increasing streamflow during relevant periods and making 

certain areas accessible to the public for recreation purposes.

Potential Action: Improve river flow for species recovery and provide financial 

support for habitat protection and recreation access.

Partners: BOR, USGS, and State of Nebraska.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 61

Platte River Access

River Access

Central Nebraska

Project Description and Need: The Platte River in Nebraska drains a large part of the 

central Great Plains and eastern Rocky Mountains and is a significant river system in 

the Missouri River watershed. The States of Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming have 

partnered with DOI on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) 

to manage the river’s multiple uses. The long-term objective is to use incentive-based 

water projects to provide sufficient water to and through the central Platte River habitat area to improve and maintain habitat for target species. To this end, it has acquired 

approximately 8,600 acres of habitat through sponsorship agreements, purchases, 

leases, or perpetual easements from willing sellers and partners.

This land is now also part of the Platte River Recreation Access (PRRA) program, a 

part of PRRIP that allows the public to access riverside habitat for recreational use, 

while still protecting targeted species. Currently, PRRA lands are open for limited activities in certain periods of the year. Deer and turkey hunting, fishing, bird watching, 

mushroom gathering, and hiking are permitted in winter and early fall, with certain 

times blocked out for migration season to protect native birds. At other times, only 

certain PRRA properties are open for recreational activities. With this initial limiteduse policy PRRA is taking steps both to ensure continued conservation of habitat 

along the Platte River and to allow people to take advantage of the wildlife-rich open 

space. Eventually, people will be able to reserve access to the land through an online 

system. 

Additional access and access improvements will allow for this program to expand and 

serve more people drawn to this landscape. 

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to support continuation 

and expansion of the PRRA program. 

Partners: Bureau of Reclamation, FWS, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and 

partners. 
62 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Nevada

Lorenzi Park Renovation

Urban Park

Las Vegas

Project Description and Need: Lorenzi Park, built in 1921 in central Las 

Vegas, is one of the oldest parks in the city. Its 90 acres provide close-to-home 

recreational opportunities to thousands of residents in the Las Vegas area, and 

the park has received support from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. With a walking path, playgrounds, and picnic facilities, the park is an 

important center for outdoor recreation in the community. The Sammy Davis Jr. 

Fesitval Plaza on the park’s western side is an important community gathering 

area that hosts social and cultural events like the Las Vegas Festival Blues Festival, comedy shows, and a Filipino heritage celebration. Some park renovation 

has occurred since 2007, but more funds are needed to restore the lake shoreline, 

complete the landscaping, and upgrade other park amenities. When completed, 

the park will again be a major magnet in Las Vegas for families to enjoy the 

outdoors.

Potential Action: Provide additional SNPLMA funding to Las Vegas to complete 

phase II of the project.

Partners: BLM and City of Las Vegas.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 63

Colorado River Heritage Greenway Park and Trails

Trails

Clark County

Project Description and Need: In 2000, the Bureau of Reclamation identified 

project lands in the Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona area compatible for recreation use. Clark County, Bureau of Reclamation, and the NPS 

developed a proposal to restore the riverfront and plant native vegetation from 

the toe of Davis Dam to the townsite of Laughlin. As part of a larger effort, the 

BOR cooperatively developed a plan for a loop trail from Davis Dam to the 

Mojave River Indian Reservation and returning to Davis Dam on the Arizona 

side of the river. The project’s first phase will be completed in February 2012. 

The project includes building 5.25 miles of trails, day-use areas, picnic sites, 

shade shelters, fishing piers, equestrian facilities, and a highway bridge overpass 

and underpass, and providing access to the Colorado River. The first phase of 

construction, totaling $23,819,480, was funded by the Southern Nevada Public 

Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) along with $2 million more from Clark 

County.

Clark County, BOR, and NPS will work on completing part of the trails system to finish a seven-mile loop and short interpretive trail. To complete both 

trails, part of the original concept for the entire Regional Park, will require more 

funding and matching in-kind support. This collaborative work will use agency 

staff and Youth Conservation Corps crews to meet trail and project construction 

goals.

Potential Action: Complete the seven-mile trail segment. Provide financial and 

technical support to hire a youth crew to complete two trail segments. Support 

the NPS Exotic Plant Management Team crew to eradicate invasive species.

Partners: NPS, BLM, BOR, and Clark County.
64 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

New Hampshire

Northern Forest

Landscape-scale Conservation / Conservation of Rural Working Lands

Northern New Hampshire

Project Description and Need: The Northern Forest covers some 30 million acres across 

New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York. Its forests are diverse, ranging from 

the extensive broadleaf deciduous and mixed forests to montane and lowland spruce-fir 

and low-elevation forests of oak, pine, and hickory. Forests help define the region’s 

character and are integral to its economy.

Federal partners have made notable investments in recent years through the Land and 

Water Conservation Fund and Forest Legacy Program. Public-private conservation has 

enabled significant conservation in this region—conserved lands have increased from 4.3 

million acres in 1997 to over 6.5 million acres today. Many opportunities remain to ensure that this largest remaining contiguous forest east of the Mississippi River continues 

to provide the products, outdoor recreation, and wildlife benefits that communities will 

continue to rely on for generations to come. In particular, conservation of land in and 

around national wildlife refuges in the region can contribute to the region’s economic 

and ecological integrity. This project supports the AGO priorities of large landscape 

conservation and conservation of rural working lands.

Potential Action: Provide financial support to acquire land and conservation easements 

at Umbagog (Androscoggin River headwaters) and Silivo O. Conte National Fish and 

Wildlife Refuge (Mascoma River headwaters).

Partners: FWS and Friends of Conte Refuge.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 65

Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Increasing Wildlife Habitat

Northern New Hampshire

Project Description and Need: The Connecticut River, New England’s largest, flows 

410 miles from its source at New Hampshire’s northern tip to its mouth on Long Island 

Sound. Along the way the river drains a 7.2-million-acre watershed in four states: New 

Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Federal areas include Silvio O. 

Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the only multi-state watershed unit in the 

National Wildlife Refuge System. To date, the Conte Refuge has protected 35,134 acres 

of land in targeted areas in all four states, including 7,400 acres in the Mohawk River 

and Pondicherry Divisions of northern New Hampshire. The Forest Legacy Program 

has also been a critical contributor to protecting land in the Connecticut Valley through 

working forest-conservation easements, most notably the 171,000-acre Connecticut 

Lakes project in New Hampshire, which protects the river’s headwaters. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the Connecticut Valley, and NPS has acquired land 

and scenic easements along the trail corridor. NPS also manages the 150-acre SaintGaudens National Historic Site in Cornish. The Connecticut Valley boasts many state, 

local, and private conservation lands, including Pisgah, New Hampshire’s largest state 

park, and the 25,000-acre Connecticut Lakes Natural Area. Besides land protection, 

other efforts like the Fifteen-Mile Falls Mitigation and Enhancement Fund support 

local projects to restore the river and protect wetlands and shorelands.

Potential Actions: Provide funding for a New Hampshire project in the Silvio O. 

Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge to promote connectivity in the Connecticut 

River watershed and Northern Forest. Designate parts of the Connecticut River in New 

Hampshire as a National Water Trail.

Partners: NPS, FWS, Friends of Conte Refuge, and State of New Hampshire.
66 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

New Jersey

Barnegat Bay

Landscape Preservation and Recreation

Central Eastern Shore

Project Description and Need: Landscape preservation in the Barnegat Bay 

watershed is part of a comprehensive effort to restore the coast of the nation’s most 

densely populated state, New Jersey. As a point of access to nature for so many 

residents, Barnegat Bay has significant recreational value. A longtime center for 

commercial fishing, the bay is also popular with recreational boaters and holds 

great potential for further ecotourism. It is also close to a number of state parks 

containing valuable ecosystems and wildlife habitat. Increased public access along 

New Jersey’s waterways is therefore a significant state interest, as it will allow residents increased environmental and recreational opportunities. To achieve this, the 

state has placed a priority on acquiring 18 parcels totaling 1,019 acres as valuable 

additions to Double Trouble and Bass River state parks, as well as to Colliers Mills 

and Turkey Swamp wildlife management areas. These lands will provide increased 

public access to recreation opportunities along New Jersey’s waterways and wildlife 

management areas. These efforts will also improve the bay’s health, further complementing AGO goals.

Potential Action: Provide financial assistance for critical land acquisition near 

Double Trouble and Bass River state parks and Colliers Mills and Turkey Swamp 

wildlife management areas.

Partners: FWS, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, local 

governments, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 67

Barnegat Bay

Water Access

Brick Township, New Jersey – Eastern Shore

Project Description and Need: Set along Barnegat Bay, Brick Township is a community of nearly 79,000 people. The State of New Jersey has designated it as an Urban Aid 

Community, indicating that it is a low-income, high-population center in need of state 

funds for further support and development. Barnegat Bay is a vitally important natural, 

recreational, and economic resource for New Jersey and is a state priority. The township 

is acquiring a 21-acre property for a park and recreation area that will provide muchneeded public waterfront access and outdoor-recreation opportunities on the bay, as well 

as a link to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The township has proposed 

improvements that include a boardwalk promenade along the bay, a kayak/canoe launch, 

a playground, a water-play area, and landscaping. These enhancements should be done 

with an environmentally friendly design to reduce storm water entering the Bay, which 

also presents an opportunity to educate users about storm water impacts on natural 

resources. This project supports AGO goals by increasing recreational access and 

providing close-to-home open spaces for underserved communities.

