Ross Creek Cedars renovation project may get green light

U.S. Forest Service officials have received word from Washington, D.C., that a proposed renovation of Ross Creek Cedars is on the shortlist for approval.

Chad Benson, Kootenai National Forest supervisor, told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7 that funding through the Great American Outdoors Act may be forthcoming for the project. In anticipation of approval, Benson said Forest Service officials were doing preliminary assessments of the scenic area.

“Presolicitation is to get folks to go out and look at it before snow flies,” he told commissioners.

Signed into law by President Donald Trump on Aug. 4, the Great American Outdoors Act earmarks nearly $3 billion annually to conservation efforts, outdoor recreation and the maintenance of national parks and public lands. The act permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million per year and will set aside up to $1.9 billion annually for maintenance projects on federal lands for the next five years.

During a September meeting of the board of commissioners, Benson said he had tentatively earmarked around $750,000 to renovate the Ross Creek area. Most of the work would be concentrated in the parking lot, which sees the most use, according to Benson.

He said officials also plan to put up more signage in the area to keep recreationists from getting lost near the grove.

Benson said during the Oct. 7 meeting that Forest Service officials hope to have a better grasp on the finances available for the project in November.