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Z �ale�r�lre� m > 1t1Jo1P~ -�� WASHINGTON BALE NIMIIPUU ��J� LAND TRUSTS BREAKER A W AA BREWING COMPANY PR iEcnNG TXE BN1110MEMT March 14, 2024 The Honorable Patty Murray United States Senate 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 RE.• Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations: U.S. Forest Service - Legacy Roads and Trails Retnediation Initiative Dear Senator Murray, The undersigned 193 conservation, recreation and wildlife organizations, elected officials and local businesses are relieved that the U.S. Forest Service's (USFS) Legacy Roads and Trails program was reinstated and permanently authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with a small amount of seed funding. Infrastructure projects on national forests that were shelved for four years due to the defunding of the program are now moving forward and putting people to work improving watersheds. However, the backlog of road and trail maintenance has grown to a staggering $4.9 billion after years of neglect and with the barrage of storms that are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Over the last few years, USFS roads all across the state have been battered and damaged by atmospheric river events, wildfires, and other severe weather events. This is why we request that the FY 2025 Interior -Environment Appropriations Bill include $100M for the Legacy Roads and Trails program. Last year's Legacy Roads and Trails funding was not enough to meet the urgent need, providing just $6 million nationwide. The Legacy Roads and Trails program is a national program that has benefitted visitors to national forests and improved waterways across the U.S. for more than a decade. From 2008-2017, thanks in large part to the support of Washington's Congressional delegation, this unique, job -producing bi-partisan program invested nearly $32 million in Washington State leading to better water quality in streams, reconnected waterways for fish migration, and more resilient road and trail infrastructure. Trails, wildlife, and watersheds on USFS lands are often critical to other protected landscapes including neighboring national parks. Moreover, Legacy Roads and Trails created or maintained 330-528 jobs annually across the nation, bringing dollars and jobs into rural communities and saving America's taxpayers $3 million per year in road maintenance costs. Despite the decade worth of progress, and partially due to the lack of funding for four years, a large backlog of work remains. This past winter repeated atmospheric river events have once again highlighted what happens when national forest infrastructure is neglected: culverts plug, roads wash out, salmon eggs are buried, access is lost, and repair costs skyrocket. The Legacy Roads and Trails program is specifically designed to identify, target, and fix or decommission road and trail problems now before they get exponentially worse. We are grateful that this cornerstone program has been reestablished and we are seeing positive signs that the USFS intends to deliver results. As partners, we are pitching in with volunteer work, matching grants, and additional coordination. With committed funding in FY 2025, we can expect to see progress with the following: • Restored fish passage on key streams by fixing culverts while also protecting roads from storms; • Improved habitat connectivity and water quality by reclaiming unneeded roads, preventing sediment from entering waterways; • Restoration jobs that benefit the local economy adjacent to our national forests; and • Ensured access to USFS lands by storm -proofing roads and trails. The Legacy Roads and Trails program helps adapt the USFS road system to a more manageable size over time, reducing fiscal and environmental burdens, and enabling the agency to ensure better and more reliable access. It focuses on the key areas where projects improve salmon and trout habitat, improve water quality, and ensure road/trail resilience in a changing climate. It's a clear solution to a formidable problem, but it requires sufficient investment from Congress to succeed. Beginning in FY 2022, Legacy Roads and Trails proposals have been included in the annual National Asset Management Program call for projects, submitted by Forests and prioritized by Regional Offices. Although this new pathway may streamline the process, the BIL states that the Secretary shall "solicit and consider public input regionally in the ranking of projects for funding under the Program." However, public engagement has, thus far, been non-existent. Clarification and transparency around project selection and the allocation of LRT funding is warranted. FY2024 Funding Request Information • AGENCY: U.S. Forest Service • SUBCOMMITTEE JURISDICTION: Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies • FUNDING PROGRAM: U.S. Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation Program (internal Forest Service funding code: "CMLG") • FY24 REQUEST: $100 million (inclusive of salary and expenses) • PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Since inception in FY 2008, the Legacy Roads and Trails program has significantly enhanced the Forest Service's ability to address key problems associated with its aging and poorly maintained road system. This includes repairing roads and trails needed for public access, replacing failed or undersized culverts to improve fish passage, and retire unneeded roads to prevent harmful water pollution. As climate change impacts become more pronounced, the program can serve as a model of how to deliver funds to address road problems in real time, enabling the Forest Service to efficiently plan, design, and implement restoration treatments. It is a critical tool for leveraging non- federal funds resulting in stronger projects and enhanced community engagement. And because funds primarily go to actual work on the ground, Legacy Roads and Trails creates high wage jobs for contractors, including those who specialize in stream restoration, environmental design, and heavy equipment operation. We ask for your support of the program by allocating $100M to Legacy Roads and Trails in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior -Environment Appropriations Bill. Please make a formal request to the Appropriations Committee from your office before the FY25 appropriations request deadline using the information provided in the box above. This request is justified due to the lost ground over the last few years and the growing problems impacting watershed health and resilience, and how people access and experience opportunities on our public lands. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Drew Hansen Senator (Dist. 23) Washington State Senate Kevin Van De Wege Senator (Dist. 24) Washington State Senate Yasmin Trudeau Senator (Dist. 26) Washington State Senate T'wina Nobles Senator (Dist. 28) Washington State Senate Liz Lovelett Senator (Dist. 40) Washington State Senate Jamie Pedersen Majority Floor Leader and Senator (Dist. 43) Washington State Senate Manka Dhingra Senator (Dist. 45) Washington State Senate Javier Valdez Senator (Dist. 46) Washington State Senate Patty Kuderer Senator (Dist. 48) Washington State Senate Davina Duerr Representative (Dist. 1) Washington State House of Representatives Lisa Callan Representative (Dist. 5) Washington State House of Representatives Dan Bronoske Representative (Dist. 28) Washington State House of Representatives Eric Robertson Representative (Dist. 31) Washington State House of Representatives Joe Fitzgibbon Majority Leader and Representative (Dist. 34) Washington State House of Representatives Mary Fosse Representative (Dist. 35) Washington State House of Representatives Alicia Rule Representative (Dist. 42) Washington State House of Representatives Gerry Pollet Representative (Dist. 42) Washington State House of Representatives Amy Walen Representative (Dist. 48) Washington State House of Representatives Randy Johnson Commissioner Clallam County Board of Commissioners Mark Ozias Commissioner Clallam County Board of Commissioners Heidi Eisenhour Commissioner Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Sarah Perry Council Member (Dist. 3) King County Council Dave Upthegrove Council Member (Dist. 5) King County Council Teresa Mosqueda Council Member (Dist. 8) King County Council Christine Rolfes Commissioner Kitsap County Board of Commissioners Katie Walters Commissioner Kitsap County Board of Commissioners Ryan Mello Jan Schuette Chair Council Member Pierce County Council City of Arlington Marty Campbell Larry Brown Vice Chair Deputy Mayor Pierce County Council City of Auburn Robyn Denson Cheryl Rakes Council Member Deputy Mayor Pierce County Council City of Auburn