Potential Action: Provide financial assistance for creating new and enhancing 

existing outdoor recreation areas and linking the Township to Forsythe National 

Wildlife Refuge.

Partners: FWS, State of New Jersey, Brick Township, and nonprofit organizations.
68 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

New Mexico

Price’s Dairy

Urban Wildlife Refuge

Albuquerque

Project Description and Need: Price’s Dairy is in the South Valley of Albuquerque, 

New Mexico, five miles south of downtown, on North America’s second largest river, the 

Rio Grande. At 570 acres, this former dairy is one of the largest remaining farms in the 

Middle Rio Grande Valley and the largest agricultural property in the Albuquerque metro 

region. The City of Albuquerque is among the fastest growing urban areas in the United 

States. Its development footprint contributes to a loss of history and culture and significantly stresses the natural resources of the valley and Rio Grande.

The property’s size and location has made it the target of various development schemes as 

well as efforts by various federal, state, and local agencies to preserve and protect it. The 

Secretary of the Interior recently announced that a proposed urban National Wildlife 

Refuge in this location has been approved. Protecting the property as a refuge will greatly 

bolster environmental education for students and provide a gateway to the larger regional 

NWR system. It would also protect the property’s natural-resource values that would 

be lost through development.Also, because of its significant water rights, protecting this 

property would add to the health and vitality of the adjacent Rio Grande, which struggles 

not only to support the people who depend on it for water but the wildlife living in and 

around it.

As one of the last undeveloped parcels along the Rio Grande, Price’s Dairy is an important refuge and waypoint for migratory birds like sandhill cranes, Arctic geese, and varied 

duck species, migrating along the river from summer-breeding grounds in the North to 

wintering havens in the South. While supporting this critical flyway, the river corridor also 

provides an opportunity for hiking and biking along the state-planned Rio Grande Trail.

Potential Action: Establish an urban Middle Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge.

Partners: FWS, BOR, State of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, nonprofit 

organizations, and private sector interests.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 69

Aztec Ruins National Monument

Trails

Northwestern New Mexico

Project Description and Need: Ancestral Pueblo structures dating back to the 11th 

century offer historical insight and educational opportunities within close reach of the 

town of Aztec, New Mexico. The Aztec Ruins General Management Plan calls for collaboration with the city on a joint trail system to connect the monument and town via a 

pedestrian bridge across the Animas River. This increased access would further connect 

local residents to their nearby history, enhancing public engagement and enjoyment. 

The monument has already begun to collaborate with state, federal, and local agencies to 

create the trail and bridge. Using a National Park Foundation grant and a technical assistance grant from RTCA, strategic planning is well underway. The city has collaborated 

with the New Mexico Department of Transportation on bridge construction, and the 

monument is making appropriate adjustments to pedestrian traffic and river corridor 

access in preparation for the bridge. However, the project still requires a significant 

amount of planning and funding before it can be completed.

Potential Action: Provide funding and technical assistance for building a bridge and 

trail to Aztec Ruins National Monument.

Partners: NPS, Los Alamos County, and Jemez Mountain National Scenic Byway.
70 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

New York

Harlem River/Roberto Clemente State Park

River Access and Restoration

The Bronx, New York

Project Description and Need: Roberto Clemente Park is in the middle of a developing 

greenway along the Harlem River. The state-run park serves an economically challenged 

community—including a low-income apartment building with 3,000 residents on the 

park border—and hosts over one million visitors annually. Unfortunately, there is no 

public access to the Bronx side of the Harlem River because the only historic access in 

the park to the river is closed. Many park facilities—fields, docks, boat launches, and 

trails—need significant upgrades. Specific capital needs at the park include acquiring 

access to the riverfront, developing and improving park facilities, and building trail 

connections to the New York City greenway system.

The Harlem River is also a pilot site for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. The partnership aims to support river restoration in seven U.S. cities. On the Harlem River, NPS, 

FWS, ACE, EPA, and USDA are assessing ways to both restore the river and increase 

public access to it.

The state and New York City would like to partner with the federal government on 

this project to: (1) connect the park to a waterfront greenway and to the historic High 

Bridge. The High Bridge project would restore the connection between the Bronx and 

Manhattan for cyclist and pedestrians; (2) work with USDA to develop urban gardens; 

(3) work with EPA to implement stormwater management infrastructure; and (4) 

expand opportunities for neighborhood youth to engage in outdoor activities and learn 

about the outdoors.

Potential Actions: Provide technical and financial support for project elements related 

to river access and restoration, youth engagement, trail development, and open space 

acquisition. Engage other federal agencies on urban gardens and storm water 

management.

Partners: State of New York, New York City, NPS, Harlem River Alliance, EPA, HUD, 

USFS, and FWS.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 71

Finger Lakes Trail and Water Access Improvements

Water Trail

Upstate New York

Project Description and Need: New York’s Finger Lakes are in west-central upstate 

New York and include 11 bodies of water. Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake—the two 

longest lakes—are among the deepest in America. The lakes are nationally recognized 

as a unique natural and cultural resource. The lakes and land surrounding them are also 

a significant open-space resource next to and accessible from major upstate New York 

metropolitan areas—Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany. Annually, the lakes receive 

up to five million tourists, who spend some $90 million on hunting, fishing, birding, and 

recreation. The NPS Erie Canalway National Heritage Area at Seneca Lake and the 

FWS Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge are important federal holdings in the area.

Because only a small part of the lakes is accessible to the public, many local governments 

would like to develop more recreational access points. Skaneateles Lake, (another of the 

Finger Lakes), for example, has only one public-access site that allows swimming along 

the 32 miles of lake shoreline. Once more access points were established, creating a water 

trail along the Finger Lakes would attract more people to water-based recreation in the 

area.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial support for projects to increase access 

to the lakes and to connect populated areas with parks, other open space, and lakefronts. 

Once enough access exists, designate the Finger Lakes as a National Water trail.

Partners: NPS, State of New York, local municipalities, and Finger Lakes Institute.
72 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

North Carolina

Waccamaw River National Blueway

National Blueway

Southeastern North Carolina

Project Description and Need: Creating a National Blueway along the Waccamaw 

River in North Carolina would preserve critical floodplain, protect an important 

wildlife-migration corridor, provide many recreational opportunities, and support new 

adventure-tourism businesses. Linked with the Waccamaw River Blue Trail in South 

Carolina, the National Blueway would create a two-state water trail from its source at 

Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina to Winyah Bay in South Carolina.

The 60,000-acre Waccamaw River floodplain in southeastern North Carolina stretches 

south to the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina, as one of the 

largest contiguous wildlife habitats in the southern coastal plain. Significant features include three endemic natural communities, one endemic plant, and 11 endemic animals, 

including the federally listed Waccamaw silverside, Waccamaw darter, and Waccamaw 

killifish. These three fish exist only in Lake Waccamaw or the Waccamaw River.

The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program and North Carolina Wildlife Resources 

Commission have identified this corridor as a top state conservation priority for 20 

years. Two counties along the corridor, Brunswick and Columbus, have expressed 

support for the Waccamaw River Blueway, which can provide multiple recreation 

opportunities and support new businesses.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to develop a Blueway along 

the Waccamaw River; acquire conservation easements and restore wildlife habitat. Designate the Waccamaw as a National Blueway.

Partners: NPS, FWS, American Rivers, Pee Dee Land Trust, Winyah Rivers 

Foundation, City of Conway, and Horry and Georgetown counties.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 73

Elk Knob—Long Hope Valley

Large Landscape Conservation

Western North Carolina

Project Description and Need: Long Hope Valley supports 10 high-quality natural 

communities, 37 rare plants, and eight rare animal species. The 2,200-acre natural area 

is one of the most important unprotected natural areas in the Southern Appalachians. 

It also contains 23 Southern Appalachian bogs, the highest concentration and highest quality bogs known in the South. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program 

has identified this area as a top conservation priority for over 30 years, and it recently 

became available for purchase for its conservation values. Conservation of this tract will 

supplement previous land-conservation, which includes a state park, plant-conservation 

preserve, Nature Conservancy preserve, and state game land. In total, this area would be 

over 50,000 acres of contiguous habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified this site as a potential component of the newly authorized Southern Appalachian 

Mountain Bog National Wildlife Refuge.

Potential Action: Provide financial support for habitat conservation. Evaluate the property for addition to the Southern Appalachian Mountain Bog National Wildlife Refuge.

Partners: FWS, North Carolina Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Department of 

Environment and Natural Resources, and High Country Conservancy.
74 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

North Dakota

Dakota Grasslands

Large Landscape Conservation / Conservation of Working Lands

North and South Dakota

Project Description and Need: The Dakota Grasslands Conservation Area’s millions 

of acres of depressional wetlands constitute one of the world’s richest wetland systems. 

These “prairie potholes” and surrounding grasslands are highly productive and support 

a great diversity of bird life. Once a vast grassland, the Prairie Pothole Region is now 

dominated by cropland. But three million acres of wetlands and large tracts of native 

prairie remain. The Prairie Pothole Region is one of the most altered—yet also most 

important—migratory-bird habitats in the Western Hemisphere. It is the backbone of 

North America’s “duck factory” and critical habitat for many wetland- and grasslanddependent migratory birds.

