USFS receives proposals for Daniel Boone National Forest

Several McCreary County projects recommended for funding

By Eugenia Jones
eugenia@highland.net

Several McCreary County projects have been recommended for funding by the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) Secure Rural Schools Resource Act Advisory Committee (RAC.)
With $322,376.00 of Title II funds available to the DBNF, the following projects were recommended for funding. Final approval is expected later this week.
• Appletree Road (Shooting Range) Paving project (Stearns Ranger District) – $21,730.00
• Natural Arch Playground Improvements (Stearns Ranger District) – $44,966.00
• For. Service Road 137 (Rock Creek Area) Culvert Replacement (Stearns RD) – $77,180.00
• Sawyer Boat Ramp Paving (Stearns Ranger District) – $25,000.00
• Belgian Trail Slide (Barren Fork Area) Repair (Stearns Ranger District) – $4,800.00
• Sheltowee Trace Trail Signs (Rock Creek Area) (Stearns Ranger District) – $4,200.00
• Bee Rock Boat Ramp Repairs (London Ranger District) – $53,000.00
• Sims Branch Road Repairs (Redbird Ranger District) – $43,500.00
• Lower Bad Creek Road Repair (Redbird Ranger District) – $48,000.00
“The projects funded will help improve the roads, trails and recreation sites on the National Forest within McCreary County,” Stearns District Ranger Tim Reed stated. “We are excited to see them implemented for the benefit of local users and tourist alike. I thank the RAC for their work to recommend these projects for funding.”
The RAC is made up fifteen people, representing varied interests and areas of expertise, who work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest personnel. The committee makes recommendations to the Forest Service on the development and implementation of special projects on federal lands.
According the USFS website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools), the Secure Rural Schools program provides critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than 700 counties across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Congress ratified the Act of May 23, 1908, as a measure to support rural counties whose tax base was limited by the growing amount of Federal land. A portion of Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, such as grazing, timber production, and special use permits, are distributed to eligible counties to help maintain local roads and schools.
By the year 2000, after decades of declining agency revenues, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act to help stabilize the funds available to rural counties.
Payments are divided into three categories, or Titles: Title I for roads and schools, Title II for projects on Federal lands, and Title III for county projects.