Jani Hitchen Jon Quitslund Council Member Deputy Mayor Pierce County Council City of Bainbridge Island Peter Browning John Stokes Commissioner Councilmember Skagit County Board of Commissioners City of Bellevue Dave Somers Michael Lilliquist Executive Council Member Snohomish County City of Bellingham Megan Dunn Hannah E. Stone Council Member Council Member Snohomish County Council City of Bellingham Strom Peterson Daniel Hammill Council Member Council Member Snohomish County Council City of Bellingham Kaylee Galloway Sonia Hurt Council Member Council Member Whatcom County Council City of Blaine Ryan Walters, JD, AICP Jane Rebelowski Council Member Council Member City of Anacortes City of Bremerton Christine Cleland McGrath Jeff Coughlin, PhD, PMP Council Member Council Member City of Anacortes City of Bremerton Bruce McDougall Adair Hawkins Council Member Deputy Mayor City of Anacortes City of Carnation Carolyn Moulton Sean Smith Council Member Mayor Pro Tern City of Anacortes City of Covington Don E. Vanney Dan Rankin Mayor Mayor City of Arlington Town of Darrington Christine Eck Robert Shepardson. Council Member Council Member City of Edmonds Town of Index Susan Paine Nigel Herbig Council Member Mayor City of Edmonds City of Kenmore Cassie Franklin Melanie O'Cain Mayor Deputy Mayor City of Everett City of Kenmore Paula Rhyne Debra Srebnik Council Member Council Member City of Everett City of Kenmore Liz Vogeli Nathan Loutsis Council Member Councilmember City of Everett City of Kenmore Susan Honda Marli Larimer Council Member Council Member City of Federal Way City of Kent McKenna Pint -Gonzalez MaryLee Chamberlain Council Member Council Member City of Ferndale Town of La Conner Steven Yarbrough Tracy Furutani Mayor Council Member City of Gold Bar City of Lake Forest Park Chuck Lie Semra Riddle Council Member Council Member City of Gold Bar City of Lake Forest Park Demi Phillips Ellyn Saunders Council Member Council Member City of Gold Bar City of Lake Forest Park Norm Johnson Paula Goode Mayor Council Member Town of Index City of Lake Forest Park Alysse Hotz Randy Reeves Council Member Council Member Town of Index City of Medina Jessie Soper Craig W. Reynolds Council Member Council Member Town of Index City of Mercer Island Scott MacDonald Brian Holtzclaw Council Member Mayor Town of Index City of Mill Creek Vince Cavaleri Ben Thomas Council Member Council Member City of Mill Creek City of Port Townsend Sean Paddock Angela Birney Council Member Mayor City of Mill Creek City of Redmond Stephanie Vignal Vanessa Kritzer Council Member City Council President City of Mill Creek City of Redmond Connie Allison Angie Nuevacamina Council Member Council Member City of Mill Creek City of Redmond Melissa Duque Jeralee Anderson Council Member Council Member City of Mill Creek City of Redmond John Steckler Osman Salahuddin Council Member Council Member City of Mill Creek City of Redmond Frances Hall April Alexander Council Member Mayor City Of Milton City of Renton Tim Ceder Kim-Khanh Van Council Member Council Member City of Milton City of Renton Richard Brocksmith Kent Treen Council Member Council Member City of Mount Vernon City of Sammamish Errol Tremolada Sid Gupta Council Member Council Member City of North Bend City of Sammamish Christina (Chris) Rustik Joe D. Vinson Council Member Council Member City of North Bend City of SeaTac Richard Wills Senayet Negusse Council Member Council Member City of Ocean Shores City of SeaTac Amy Howard Joy Hollingsworth Council Member Council Member City of Port Townsend City of Seattle Owen Rowe Harmony Rutter Council Member Council Member City of Port Townsend City of Sequim Chris Roberts Amy Brockhaus Mayor Deputy Director City of Shoreline Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Annette Ademasu Bill Derry Council Member President City of Shoreline Pilchuck Audubon Society (Everett) Linda Redmon Timothy Coleman Mayor Executive Director City of Snohomish Kettle Range Conservation Group (Republic) Lea Anne Burke Mari Kemper Council Member Owner City of Snohomish Chuckanut Brewery (Mount Vernon) Cara Christensen Robert Kaye Council Member Conservation Chair City of Snoqualmie North Cascades Audubon Society (Bellingham) James Randolph Sam Merrill Deputy Mayor Chair of Conservation Committee City of Woodinville Black Hills Audubon Society (Olympia) Sarah Arndt Jack Guinn Council Member Owner