The FWS will seek to acquire easements from willing sellers on some two million acres 

of native-prairie habitat to benefit wildlife and support traditional economic activities, 

specifically livestock production. The proposal will expand land protection that the 

National Wildlife Refuge System already provides through several wildlife refuges and 

wetland-management districts in the area.

This project joins the federal government with agricultural communities and other 

partners in the Dakotas to conserve wildlife and its habitat while ensuring continuation 

of the regions’ agricultural heritage.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to acquire conservation 

easements to protect up to 1.7 million acres of critical grassland habitat and 238,000 

acres of associated wetlands.

Partners: FWS, USGS, NRCS, State of North Dakota, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 75

Missouri River Forest Restoration Project

Landscape Conservation and Recreation

Central North Dakota

Project Description and Need: Over the next three years, the Missouri River 

Forest Restoration Project will restore and protect riparian floodplain forests along the 

75-mile expanse of the Missouri River between Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe. The 

cottonwood forests in the Missouri River floodplain are in poor condition as a result of 

progressive mortality of mature trees and the absence of natural regeneration. 

Restoration will provide important public benefits, including bank stabilization and 

reduced sedimentation, added food and cover in wildlife habitat, improved river water 

quality, and enhanced outdoor recreation and conservation education. Tree and shrub 

plantings are proposed on three state-owned or managed sites and adjacent private lands 

along the Missouri River flood plain. The Missouri River Forest Restoration Project 

supports AGO goals by conserving working forest landscapes and habitat while creating 

youth engagement and recreation opportunities.

Potential Action: Provide financial and technical assistance for the planning, supplies, 

and labor of replanting trees and shrubs along the Missouri floodplain. Collaborate with 

youth corps for project work.

Partners: FWS, North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, North Dakota Forest 

Service, North Dakota Soil Conservation Districts, and private land owners.
76 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Ohio

Ohio to Erie Trail Connections

Urban Parks and Water Trail

Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio

Project Description Need: The Ohio to Erie Trail is intended to be a continuous trail 

from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, linking lands that railroads and canals formerly 

used. When completed, it will connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati 

as well as many other communities. By closing two gaps in the system in Columbus, 

the route will be completely connected for 160 miles. The proposed trails, Alum Creek 

and Camp Chase, travel through low-income neighborhoods and would give access 

to 18 city parks and connect with the Battelle Darby Creek and Big Darby Creek national scenic rivers. This effort would support AGO goals by increasing access to urban 

green spaces. Both trail projects are construction-ready and have ample support locally 

and from the state. The Cleveland component proposes to create new urban parks 

along the mouth and shoreline of Cuyahoga River. To increase recreational access, 

the project proposes a new launch area for canoes and kayaks and allows for the establishment of a Water Trail along the Cuyahoga River.

Potential Action: Provide financial support for acquiring the land to complete gaps in 

the trail system in Columbus and for acquiring land for two urban parks and creation 

of public river access in Cleveland.

Partners: NPS, FWS, Columbus Recreation and Parks, Cleveland Metroparks, local 

nongovernmental organizations, and youth corps.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 77

Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed 

Wetland Development

Environmental Restoration 

Western Ohio

Project Description and Need: Grand Lake St. Marys, a 13,500-acre lake in west 

central Ohio, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy boating, fishing, 

and swimming. In recent years the lake’s health has suffered from nearby development 

and heavy agriculture. High levels of phosphorus both from within the lake and from the 

watershed have produced harmful algal blooms that threaten public health, wildlife, and 

natural habitat.

The State of Ohio and local partners seek to restore habitat and to improve recreational 

access to the lake. Reestablishing wetlands along the lake’s southern side, where the 

watershed feeds into the lake, will help filter some phosphorus, thereby improving the 

quality of water entering the lake.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance for environmental restoration and recreation access.

Partners: NPS, USGS, FWS, Ohio Departments of Natural Resources and 

Environmental Protection, and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
78 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Oklahoma

Honey Springs Battlefield Park

Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Urban Parks

Southeastern Oklahoma

Project Description and Need: Some 1,200 acres of Oklahoma Historical Societyowned land makes up Honey Springs Battlefield Park, the site of the largest Civil War 

engagement in Oklahoma. Multi-cultural Civil War soldiers, including American 

Indians, fought side by side on Honey Springs Battlefield. Preserving the region’s 

remarkable cultural history is of state and national significance. The Honey Springs 

Battlefield Park project complements AGO goals by preserving this important historic 

landmark for both educational and recreational purposes. Increased access and improved park infrastructure are the project’s highlights. These will draw more tourism and 

enhance the visitor experience. Guests can learn about the war’s profound effect on the 

American Indian population. They can explore Oklahoma’s wildlife while traversing the 

park along miles of hiking and biking trails. McIntosh and Muskogee counties and the 

Oklahoma Historical Society support improving the park, as do local stakeholders.

Potential Action: Support designation of Honey Springs as a National Battlefield Park.

Partners: NPS, McIntosh and Muskogee counties, Oklahoma Historical Society, and 

Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 79

Blue River

National Blueway

South Central Oklahoma

Project Description and Need: The 141-mile-long Blue River, one of Oklahoma’s few 

remaining free-flowing rivers, lies within jurisdictional boundaries of the Chickasaw 

Nation Indian Tribe and is also part of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer. It is within 150 

miles of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and 175 miles of Oklahoma City and their 

large, diverse urban populations. Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Tishomingo 

National Wildlife Refuge, and Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery are all nearby and 

would benefit from watershed-protection measures for the river. Blue River Wildlife 

Management Area is next to the river, and the river corridor offers abundant recreational 

opportunities, including hiking, camping, hunting, canoeing, and fishing. Trout are 

stocked in the stream, and in cooler winter months the Blue River is a premier Oklahoma 

trout-fishing destination. It is also a significant smallmouth bass fishery year-round. 

The Blue River project furthers AGO goals through the protection of additional critical 

natural areas for wildlife migration and expanding and improving access to the river for 

public use and enjoyment.

Potential Action: Designate the Blue River as a National Blueway. Provide technical or 

financial support for expanding and improving river access.

Partners: NPS, FWS, State of Oklahoma, Chickasaw Nation, and local nongovernmental organizations. 
80 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Oregon

Table Rocks

Landscape Conservation

Southwest Oregon

Project Description and Need: The Table Rocks are twin volcanic buttes that rise above 

the north bank of the Rogue River. The lands are managed by The Nature Conservancy 

(3,584 acres) and Bureau of Land Management (1,280 acres). Over 30 years ago, The 

Nature Conservancy purchased land on the Table Rocks and created their first preserve 

in the Rogue Valley. In 1984, the BLM designated 1,280 acres as the Table Rocks Area 

of Critical Environmental Concern to protect critical habitat for special status plant and 

animal species, unique geologic and scenic values, and to provide environmental education opportunities.

The people of Oregon, especially those in the Rogue Valley and the Confederated Tribes 

of Grand Ronde, have an enduring relationship with this special place. The 7.5 millionyear-old landforms have been important to pioneers, residents, and visitors to the Rogue 

Valley and to Native Americans who called this area home. Every year some 45,000 

visitors hike through oak savannas to reach the open grassland and vernal pools on the 

mesa summits and to look out over the Rogue Valley toward the Cascade Range and 

Siskiyou Mountains. In the spring, BLM-led field trips to the tops of Table Rocks are 

a staple of the outdoor education and science curriculum for over 4,000 Rogue Valley 

school children.

In 2009, FWS and Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board invested $1.8 million in 

protecting the Table Rocks by supplying funds to buy additional lands from The Nature 

Conservancy. The state needs funding to acquire more land to guarantee public access 

for hiking, to provide educational opportunities, and to protect the special biologic, 

geologic, and cultural values of the Table Rocks. The BLM, Confederated Tribes of 

Grand Ronde, and The Nature Conservancy recently signed an agreement to coordinate 

resources and pursue funding for acquiring key lands from willing sellers, to help protect 

the values of the Table Rocks, and to cooperatively manage these lands as the Table 

Rocks Management Area.

Potential Action: Provide funds to buy adjacent land for more continuous ownership 

and cooperative land management to protect the cultural, historical, educational, and 

recreational values of the Table Rocks.

Partners: BLM, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and 

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 81

Willamette Valley Conservation Plan

Landscape Conservation

Eugene to Portland

Project Description and Need: The Willamette Valley Conservation Study Area is a 

landscape-scale habitat-conservation effort that protects and restores rare habitats, aids 

the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and connects people with nature by 

providing wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities. Though it still supports a diverse 

assemblage of native species, the Willamette Valley has experienced tremendous changes 

as human populations have increased. The valley’s population is expected to double 

within the next 50 years, which adds a sense of urgency to conservation-planning efforts. 

The valley is also an important agricultural production area, and the federal government 

needs to find a balanced approach to improving the health of the basin and to engage the 

agricultural community as a partner. One significant challenge is the goose depredation 

of farms. The valley’s refuges and grasslands, which farmers provide under cooperative 

agreements, cannot sustain the increasingly large populations of geese. To address this 

challenge, the Willamette Valley Conservation Study Area will use community-based 

collaboration, with many stakeholders from both public and private sectors, to develop 

conservation alternatives. The Willamette Valley Conservation Plan advances AGO 

landscape-conservation goals and objectives.

Potential Action: Work with the State of Oregon and other public and private stakeholders to develop a balanced plan for the Willamette Valley Conservation Study Area. 

Once complete, work with partners to implement the recommendations of the plan.

