The Pennsylvania Water Trails Program, a collaborative effort by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the National Park Service, aims to enhance recreational water access across the Commonwealth. This program aligns with its partners' missions by fostering sustainable use of natural resources and increasing both physical and psychological access to Pennsylvania's waterways. A pilot project within this program offers grants of $2000 to address urgent, unforeseen situations that impact access or safety on designated water trails.
The program primarily targets all Pennsylvanians, aiming to provide them with increased recreational opportunities on water trails. The impact goals are multifaceted, focusing on developing trails that support sustainable resource use, improving access for all, and connecting water trails to land trails. The grants are specifically designed to quickly resolve issues that impede access, create unsafe conditions, affect ingress/egress, or threaten the completion of access improvement projects.
The program's priorities and focuses include creating recreational opportunities, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and enhancing accessibility for all users. The pilot project specifically prioritizes addressing critical issues such as storm-induced damage (scouring, flooding, debris), fallen trees or other large obstructions impacting navigation or planned events, major in-water litter issues before community events, unforeseen events threatening the completion of funded access improvement projects, and the destruction of critical safety or wayfinding signs.
Expected outcomes include improved safety and accessibility on designated water trails, the timely resolution of emergent issues, and the continuation of planned water trail activities. Measurable results would involve the number of critical incidents resolved, the restoration of safe access points, and the successful completion of otherwise jeopardized access improvement projects. This swift response mechanism embodies a strategic priority of maintaining and enhancing the usability and safety of Pennsylvania's water trail network, reflecting a theory of change that by addressing immediate threats, the long-term enjoyment and environmental stewardship of these resources can be sustained.