City of Woodinville Hellbent Brewing Company Katy Kinney Harris Renee C Paradis Mayor Board Member Yarrow Point Washington Kayak Club Tom Uniack Peter Bahls Executive Director Executive Director Washington Wild Northwest Watershed Institute (Port Townsend) Ryan Talbott Bruce McGlenn Pacific Northwest Conservation Advocate Founder WildEarth Guardians Human Nature Hunting Jen Syrowitz Art Campbell Conservation Program Manager President Conservation Northwest North Central Washington Audubon Society (Wenatchee) Thomas O'Keefe Yvonne Kraus Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director Executive Director American Whitewater Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Rick McGuire Caitlin Singer President Quality & Sustainability Manager Alpine Lakes Protection Society Georgetown Brewing Company Joseph Bogaard Craig Nobley Executive Director CEO Save Our wild Salmon Coalition Lighthouse Roasters Jill Silver Executive Director 10,000 Years Institute (Forks) Patricia A. Jones, PhD Executive Director Olympic Forest Coalition (Quilcene) Sarah Kliegman Co -Executive Director Okanogan Highlands Alliance (Tonasket) Alex Dittmar President Airways Brewing (Kent) Gabe Epperson, MPA Executive Director Whatcom Land Trust (Bellingham) Richard Brocksmith Executive Director Skagit Watershed Council (Mount Vernon) Michael Morrison Board Chair Pacific Rivers Timothy Manns Conservation Chair Skagit Audubon Society (Mount Vernon) Lee First President Twin Harbors Waterkeeper (Cosmopolis) Jennifer Barker Co -Owner Terramar Brewstillery (Bow) John Bridge President Olympic Park Advocates (Sequim) Brenda Cunningham Support Team Member Indivisible Skagit (Mount Vernon) Larry Lober President Greater Bellingham Running Club (Bellingham) Mark Boyar President MidFORC Coalition Dana C. Ward President Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society (Richland) Glenn Ekberg Vice President Vancouver Wildlife League (Vancouver) Thomas Furrey Owner Halcyon Brewing Luke Baugh Executive Director Triad River Tours (Marblemount) Brandon Wiley Manager Bottleworks Brian Stumpke CEO Stillwater Artisanal (Rochester) Andrew Weber CEO Grayl Lance Reif Owner Wild Water River Guides (Leavenworth) Layne Carter Operations Manager Aslan Brewing Co. Jesse Swedlund Club President Paddle Trails Canoe Club Molly Whitney Executive Director Cascade Forest Conservancy (Vancouver) Gabriel Villenave Managing Partner Outer Planet Craft Brewing Kristi England Chief Governance, Policy & Innovations Officer Forterra CaraMia Murry Owner Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery Susan Chatlos Susor President Friends of Heybrook Ridge (Index) Brian G. Nelson President Wild Sky Community Trails Association (Index) Raymond Kwan Owners Lucky Envelope Brewing Maleena Lemiere Board Chair Sustainable Transport Council Jennie Goldberg Director League of Northwest Whitewater Racers Susan Saul Conservation Chair Vancouver Audubon Society (Vancouver) Harry Romberg Co -Chair, National Forest Committee WA Chapter of the Sierra Club Paul Fish Founder Live To Play, LLC (Spokane) Rob Smith Northwest Regional Director National Parks Conservation Association Betsy Robblee Conservation & Advocacy Director The Mountaineers Michael Kirshenbaum Conservation Director Skagit Land Trust (Mount Vernon) Kelsey, Ben, Liz & Craig Curran Owners Watershed Pub & Kitchen Mark Larabee Advocacy Director Pacific Crest Trail Association Robert Brenlin Owner Latona Pub/Hopvine Pub /Fiddlers Inn Curt Soper Vice President Washington Association of Land Trusts Julian Matthews Coordinator Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment (Pullman) Arthur (R.D.) Grunbaum President Friends of Grays Harbor (Westport) Becca Gray and Nate Schons Owners Island Hoppin' Brewery (Orcas Island) David Page Executive Director Winter Wildlands Alliance Kevin and Meghann Quinn Owners Bale Breaker Brewing Company (Yakima) Monika Wieland Shields Director Orca Behavior Institute (Friday Harbor) Michael DeCramer Policy and Planning Manager Washington Trails Association Pat Hesselgesser Chair Washington Council of Trout Unlimited Steve Erickson Restoration Ecologist Whidbey Environmental Action Network (Langley) Janet Strong President Grays Harbor Audubon Society (Montesano) Jasmine Minbashian Executive Director Methow Valley Citizens Council (Twisp) Pete Tryon President Nooksack Nordic Ski Club (Bellingham)