Partners: FWS, The Nature Conservancy of Oregon, Willamette Riverkeepers, 1,000 

Friends of Oregon, Greenbelt Land Trust, and Benton County.
82 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Pennsylvania

Lower Susquehanna Landscape Initiative

Large Landscape Conservation and Recreation

Middle Pennsylvania

Project Description and Need: The Susquehanna River’s 27,500-square-mile watershed covers nearly half of Pennsylvania and supplies 50 percent of the Chesapeake Bay’s 

fresh water. As the longest U.S. river with no commercial boat traffic, the Susquehanna 

is a popular recreation destination and important link to Pennsylvania’s outdoors, river 

towns, and cultural heritage. Investments in river access on the lower Susquehanna will 

further AGO goals of building youth and community connections to this resource, 

providing education and recreation opportunities, and enhancing networks of water 

trails. As part of this large landscape initiative, enhancements are needed to Columbia 

Borough’s Riverfront Park along the lower Susquehanna in Lancaster County. These 

enhancements will meet visitor needs and serve as a gateway to the river. They will also 

educate people about Columbia’s historic connection to the Chesapeake Bay. Completing a high-trestle bridge and five-mile section of the Manor Rail Trail will link to 23 

more miles of trails traversing Lancaster County. In addition, the ongoing relicensing 

of major hydropower dams on the Susquehanna creates an opportunity for shoreline 

management, recreation planning, and access development. The Susquehanna Greenway 

Partnership has applied for designation of the Susquehanna River as a connecting Water 

Trail to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enthusiastically supports the designation and the Landscape 

Initiative projects.

Potential Action: Provide financial assistance for improvements to the Riverfront Park 

in Columbia Borough. Designate the Susquehanna as a connecting Water Trail to the 

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

Partners: NPS, FWS, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural 

Resources.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 83

Urban Greening

Urban Parks

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

Project Description and Need: Pennsylvania’s largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, 

are engaged in work designed to bring conservation, recreation, and economic value to 

neighborhoods that lack parks and trees. Philadelphia prioritized improvement of public 

schools and parks in underserved neighborhoods in the first tier of the Green 2015 

campaign. In Pittsburgh, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is targeting neighborhoods for a focused greening initiative and has raised considerable funds from the city 

and other local partners to implement it. These tailored greening projects in Pennsylvania’s two most populous cities will enhance outdoor-recreation opportunities for all age 

groups, make the cities more attractive tourist destinations, and provide underserved 

neighborhoods with the plethora of advantages parks offer. By actively engaging 

communities in the beautification of their own neighborhoods, by planting trees or 

learning effective storm-water management techniques, this project creates a collective 

investment in and further enjoyment of outdoor shared spaces.

Potential Action: Provide Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with financial and technical 

assistance to support AGO-related projects of their urban greening initiatives.

Partners: NPS, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Pittsburgh, City of Philadelphia, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, and other 

nonprofit organizations.
84 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Rhode Island

Blackstone River Valley Greenway

Urban Parks and Recreation

Providence, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts

Project Description and Need: The Blackstone River Valley Greenway Project will 

give urban and semi-rural communities access to a range of recreational experiences. 

These will include a water trail and bike trail along a patchwork of cityscapes, old mill 

villages, water features, and farmlands. The area is part of the NPS Blackstone River 

Valley National Heritage Corridor, which tells the story of people’s historic connection 

to the river, including its important role in the Industrial Revolution. The state hopes 

to revitalize distressed and underserved communities in the watershed by highlighting 

the Blackstone River Greenway as a medium for other activities like ecotourism and 

environmental education. The project’s goals match those of AGO by preserving nationally significant historical landmarks and cultural and natural landscapes, creating 

quality recreation and educational opportunities, and boosting local commerce with 

ecotourism. The project will also build on existing, successful partnerships developed 

over the 25-year existence of the National Heritage Corridor. The State of Rhode 

Island features this project as its primary AGO priority and has gathered considerable 

local support.

Potential Action: Support the Blackstone River Valley Greenway Initiative in Rhode 

Island and Massachusetts through planning, technical assistance, and funding.

Partners: FWS, NPS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and State of Rhode Island.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 85

Blackstone River Valley Project

Environmental Education

Providence, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts

Project Description and Need: The 50-mile Greenway between Providence, Rhode 

Island, and Worcester, Massachusetts, offers a unique opportunity to protect the 

nationally significant land, water, and cultural resources along the Blackstone River. 

Environmental-education and resource-management programs centered on this project will boost Rhode Island’s Great Outdoors Pursuit program, among others, which 

connects children and their parents to the outdoors. These programs not only offer 

benefits to families but help to foster a new generation of river keepers. The project 

meets AGO goals by preserving a river of historical significance while engaging youth 

and empowering the community. 

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance toward the creation and 

management of public programming for the project. 

Partners: FWS, NPS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State of Rhode Island, and

nonprofit organizations. 

© mark muse
86 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 87

South Carolina

Longleaf Pine Focal Area

Large Landscape Conservation

Southeastern South Carolina

Project Description Need: Longleaf pine was once a dominant species on 90 million 

acres of forests stretching from Virginia to Texas. Today just over three percent of this 

historic longleaf Pine ecosystem remains, on public and private lands supporting 29 

federally listed threatened and endangered species and over 400 endemic plant species. 

The FWS, NPS, and USFS are submitting a collaborative Land and Water Conservation 

Fund proposal—the South Carolina Longleaf Pine Focal Area—to expand and preserve 

this natural resource. The State of South Carolina fully supports the project and is excited 

about the momentum it could give other current conservation efforts. This project would 

support AGO goals by conserving a large-scale landscape that will protect habitat for a 

significant number of species.

Potential Action: Support funding for the South Carolina Longleaf Pine habitat 

conservation project.

Partners: FWS, NPS, USFS, State of South Carolina, and nonprofit organizations.

Three Rivers Greenway

Urban Park / Trail

Columbia, South Carolina

Project Description and Need: The City of Columbia’s Three Rivers Greenway provides 

8.5 miles of pathways along the Broad and Saluda rivers where they meet the Congaree 

River. This Greenway is a phenomenal public-private partnership between the city and 

the River Alliance. Project partners hope to expand the Greenway to over 13 miles of trail 

and river parks. Winding through Columbia, West Columbia, and Cayce, the Greenway provides recreational access and connects urban residents to the rivers, aligning with 

AGO goals. In addition, some of South Carolina’s best fishing waters are along the greenway, which also offers access points for canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting.

Potential Action: Provide planning and technical assistance through RTCA to help 

extend the Greenway.

Partners: FWS, NPS, City of Columbia, State of South Carolina, and nonprofit 

organizations.
88 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

South Dakota

Blood Run National Historic Landmark

Historic Preservation and Recreation

Sioux City 

Project Description and Need: Blood Run National Historic Landmark, one of the 

oldest sites of long-term human habitation in North America, is a culturally significant 

area to both South Dakota and Iowa. The landmark offers residents of Sioux Falls—

South Dakota’s most populous city—important outdoor-recreation opportunities. 

Located a few miles southeast of the city along Big Sioux River are 300 acres of undeveloped native-forest habitat adjacent to the landmark that the state wants to acquire. 

The state considers acquiring and protecting the land around the site critical because of 

the owner’s circumstances and the interest of commercial developers. NPS identified the 

landmark in 2000 as a worthy national park area. Acquiring the land and designating 

a park would advance AGO goals by conserving a historic, undeveloped landscape and 

providing urban residents with nearby outdoor recreation opportunities.

Potential Action: Provide financial support to acquire a 300-acre section of land for 

Blood Run National Historic Landmark.

Partners: NPS, State of South Dakota, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 89

Dakota Grasslands

Large Landscape Conservation / Conserving Working Lands

North and South Dakota

Project Description and Need: The Dakota Grasslands Conservation Area’s millions 

of depressional wetlands constitute one of the world’s richest wetland systems. These 

“prairie potholes” and surrounding grasslands are highly productive and support a great 

diversity of bird life. Once vast grassland, the Prairie Pothole Region is now dominated 

by cropland. But three million acres of wetlands and large tracts of native prairie remain. The Prairie Pothole Region is one of the most altered and yet also most important migratory-bird habitats in the Western Hemisphere. It is the backbone of North 

America’s “duck factory” and critical habitat for many wetland- and grassland-dependent 

migratory birds.

The FWS will seek to acquire easements from willing sellers on some two million acres 

of native-prairie habitat to benefit wildlife and support traditional economic activities, specifically livestock production. The proposal will expand land protection that the 

National Wildlife Refuge System already provides through several wildlife refuges and 

wetland-management districts in the area.

This project joins the federal government with agricultural communities and other partners in the Dakotas to conserve wildlife and its habitat while ensuring continuation of 

the regions’ agricultural heritage.

Potential Action: Support the use of conservation easements to protect critical grassland 

habitat and associated wetlands.

Partners: FWS, USGS, NRCS, State of South Dakota, and Ducks Unlimited and other 

nonprofit organizations.
90 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Tennessee

Paint Rock River Watershed

Large Landscape Conservation

Tennessee – Alabama Border

Project Description and Need: The Paint Rock River Watershed in Tennessee and 

Alabama, one of the most biologically diverse freshwater systems in the world, is the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s top priority for a new national wildlife refuge in 

Tennessee. Some strategic landholdings in the headwaters region have been conserved, 

but considerable work remains to connect these properties in a cohesive network of 

public lands protecting the natural and cultural resources of the area. Many NGOs and 

state government agencies are partnering in support of a new National Wildlife Refuge 

for the watershed. This project aligns with several AGO goals, including large landscape 

conservation, enhanced river access, and support for creative public-private partnerships.

