Road Improvement Challenge Stopped by Alliance of Local Non-profits

Sedona News – In September 2024, the US Forest Service announced a budget cut on the order of $750 million. One of the remedial measures taken by the agency is the national ban on hiring part-time workers.

In the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, its 411-miles of non-fire-friendly recreational trails are maintained by a 16-person seasonal crew, with support from members of the Friends of the Forest and citizens on public volunteer days.

The seasonal crew consists of trained staff who reside at the Red Rock Ranger District from October until the end of April each year. They work under the supervision of permanent USFS crew chiefs. At the end of the season, individual workers move on to assignments in other national forests or other seasonal jobs. Many return to Red Rock County year after year.

Generally, the district’s seasonal workers are employed directly by the USFS and are largely supported by funding provided by Sedona Red Rock. Non-profit Trail Fund (SRRTF). A Fundraising Agreement with the federal agency allows the non-profit SRRTF to raise funds for the road in the Sedona and Oak Creek Village areas. This arrangement has made it possible to improve the roads and management of the forest for the last ten years.

The USFS’s decision to halt all hiring for 2025, just weeks before the start of the work season, has given dispersed workers a good-bye as they prepare to arrive in the Verde Valley for their 6 months. Many have been trained in special skills in the Red Rock environment. Without warning, they had to regroup to find other jobs and homes.

It was pointed out that the Forest Service does not allow interference when it is fully funded from outside like the SRRTF, but before the new law is enacted, five crew members were employed.

According to Dick Williams, president of the SRRTF, “When the decision came down, the Trail Fund Committee redoubled our commitment to help the Red Rock Ranger District preserve the season of much needed work, come hell or high water.” While the SRRTF Board of Directors was looking for a solution, one option arose to hire the workers elsewhere and “loan” them to the district. through the Volunteer Services Agreement.

This idea seemed to fit USFS regulations, and the SRRTF had the resources to fund the personnel. However, the SRRTF does not have enough staff and organized businesses to be employees.

Another Verde Valley non-profit, Wheel fun, came forward to offer help. Their mission is to provide free programs and mountain biking to children from various economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Because taking kids out on mountain bikes involves safe, accessible trails – Wheel Fun’s board greatly appreciates maintaining the Red Rock trail. Wheel Fun had important business associations, and offered to be partners.

In a few days, a contract was signed between the two non-profit committees of Wheel Fun that will hire and manage the workers and that the SRRTF will pay $ 360,000 for 24/ 25 seasons.

With a method and funding in place, the USFS staff moved into high gear, working around the clock to contact as many of the first crew as possible and recruit others to complete the crew. On December 4^th13 part-time SRRTF support crews were present.

According to the President of the SRRTF, Dick Williams, “This amazing work is a testimony to commitment and cooperation, like a Christmas miracle.” He explained, “It’s more than a collaboration of government and non-profits to find a way in the dark. The seasonal workers stayed calm, patient and jumped in as soon as they could.” This would not have been possible without the USFS-SRRTF’s longstanding partnership with the generous community of individual donors. business, and donors are providing ways to solve and solve difficult problems that were not imagined.”