THE CHOUTEAU TRAIL
Page Two
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Gray Strickland
Email from Cherri Espersen...
I am the National Recreation Trail (NRT) Coordinator; and I received message from American Trails... The Jean Pierre Chouteau Trail was designated a NRT in 1980, but after doing some research, I found out that the US Army Corps of Engineers (Webbers Falls Lake) closed the trail due to high costs of maintenance, vandalism and accessibility.
Cherri Espersen
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW (Org Code 2235)
Washington, DC 20240-0001
202-354-6920
202-371-5179 (fax)
cherri_espersen@nps.gov
Email from SUSAN HENRY of OKLAHOMA TOURISM AND RECREATION DEPT.
I talked with the National Park Service and they said that the Corps has lots of vandalism (burning of bridges, etc.) and just could not maintain it anymore. They said that they requested that it be taken off the NRT designation.
If the Corps is interested in maintaining the trail, they can apply for funding through the Recreational Trails Program [of the Okla. Trourism and Recreation Dept.] -- we can award funds for trail restoration projects. Federal agencies can receive up to 95% fedeal funds for a project.
Susan Henry
Grants Administration
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Dept.
120 N. Robinson Ave., Ste. 600
Oklahoma City, OK 731021
405-230-8490
405-230-8580 fax
Email from FRANK VEKAS of OKLAHOMA SIERRA CLUB
I will forward [information about the Chouteau Trail] to the Green Country Group of the Oklahoma Sierra Club, specifically the outings leaders and see if we can provide some human power to this effort. No promises as we are a small group; however our members are dedicated.
Email from DAVID FRANKLIN, "Hiking Member" of TRAILS ADVISORY BOARD of the OLAHOMA TOURISM AND RECREATION DEPARMENT
I have forwarded your email to someone at the tourism deparment who might be able to help...
The problem of maintenance of trails is a chronic one, often the burden falls upon volunteer to user groups to help keep them in shape. I too hate to see a trail in the condition your pictures show on [this website]
Unfortunately, it is the role of the Trails Advisory Board to advise the Department of tourism have to disburse funds to nonprofit groups for construction of new trails only, and not for funding of maintenance needs... We have often discussed at our meetings how big an issue ongoing care for a trail is, and generally score new trail applications higher if they can't demonstrate and maintenance plan, but that is about all you have power to do as the board.as individuals, each of us are members of clubs that do trail maintenance. I know that for me personally, I'm a member of the Sierra Club and we do the bulk of our trail work in southeast Oklahoma on trails in the national Forest.