Potential Action: Work with state, local, and nonprofit partners to establish a new 

National Wildlife Refuge in the Paint Rock River Watershed.

Partners: FWS, State of Tennessee, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 91

Tennessee Riverpark’s Chattanooga Riverwalk 

Blueway and Urban Park

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Project Description and Need: Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga have 

worked for the past 20 years to develop a 20-mile-long Greenway along both banks of 

the Tennessee River. Over 13 miles of the Tennessee Riverpark are built, and partners 

are working to finish the next section of the award-winning Riverwalk. This Greenway 

has helped Chattanoogans build a closer relationship with the Tennessee River and its 

natural, cultural, and recreational resources. The Riverwalk’s focus on protection of and 

education about wildlife and riparian ecosystems has been a catalyst in the community’s 

environmental awakening and has helped make Chattanooga an environmental and 

outdoor recreation showplace in the Southeast.

The Riverwalk extension will stretch from downtown at Ross’s Landing to the base of 

Lookout Mountain, crossing a number of industrial and blighted properties, and helping 

reclaim brownfields that currently greet visitors to the community. This new Greenway 

extension will connect many economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and diverse 

users to the Greenway and help address issues with diabetes and obesity in adults and 

children in West Chattanooga.

Potential Action: Provide planning and technical assistance through RTCA to help 

extend the Greenway. Designate the Tennessee River as a National Water Trail.

Partners: NPS, City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee, and nonprofit organizations.
92 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

ROBERT CLARK
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 93

Texas

Rio Grande Watershed

Landscape Conservation

Southern Texas

Project Description and Need: From El Paso to Brownsville, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo 

River winds its way through some of the most culturally, ecologically, and topographically diverse lands in Texas. Conservation of the river is a longstanding, shared concern 

for state and federal agencies, private landowners, nonprofit organizations, water managers, recreational interests, and a host of other stakeholders. The watershed encompasses 

some of the most important state and federal recreational and conservation lands in 

the Southwest. These include Big Bend National Park, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Franklin Mountains State Park (the largest urban park in the contiguous 48 

states), and Laguna Atascosa and Lower Rio Grande Valley national wildlife refuges. 

The area also includes expansive tracts of private lands under conservation stewardship 

that protect important spawning and refuge areas for imperiled fish species. Through 

conservation easements, habitat-stewardship projects, and other collaborative work, this 

project will build on existing efforts to improve watershed health along selected reaches 

of the Rio Grande. The initiative supports AGO priorities, including conserving rural 

farms and ranches, enhancing recreation opportunities and outdoor recreation-based 

economies, and protecting and renewing rivers.

Potential Action: Provide financial support for acquiring conservation easements and 

for habitat stewardship projects.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of Texas, and nonprofit organizations.

West Galveston Bay

Habitat Restoration

Galveston

Project Description and Need: Galveston Bay, on the eastern shore of the Texas Gulf 

Coast, is fed by a 24,000-square-mile watershed that stretches from Dallas/Fort Worth 

to Houston. Human activities have profoundly affected the estuarine systems of the 

bay throughout this massive watershed. The conservation efforts of the Texas Parks and 

Wildlife Department and its many public and private partners in West Galveston Bay 

have resulted in restoration of thousands of acres of intertidal marsh and seagrass meadows and miles of shoreline habitats. Successful restoration of brown pelican nesting sites 

at North Deer Island Bird Rookery earned the Coastal America Wetlands Restoration 

Award. Upcoming projects in the bay will build new breakwaters via beneficial reuse of 

dredged materials to protect and enhance critical marsh and open-water nursery habitats. 

This project advances the goals of AGO by restoring and conserving imperiled habitat.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial support for the Texas Parks and 

Wildlife Department’s restoration of estuarine nursery habitat in Galveston Bay.

Partners: FWS and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
94 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Utah

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Environmental Education and Youth Engagement

Northern Utah

Project Description and Need: The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is in northern 

Utah where the Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake. Its protected marshes are 

the largest freshwater components of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, and the refuge 

offers many educational programs for Utah residents and youth. Environmental education and interpretation is the primary focus of programs for preschool children, fourthgraders, and young adults (through a Youth Conservation Corps). Programs emphasize 

watershed health, water quality, water conservation, and natural resource stewardship. 

Students engage in conceptual learning through field-trip experiences in the outof-doors and carry conservation messages home to facilitate enhanced stewardship 

in their own backyards. A variety of groups support these programs, including the 

state Division of Wildlife Resources and the Cache/Logan County School District. 

Program content is correlated with Utah’s Core Curriculum and has the support of 

teachers and the state education system.

Potential Action: Support environmental education programs at the Bear River 

Migratory Bird Refuge through a partnership with the Utah Department of Natural 

Resources.

Partners: FWS, State of Utah, local school, and nonprofit organizations.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 95

Jordan River Parkway

Trails

Salt Lake City, Utah

Project Description and Need: Jordan River Parkway is a continuous, non-motorized, 

paved trail system next to the river, which flows over 50 miles from Utah Lake to the 

Great Salt Lake, crossing three counties. To complete the parkway, four gaps in the 

system must be filled—a total of 3.5 miles in three municipalities: Salt Lake City, West 

Jordan, and Bluffdale. When these projects are completed, 66 miles of trails will link 

three counties along the river corridor.

This parkway project will develop trails and help restore and enhance the environment. It 

will connect diverse populations to the metro area’s most significant green-space corridor 

via alternative transportation and provide educational and recreational opportunities. 

The NPS RTCA program is currently supporting the city of West Jordan (located 10 

miles south of Salt Lake City) and their partners through a community-led partnership 

focused on planning for the parkway trail and an environmental-enhancement project 

involving the FWS, Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Conservation Commission, and 

Army Corps of Engineers.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to complete the four missing 

segments in the Jordan River Parkway.

Partners: NPS, FWS, ACE, Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Bluffdale, and State of Utah, 

Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Conservation Commission.
96 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Vermont

Winooski River Watershed Project

Riparian Corridor Conservation

Burlington – South Burlington, Vermont

Project Description and Need: The project will bring together state, regional, and local 

partners and stakeholder groups to conserve private working lands and provide flood 

control. The Winooski River watershed is in Vermont’s most populous areas, and several 

major cities and towns rely on it for public drinking water. This past spring, parts of 

the Winooski River rose to historic levels, and floodwaters washed out roads, damaged 

structures, over-ran wastewater treatment facilities, and caused significant nutrient and 

sedimentary pollution, some of which ended up in Lake Champlain. The watershed is 

also home to many important working farms and forests and wildlife habitat.

A major initiative of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is to help communities 

protect their riparian corridors by taking advantage of the natural protection from flood 

damage. This project will help protect communities from the real economic burdens of 

future flooding, enhance recreational opportunities that connect people to water and 

the land, stimulate economic development, and create green jobs. The project will target 

critical watershed and floodplain protection areas for acquiring conservation easements. 

It will also provide technical and financial assistance to farmers and forest landowners to 

incorporate best management practices and develop watershed-management plans.

Potential Action: Provide financial and technical support to the wildlife habitat 

conservation and recreational access aspects of the project.

Partners: FWS, USGS, and State of Vermont.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 97

Connecticut River

National Blueway

Eastern Vermont

Project Description and Need: The Connecticut River’s 410-mile journey from the 

Canadian border to Long Island Sound links four New England states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The river is the centerpiece of 

the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge that encompasses the entire 

watershed, and many Vermont towns and cities are clustered along the stream. 

Vermont is working to increase environmental awareness and recreational use of 

the river. Fishing and boating are popular on Vermont’s stretch of the Connecticut 

River. Creating new access points and promoting connectivity between the river and 

other nearby natural areas will better enable residents and visitors to engage in these 

water-related activities. Designating the Connecticut River as a National Blueway 

will also help draw more visitors to the area.

Potential actions: Provide added funding for a Vermont project in the Silvio O. 

Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge to promote connectivity in the Connecticut River watershed and the Northern Forest. Designate parts of the Connecticut 

River in Vermont as a National Blueway.

Partners: NPS, FWS, and Friends of Conte Refuge.

© mark muse
98 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Virginia

Fort Monroe National Historical Park

Historic Preservation

Hampton – Southeast Virginia

Project Description and Need: Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort in Hampton have 

played significant roles in America’s history, dating back to the arrival of the first English 

colonists. Settlers of Jamestown built a fort at the site in 1609, and the first enslaved 

Africans in America arrived at the fort in 1619. Over two centuries later, Fort Monroe 

was the site of Gen. Benjamin Butler’s 1861 “Contraband Decision,” during the Civil 

War. That action provided a pathway to freedom for thousands of enslaved people who 

reached the fort. In part it was also a forerunner to President Lincoln’s Emancipation 

Proclamation. Fort Monroe and environs played important parts in both the beginning 

and end of slavery in America. The fort was an active Army post until September 15, 

2011.

