IMBA Fights for Federal Trail Funding

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 2
Early Summer 2000

A coalition of leading human powered outdoor recreation groups, including IMBA, is pushing the Federal government to spend more money on recreation. The coalition has produced an 18-page proposal that calls for fiscal year 2001 recreation increases for the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, BLM, and US Geologic Survey.

"Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock-climbing, canoeing, kayaking, wilderness exploration and other human powered recreation are growing much faster than our population," the proposal notes. "Unfortunately, federal funding for recreation on public lands is not growing nearly as fast, and is even declining in some areas."

About 75% of the money generated by National Forests is tied to recreation, yet only about 10% of the Forest Service budget supports recreation.

As the National Park System has grown and diversified, funds for recreation and conservation on NPS-managed land have not kept up. The BLM's recreation program has always been dramatically underfunded.

Some of the proposed program enhancements would benefit sectors beyond recreation. For example, the stream gauging system operated by the US Geologic Survey is vital to informing boaters and anglers, but it also provides critical information to evaluate flood dangers.

The groups submitted a draft of the budget proposal to the Administration last October and discussed it with the Office of Management of Budget. This spring, the action turned to Congress, where the recreation groups are lobbying committees that govern appropriations for the federal land agencies.

"We know the federal budget is tight," said Mary Margaret Sloan of American Hiking Society, "so we know this will be a long term effort. Most Americans recreate on public lands at least once a year, so this initiative affects a broad spectrum of society."

"While we're asking the Federal government to spend more on public lands, we all realize that individuals must continue to do their part," said Gary Sprung of IMBA. "Volunteering for trailwork and park clean-ups is essential. Also, public lands visitors need to do a better job of minimizing their impact."

The recreation budget document was issued by the Access Fund, American Alpine Club, American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater Association, Continental Divide Trail Alliance, International Mountain Bicycling Association, National Outdoor Leadership School, Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, Outward Bound, and the Public Access Coalition.