Repair and rehabilitate Flat Top National Recreational Trail | P18AS00100

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) to repair and rehabilitate the Flat Top National Recreation Trail through a cooperative agreement. The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00100.

Who is offering the grant?

The opportunity was announced by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

What is the project trying to accomplish?

The core purpose is major restoration work that improves trail sustainability, user safety, and resource protection on the Flat Top National Recreation Trail. The work is intended to keep the trail passable and enjoyable while reducing ongoing maintenance needs and minimizing impacts to surrounding ecosystems.

Why does the Flat Top Trail need rehabilitation?

The trail experiences heavy use and has substantial elevation change (about 1,600 feet), scenic viewpoints, and shifting forest ecology. Those factors contribute to wear and tear and create a need for long-term, sustainable maintenance and restoration.

What makes the Flat Top Trail significant?

The Flat Top Trail is recognized as a National Recreation Trail. This designation reflects its value in connecting people to nearby resources and supporting quality-of-life benefits through outdoor access.

What kind of restoration work is included in the scope?

The scope centers on correcting drainage and erosion issues and stabilizing the trail. Key elements include work along roughly 10,000 linear feet of trail, installation or refreshing of waterbars, trail hardening and stabilization (such as cribbing and tread rebuilds), step work in steep sections, and targeted safety and environmental actions like hazardous tree removal, creek crossing improvements, and invasive vegetation removal.

How much trail is expected to be addressed?

The opportunity describes addressing drainage and erosion issues along roughly 10,000 linear feet of trail.

What are waterbars, and how many are planned?

Waterbars are trail drainage features that divert water off the trail tread to reduce rutting, gullying, and washouts. The project includes installing or refreshing approximately 100 waterbars.

What problems are the drainage and erosion fixes meant to prevent?

The drainage and erosion work is intended to prevent further trail degradation and to limit sediment movement into surrounding habitats and waterways.

What trail hardening or stabilization methods are mentioned?

The opportunity mentions reinforcing trail edges with rock or log cribbing, adding tread material to rebuild worn surfaces, and adding or renovating steps in steep sections to reduce slippage and trail widening caused by users trying to avoid difficult spots.

What safety improvements are part of the project?

Safety-related tasks include removing hazardous trees that could threaten visitors or work crews, improving creek crossings to make them safer and more resilient during high water events, and improving steep sections with step work to reduce slipping and unsafe bypassing.

What environmental or resource-protection actions are included?

Environmental and resource-protection actions include addressing erosion and sediment movement, removing invasive vegetation to protect native plant communities, and implementing drainage improvements that reduce impacts to habitats and waterways near the trail corridor.

Who will perform the on-the-ground work?

Work is expected to be carried out primarily by National Park Service day labor staff. The work will be supported by an American Conservation Experience (ACE) intern crew, and volunteers may assist if available.

What is the size and duration of the ACE intern crew support?

The ACE intern crew is described as one crew leader and five team members for an eight-week period.

Is volunteer participation part of the plan?

Yes. Volunteers may assist if they are available, according to the opportunity description.

What type of award instrument is expected?

The opportunity indicates the project would be implemented through a cooperative agreement.

What is the award ceiling?

The funding listing identified an award ceiling of $39,840.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The listing was created on August 22, 2018, and it originally closed on August 31, 2018.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants were described as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education) and other entities as clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.

What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?

The funding activity category was Natural Resources under CFDA 15.931, reflecting a focus on conserving and sustaining public land recreational infrastructure and related natural resources.

What outcomes is the project designed to achieve?

Based on the described scope, intended outcomes include improved trail sustainability, better user safety, reduced erosion and sediment transport, more resilient creek crossings, protection of native plant communities through invasive vegetation removal, and reduced long-term maintenance needs.

What kinds of trail damage or user impacts are being addressed?

The work targets rutting, gullying, washouts, slippage in steep areas, and trail widening that occurs when users try to avoid difficult or degraded spots. The project also addresses hazards like dangerous trees and challenges at creek crossings during high water.

How does this project support public benefits?

The Flat Top Trail is valued for outdoor access and quality-of-life benefits. The rehabilitation work is intended to keep the trail usable and enjoyable while protecting the surrounding resources that visitors come to experience.