The local community and a bipartisan group of elected state officials, including the governor, local congressional delegation, and both senators, favor creating a national park to 

preserve these important lands and their history. Virginia proposes to develop, in concert 

with the NPS, a first-class historic and natural destination that integrates significant 

youth-education focused on both environmental and outdoor recreation. The proposal 

would stabilize the walls and moat around the fort, enhance water access to Chesapeake 

Bay, and develop a youth-training initiative. Virginia also proposes to restore natural 

landscapes and habitat along the bay front for waterfowl.

With its proximity to Newport News and Norfolk, Fort Monroe provides a close-tohome outdoor space for urban residents of the area, aligning with AGO goals.

Potential Action: Support designation of Fort Monroe as a National Historical Park.

Partners: NPS, Commonwealth of Virginia, and City of Hampton.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 99

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

National Blueway

Eastern Virginia

Project Description and Need: The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic 

Trail follows the historic water routes of Smith’s travels. The trail stretches about 3,000 

miles through parts of present-day Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of 

Columbia and connects with 16 national wildlife refuges, 12 national park areas, and 

three national trails. It offers opportunities for tourism, environmental and cultural 

education, conservation, and recreation. The multi-dimensional nature of the Captain 

John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail makes it a model for a new system of 

National Blueways. The Commonwealth of Virginia is active in development of the trail 

and seeks to collaborate with the NPS to enhance access to the trail and to develop and 

improve interpretive signage. Virginia plans to work with nonprofit groups to improve 

access to connecting trails as well.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to expand recreation access 

to the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail and to develop interpretative signage 

for Virginia’s portion. Designate the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail as a 

National Blueway.

Partners: NPS, FWS, BLM, Commonwealth of Virginia, and nonprofit organizations.
100 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

ROBERT CLARK
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 101

Washington

Pacific Northwest Trail – Olympic Discovery 

Trail Convergence

Recreational Trails

Glacier National Park to Pacific Coast of Washington

Plan Description and Need: Along 1,200 miles of recreational pathways that begin 

in Glacier National Park and culminate on the Pacific Coast of Washington state, the 

Pacific Northwest Trail ties together national, state, and local trails, including the 120-

mile Olympic Discovery Trail, built along the historic route of the Pacific Railroad line. 

Traversing the lowlands of the northern Olympic Peninsula and ending near Cape Alava 

on the Pacific Coast, the Olympic Discovery Trail now has about 40 miles of paved 

surface. This segment already provides outstanding recreational opportunities for hikers, 

bicyclists, and, in some areas, equestrians. It runs over railroad trestles, through agricultural land, and along the saltwater coastline, giving users access to a number of different 

outdoor environments and connecting the cities of Sequim and Port Angeles to the 

Sequim Bay Area. An additional six-mile stretch of hard pack gravel trail connects Port 

Townsend with the larger trail network. In the long term, the state plans to acquire and 

build out the entire 120 miles of the trail. This will provide residents all along the trail 

system access to more outdoor recreational opportunities in more parts of the state.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to the Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Transportation, 

recreation and conservation organizations, and tribes to define, design, and acquire key 

segments of the trail.

Partners: NPS, State of Washington, local tribes, and nonprofit organizations.

Lower Columbia Water Trail

Blueway

Bonneville Dam to Baker Bay

Plan Description and Need: The Lower Columbia River Water Trail is a well-established paddleboat trail stretching from the Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean along 

146 miles of one of North America’s longest rivers. The trail is managed by the Lower 

Columbia River Estuary Partnership—a stewardship organization focused on coastal 

habitat restoration and environmental education programs. Negotiations are underway 

for another Water Trail upstream along part of the Columbia between Chief Joseph 

Dam and Rocky Reach Dam. The ultimate goal is a Water Trail along the Columbia 

River’s entire length through Washington. The state champions the Water Trail extension and supports using Dalles, John Day, and McNary dams as portage routes for boaters along the trail. Designation of the Lower Columbia as a National Water Trail would 

raise its profile, draw more tourists and recreationists, and accelerate its completion.

Potential Action: Designate the Lower Columbia Water Trail as a National Water Trail. 

Partners: NPS, FWS, Lower Columbia River Estuary Program, and State of Washington.
102 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

West Virginia

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Landscape Conservation

Northern West Virginia

Project Description and Need: West Virginia is the heart of the Central Appalachians, 

home to one of the healthiest, most biologically diverse temperate broadleaf forests on 

Earth and some of the largest intact forest blocks in the eastern United States. These forests shelter cool headwater streams that deliver clean water to larger rivers, like the Potomac and Ohio, and ultimately millions of people. And these forests are at the doorstep 

of the urban East Coast—within a day’s drive of Washington, Baltimore, and New York 

City. Collaborative conservation efforts to connect federal, state, and private land are 

essential to protecting critical wildlife migration corridors and ultimately to sustaining a 

network of healthy land and waters that will provide the full range of benefits to people.

In West Virginia, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge is one of several federal and 

state conservation areas. Others include the Monogahela National Forest, Gauley River 

National Recreation Area, New River Gorge National River, and Bluestone National 

Scenic River. The Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Appalachian 

Mountain Joint Venture, and others are working cooperatively to develop a management 

strategy to enhance the natural and recreational values of these related sites.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to acquire inholdings and 

buffers in the Canaan Valley and to create greater connectivity among protected lands. 

Work with partners and local, state, and federal agencies to conserve and manage public 

lands in this region more thoughtfully to enhance their natural and recreation values.

Partners: FWS, NPS, State of West Virginia, Appalachian Landscape Conservation 

Cooperative, and Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 103

New River Gorge National River

Youth Engagement

Southern West Virginia

Project Description and Need: The New River Gorge National River offers an 

unparalleled opportunity to acquaint young Americans with some of the best natural 

environments in the eastern United States. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has 

purchased 10,000 acres next to the New River Gorge National River for the permanent 

home of their national jamboree, as well as a High Adventure base camp. The BSA plans 

a sustained volunteer program to support the NPS and estimates that boys and girls 

attending the jamboree and camp could provide over 800,000 hours of service annually. The volunteer work would lead to further improvements in water quality and access 

to water-based outdoor recreation, like fishing and boating in the gorge, to benefit not 

only park visitors but the outdoor programming of the BSA. This proposed BSA-NPS 

partnership aligns well with the park’s new management plan and with AGO objectives 

for youth engagement and outdoor education.

Potential Action: Establish a partnership between the NPS and Boy Scouts of America 

to use hundreds of thousands of youth volunteer hours to implement the trails and river 

access elements of the New River Gorge National River general-management plan.

Partners: NPS, Boy Scouts of America, and State of West Virginia.
104 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Wisconsin

Lake Michigan Water Trail 

Trails

Lake Michigan Shoreline

Project Description and Need: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is 

working with the NPS, other federal agencies, and the Bay Lake Regional Planning 

Commission to develop a new, 450-mile Water Trail along the Lake Michigan shoreline. 

This trail will become the state’s second longest and will increase public access to the 

trail and along the shoreline. A campaign to start in 2012 will engage local communities 

and private affiliates to help acquire land for and to build the new trail. The four states 

bordering Lake Michigan are also working to expand on the national recreation trail 

designation that exists on part of the lake. The partnership would support AGO priorities 

by enhancing recreational access and opportunities and engaging citizens in conservation 

and the great outdoors.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance for site development, 

signage, and land and easement acquisition needed for public access. Designate the Lake 

Michigan shoreline as a National Water Trail.

Partners: NPS, State of Wisconsin, NOAA, and Bay Lake Regional Planning 

Commission.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 105

Ice Age Trail 

Trails

Central Wisconsin

Project Description and Need: The variety of recreation options within a one-hour 

drive of Madison—the state capital—make the Baraboo Hills/Devil’s Lake area a hub 

for outdoor activity that serves over 1.7 million visitors a year. The area combines unique 

geologic features, diverse fauna, prehistoric effigy mounds, historic Civilian Conservation 

Corps buildings, and spectacular scenery.

The Baraboo Hills, long recognized as ecologically unique and valuable, host many 

preserves, state natural areas, and two state parks. The NPS designated the southern 

range of the Baraboo Hills as a National Natural Landmark in 1980. Various organizations, including the University of Wisconsin, Baraboo Range Preservation Association, 

and Wisconsin DNR have formed a strong conservation partnership and protected 

thousands of acres through acquisitions and easements.

One such partnership is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a collaboration between the 

NPS, State of Wisconsin, and Ice Age Trail Alliance. They work together on trail management and development for the Ice Age Trail. One of only 11 National Scenic Trails 

in the United States, Ice Age Trail stretches for 1,200 miles across Wisconsin. State and 

local partners are working to connect trail segments through strategic conservation easements. This project supports several AGO goals, including large landscape conservation, 

preservation of natural and culturally significant areas, and support for creative publicprivate partnerships.

Potential Action: Expand the Ice Age Trail through strategic conservation easements.

Partners: Wisconsin DNR, NPS, Ice Age Trail Alliance, and nonprofit organizations.
106 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 107

Wyoming

Devils Tower Conservation Easement

Conserving Working Lands

Northeastern Wyoming

Project Description and Need: Ranches and other working lands surrounding Devils 

Tower National Monument provide important ecological and economic benefits for 

northeastern Wyoming. The opportunity exists to work with willing sellers of conservation easements on lands next to the monument to maintain traditional ranching and 

farming activities and to reduce land fragmentation around sensitive public lands. The 

Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust is a partner with the NPS in the 

preliminary stages of this effort.

This project would support AGO goals by helping to conserve and protect a natural and 

cultural icon while preserving traditional ranching and agriculture.

Potential Action: Engage local stakeholders in dialogue about conserving working lands 

in northeastern Wyoming. Work with partners to acquire conservation easements from 

willing sellers on lands adjacent to Devils Tower National Monument.

Partners: NPS, State of Wyoming, and Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land 

Trust.

Grand Teton National Park 

Multi-Use Pathways Program

Trails

Northwest Wyoming

Project Description and Need: Grand Teton National Park is building 16 miles of 

completely accessible multi-use pathways for walking, biking, and skating. The first, 

eight-mile phase opened in 2008. When completed this year the six-mile second phase 

will connect to the larger network that Jackson Hole Community Pathways is building 

outside the park. The park pathway will be completely accessible by standards set under 

the Americans with Disabilities Act. When phase two is complete, the park will immediately begin design for phase three, a two-mile spur to a road loop popular for biking 

near the eastern park boundary. The State of Wyoming supports this project.

Potential Action: Provide technical and financial assistance to complete phase three of 

the project.

Partners: NPS, State of Wyoming, and local partners.
108 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Appendix A: Youth Engagement

21st-Century Conservation Service Corps

The objectives for Secretary Salazar’s 50-state initiative were to increase states’ and key 

stakeholders’ knowledge of America’s Great Outdoors and to solicit specific project 

ideas to advance the primary, place-based goals of AGO—urban parks, rivers, and 

landscapes. While the conversation was centered on project ideas related to these 

goals, officials and stakeholders in most states also cited the importance of engaging 

young people in the outdoors. They suggested projects designed to draw more young 

people to outdoor spaces or as stand-alone projects involving youth employment 

(through a conservation corps) or environmental education. Specific projects presented 

by states related to youth employment focus on conservation and construction work 

like stream restoration, trail maintenance, or building a visitor center. Other projects 

stress outdoor leadership for young adults by encouraging them to take responsibility 

for the environment. These suggestions align well with the AGO objectives to engage, 

educate, and employ young people. 

The following examples of youth projects illustrate the diversity of ideas presented by 

states and stakeholders where the Department could partner with public and private 

organizations to advance the youth and education goals of America’s Great Outdoors. 

The Montana Conservation Corps, with Habitat for Humanity, The Nature

Conservancy, and others, have “shovel ready work” to improve access and

restore the confluence of Clark Fork River and Rock Creek, western 

Montana’s blue-ribbon trout stream. Youth can help build access sites, clear 

interpretive trails, and even build educational facilities for a day camp where 

even more young people can come to experience the outdoors.

The Maryland State Department of Education, in collaboration with the 

Partnership for Children In Nature and the No Child Left Inside 

Coalition, has augmented the state’s curriculum with a requirement 

calling for annual meaningful outdoor experiences for every student at all 

grade levels. Maryland State Parks provide venues for off-site excursions 

where youth can experience firsthand the benefits of outdoor exploration and

recreation. These early experiences create young stewards of the land and

encourage a conservation ethic. Visits emphasize the importance of family 

outdoor time in order to foster a culture throughout the state of taking 

families outdoors.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 109

The California Conservation Corps provides youth with jobs and an 

opportunity to connect with the outdoors. One California Conservation

Corps project in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 

would draw inner-city youth from areas where access to the natural world 

is almost non-existent. These young people would gain outdoor experience in 

the NRA’s 150,000 acres, which include state and local parks. Their work on 

maintenance and construction of trails and other facilities will contribute to 

the area’s recreational value while simultaneously helping these youth develop 

valuable, productive skills.

Participants in Conservation Corps of Minnesota’s Youth Outdoors 

program go a step further by engaging their whole community in 

conservation activities. Students get a stipend for spending Saturdays and 

after-school hours revitalizing park infrastructure in St. Paul. Their duties 

involve leading volunteers in giving back to the community, and they are 

encouraged to engage their family in the work too. This allows youth to act 

as a community’s “gateway” to outdoor recreation and volunteer work. 

Community partners for this project include Habitat for Humanity, North 

Country Trail Association, and the Prairie Island Indian Community.
110 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Appendix B: MULTI-STATE PROJECTS

While Secretary Salazar’s request of Governors was to learn about their state’s 

priorities related to landscapes, rivers and urban parks, we discovered that some 

projects were regional in scale and identified as priorities by more than one state. 

Ecosystems, wildlife and river corridors, and large working landscapes do not conform 

to state borders, and many states already work together to conserve these lands and 

waters. Because the federal government’s work transcends state boundaries, states 

have sought our help on a variety of projects of regional significance. The following 

multi-state AGO projects include both new projects and projects highlighted earlier 

in this report:

Mississippi River Bluffs

Landscape Conservation

Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin

The Mississippi River Bluffs are part of the largest international bird migration 

corridor in the nation. They contain exceptional ecosystems—from algific talus 

slopes to hillside bluff prairies and rare forests. The State of Iowa has partnered with 

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and local nongovernmental organizations to promote 

the Mississippi Bluffs region as an ecotourism destination. The Bluffs connect people 

and communities with the outdoors while protecting regional heritage. In addition, 

the Mississippi River Bluffs partnership aims to protect water quality and reduce 

flooding by conserving targeted lands.

Connecticut River

Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut

Spanning 410 miles through four New England states, the Connecticut River has 

long been an important commercial link between Connecticut, Massachusetts, 

Vermont, and New Hampshire. Today, it provides valuable recreational opportunities 

for the numerous surrounding communities and has the potential to offer even more 

widespread public access. The river itself, its wildlife and surrounding ecosystem, are 

among the most promising resources for accomplishing important AGO conservation 

and recreation goals.

This significant potential prompted the New England Governors’ Council to include 

the Connecticut River in its River and Heritage Corridors National Demonstration 

Project. In this collaborative initiative, the four states have committed to improving 

access to and promoting opportunities offered by the Connecticut River. This includes constructing more access points and recreational facilities along the river and 

designating it as a National Blueway. Also, New Hampshire is stepping up conservation efforts for the valuable ecosystems in the Connecticut River watershed through 

projects in the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, a unique resource 

that spans the whole of the watershed. 
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 111

Dakota Grasslands

North Dakota and South Dakota

The Dakota Grasslands project exemplifies the AGO commitment to collaborative 

solutions. State and federal agencies, through partnerships with conservation organizations, are working with private landowners to conserve, voluntarily, approximately 

two million acres of economically and ecologically valuable landscapes. The Dakota 

Grasslands Conservation Area supports a unique system of “prairie pothole” wetlands 

and surrounding grassland that constitute significant migratory bird habitats. The 

land is also an important resource for farmers and ranchers, and through a multi-state 

commitment to conserving working landscapes, its continued use will benefit the 

agriculture economies of North Dakota and South Dakota. Conservation easements 

that permit continued agricultural use, but limit or prohibit commercial development 

on protected land, will allow the grasslands, as well as the wildlife and livelihoods that 

they support, to thrive.

Blackstone River Greenway

Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Urban and semi-rural communities in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island will 

benefit from this initiative to revitalize the recreational resources along the Blackstone 

River Greenway. The greenway contains, among other features, a water trail, bike 

path, old mill villages, and farmlands. Its path along a historically significant river 

that played a vital role in the American Industrial Revolution is lined with culturally 

significant landmarks that tell the story of the region. Connecting urban centers in 

Massachusetts and Rhode Island to the Greenway will allow more communities to 

explore ecotourism and foster environmental education and conservation awareness.

Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem

South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama

The North American longleaf pine ecosystem once covered nearly 90 million acres; 

now only three million acres remain. Species dependent on this habitat, like the 

gopher tortoise and black pine snake, have also seen a rapid decline and are now 

endangered. This multi-state partnership is essential to rehabilitating the presence of 

an ecologically valuable species that has a trickle-down effect on the health of other 

at-risk species. In this initiative, federal agencies partner with private landowners to 

plant longleaf pine and commit to sustainable land management practices that will 

allow the trees to flourish. Efforts are already successfully underway in Georgia, where 

the project restored 1,426 acres, but collaboration among all four states will be 

essential to success in this landscape-scale conservation endeavor.
112 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Indiana Dunes

Illinois and Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is situated near the Illinois-Indiana border close 

to a number of underserved urban communities. The Lakeshore’s Lake Michigan 

Water Trail already provides water-based recreation opportunities to over 9 million 

people, allowing them access to unique ecosystems and enhancing their outdoor 

experiences. In particular, young people benefit from interpretive programs that get 

them out on the lake in canoes and kayaks, allowing them to experience the natural 

world in new ways. In order to expand the reach and impact of the valuable resources 

at Indiana Dunes, DOI will work with Illinois and Indiana to create and improve trail 

systems linking communities from Chicago to the National Lakeshore. This initiative 

benefits both states by enhancing recreation and environmental education opportunities for their residents.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail follows the historic 

water routes of Smith’s travels. The trail stretches some 3,000 miles through parts of 

present-day Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and 

connects with 16 national wildlife refuges, 12 national park areas, and three national 

trails. It offers opportunities for tourism, environmental and cultural education, 

conservation, and recreation. The multi-dimensional nature of the Captain John Smith 

Chesapeake National Historic Trail makes it a model for a new system of National 

Blueways.

Maryland and Virginia are both partnering with NPS and various nonprofit 

organizations to enhance the recreational and scenic value of the trail. Both are 

actively engaging in trail development and signage to make the trail more accessible 

to the public, and Maryland has undertaken a comprehensive plan to connect visitors with 4,600 acres of historic and ecologically significant lands. Both states are also 

improving recreational access and engaging in river restoration.

Pennsylvania is also engaged in landscape conservation along the lower Susquehanna 

River, a proposed connector trail to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National 

Historic Trail. The state is improving access and enhancing a network of land and 

water trails to connect the public to this 27,500-square-mile watershed, which 

supplies 50 percent of Chesapeake Bay’s fresh water. 
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 113

Appendix C: GLOSSARY

Designations:

American Heritage River: Rivers of natural, economic, historical, or cultural value are maintained by local 

communities through an EPA partnership program.

Greenway: A greenway is a scenic trail or route set aside for recreational activities and often frequented 

by pedestrians and bikers. Greenways are typically vegetated, linear, and multi-purpose. They often provide 

links between urban centers and open spaces as well as offering inherent recreational benefits.

National Battlefield: This general title includes National Battlefields, National Battlefield Parks, National 

Battlefield Sites, and National Military Parks. In 1958, an NPS committee recommended national battlefield as the single title for all such parklands.

National Blueway: A National Blueway designation refers to the area on and around a waterway that has 

significant recreational as well as ecologic value. Blueways offer many access points and recreational opportunities as well as pristine natural environments.

National Conservation Area: America’s 16 BLM-designated National Conservation Areas are recognized 

for their exceptional ecological, cultural, historical, and recreational values. These public lands are under the 

control of the Bureau of Land Management, which protects their recreational and scientific worth through 

various restrictions, like limited motorized vehicle access.

National Heritage Area (NHA): These natural and human-made sites are culturally and historically significant enough to constitute nationally important landscapes. NHA managing partnerships focus on conservation, education, and fostering stewardship ethics. Areas can vary in designation, like National Heritage Trail 

or National Heritage Corridor.

National Historic Park: This designation generally applies to historic parks that extend beyond single 

properties or buildings.

National Historic Sites: These sites usually contain a single historical feature that was directly associated 

with its subject. Derived from the Historic Sites Act of 1935, a number of historic sites were established by 

Secretaries of the Interior, but most have been authorized by acts of Congress.

National Lakeshore: National Lakeshores, all on the Great Lakes, closely parallel National Seashores in 

character and use.

National Memorials: These sites commemorate a historic person or episode; they do not need to occupy a 

site historically connected with the subject.

National Monument: The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorized the President to declare by public proclamation landmarks, structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest on lands owned or controlled by 

the government to be National Monuments.

National Natural Landmark: National Natural Landmarks are designated as such by the NPS because of 

their outstanding biological and geological features. Landmarks are not protected by law, but their owners 

are urged to conserve them for their extraordinary natural qualities.

National Parks: National Parks are generally large natural places with a wide variety of attributes, at times 

including significant historic assets. Hunting, mining, and consumptive activities are not authorized.
114 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

National Parkway: Parkway refers to a roadway and the parkland paralleling the roadway. All were intended 

for scenic motoring along a protected corridor and often connect cultural sites.

National Preserves: These areas have characteristics associated with national parks, but Congress has permitted continued public hunting, trapping, and oil/gas exploration and extraction. Many national preserves, 

without sport hunting, would qualify for national park designation.

National Recreation Area (NRA): Twelve NRAs are centered on large reservoirs and emphasize waterbased recreation. The other five NRAs are near major population centers. Such urban parks combine scarce 

open spaces with preserving significant historic resources and important natural areas where they can provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of people.

National River: There are several title variations to this category: national river and recreation area, national 

scenic river, wild river, etc. The first was authorized in 1964 and others were established after passage of the 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

National Scenic Byway: These roads are designated by the Department of Transportation in recognition of 

their cultural, historic, recreational, and scenic significance. They operate under corridor management plans 

designed to preserve and enhance these values and allow the public to take advantage of them.

National Seashore: Ten national seashores have been established on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts; 

some are developed and some are relatively primitive. Hunting is allowed at many of these sites.

National Trail: National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails are titles given to these linear parklands 

of scenic or historical significance (over 3,600 miles) authorized under the National Trails System Act of 

1968. Trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life by providing recreational 

opportunities are designated under the Act as National Recreation Trails.

National Water Trail: This relatively new designation is given to water trails of great historical, cultural, or 

ecological significance.

Partnership Wild and Scenic River: These rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System are managed 

more collaboratively among adjacent communities, state governments, and the NPS.

Ramsar Wetland of International Importance: Countries participating in the 1971 Ramsar Convention 

on Wetlands produced an intergovernmental treaty designating Wetlands of International Importance and 

calling for the conservation and sustainable use of these sites. Wetlands of International Importance are 

so designated for the significance of their ecology, botany, zoology, limnology, or hydrology in preserving 

global biological diversity.

State Parks: State parks are state-run, protected natural areas containing a diversity of landscape and ecosystem features.

Water Trails: Water Trails are routes on rivers, lakes, bays, and other waterways with a network of public 

access points and promoted by broad-based community partnerships. Water Trails connect communities to 

their water resources and natural environment close to home.

Wild and Scenic River: Rivers that are free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely 

primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads, are given this title to indicate 

their unique scenic and ecological value. Such designation does not protect rivers from development or give 

the federal government control over private property, but it does restrict government from actively supporting actions like dam construction that would harm the river’s free-flowing condition and scenic value.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 115

Wilderness Area: First designated by the National Wilderness Preservation System established by the 1964 

Wilderness Act, Wilderness Areas are essentially undisturbed natural environments. They retain a primeval 

character and are shaped primarily by the forces of nature, free of human influence. They are managed by 

the BLM, FWS, USFS, and NPS to preserve natural landscapes and maintain the habitat of many wildlife 

species.

Wildlife Management Area: These state-managed conservation areas are dedicated to preserving and managing high-quality habitats for a variety of fish and wildlife species. They are, therefore, popular recreation 

spots for wildlife-based outdoor activities, like fishing and hunting.

List Of Terms: 

Conserving Rural Working Farms, Ranches, and Forests Through Partnerships and Incentives: 

Successful joint use agreements allow for multipurpose landscapes, which relieve private landowners of 

liability issues in return for opening their lands for public use. State foresters, in partnership with local communities and the USFS, provide technical assistance on the management, protection, and wise use of the 

non-industrial private forest and the nearly 100 million acres of urban and community forests. State conservationists, working with state technical committees and the USDA provide assistance on the management, 

protection, and use of agricultural land.

Corps programs: Around the country, Corps programs engage thousands of youth and young adults in 

natural resource-based work on projects that address unmet conservation needs. Many states have funded 

Corps programs for decades, and local communities frequently turn to Corps to train and prepare young 

people for employment. Corps members gain abilities that last a lifetime, including work readiness, educational advancement, and civic engagement, and provide lasting benefits to natural resources and people in 

their communities.

The Corps Network: Established in 1985, The Corps Network is the voice of the nation’s 143 Service and 

Conservation Corps. Operating in 45 states and the District of Columbia now, Corps Network members 

enroll over 30,000 young men and women in service every year to improve communities and the environment.

Friends groups: This term refers to local organizations dedicated to the interests and preservation of a natural site. They can provide needed financial, expert, and volunteer support for federal, state, and local parks, 

open spaces, trails, and outdoor recreation activities.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The LWCF acquires new federal recreation lands as grants 

to state and local governments. For discussion purposes, the LWCF program is often divided into the “state 

side” grants to state and local governments and the “federal side” portion of the LWCF that buys land in 

new forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and other recreation areas owned by the federal government.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Administered by the FWS, this act provides matching 

grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation 

projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds 

and other wildlife.
116 America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report

Public Lands Service Coalition: Founded by the Student Conservation Association, The Corps Network, 

and the Southwest Conservation Corps, the Public Lands Service Coalition is an alliance of over a dozen 

national, regional, and local nonprofit organizations dedicated to promoting youth service jobs and career 

development on public lands.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: This nonprofit organization’s mission is to create a nationwide network of trails 

from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for recreationists.

Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA): RTCA is the community assistance arm of 

the NPS. RTCA supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects. 

RTCA staff provides technical assistance to communities so they can conserve rivers, preserve open space, 

and develop trails and greenways.

Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA): This act allows the BLM to sell public land 

within a specific boundary around Las Vegas, Nevada. Some of the revenue derived from land sales goes 

to DOI initiatives like maintenance of parks, trails, and natural areas, landscape conservation, and wildfire 

prevention.

Student Conservation Association (SCA): SCA provides situatons for college and high school students 

to connect with nature, render hands-on service, gain new skills and perspectives, and launch a lifetime of 

stewardship. SCA programs include conservation internships, conservation corps, summer and year-round 

training and service opportunities.

Urban Waters Federal Partnership: This program will work to revitalize urban waters and the communities that surround them. By transforming overlooked urban assets like rivers, streams, and wetlands into 

treasured centerpieces, the partnership will help drive urban revival. This is a community-based effort, and 

federal partners will help support community priorities to restore polluted, forgotten urban waterways.
America’s Great Outdoors Fifty-State Report 117

Appendix D: ACRONYMS

AGO America’s Great Outdoors

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BOR Bureau of Reclamation

DNR Department of Natural Resources

DOD Department of Defense

DOI Department of Interior

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NPS National Park Service

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USFS U.S. Forest Service

USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USGS U.S. Geological Survey