MUT RTP Grant RT-16015

BACKGROUND:  The multi-use trail (MUT) is approximately 85 miles of connecting trails in the Sam Houston National Forest.  It is open to many types of users including cyclists, hikers, equestrians, and motorized, with predominant use by off-highway vehicles less than 50" wide.  The MUT was officially designated in the late 1980s / early 1990s by the USFS surveying and adopting popular user-created trails.  The routes were not professionally designed.  As a result, the trail was laid out in less than ideal locations for long term sustainability.  Coupled with heavy rain events since 2015, this has resulted in severe erosion, trail washouts, and multiple bridges being compromised.  

SCOPE:  This grant will be used to rehabilitate the Westside Multi-use Trail.  The funds will address trail reroutes, tread repairs, and water controls to achieve better sustainability and weather tolerance.  The grant will also be used to begin the bridge replacement planning and allow for volunteer training.  The majority of bridges, trailheads, and signage will be renovated under the next RTP grant which was awarded by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) in 2022 (see Future Projects page).

Sam Houston Trails Coalition Project Team:

o Jeff Heller – Project Lead - mut.projectmanager@samhoustontrails.com

o Bill Elwell – Project Co-lead and Engineer Advisor

o Linda Secrist – SHTC President

o James Gunter – Motorized Representative 

o Heather Spencer – USFS Liaison

COMPLETED PROJECT TASKS:

• August 2022:  Grant transferred from USFS to Sam Houston Trails Coalition

• Oct-Dec 2022:  Collaborated with National Forest Foundation (NFF) to implement Polaris funded improvements to Kelly's Pond Trail north of bridge 35

  • https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/polaris-and-nff-team-up-to-restore-multi-use-trails-on-the-sam-houston-national-forest

• Dec 2022-Feb 2023:  USFS contracted Westside Trail Assessment and report

• Feb 2023:  Sponsor grant match of $100,000 achieved

• July 2023:  TPWD awards $100,000 OHV grant supplement

• December 2023:  Phase II rehabilitation of Kellys Pond Trail from the trailhead to bridge 35

• November 2023:  Tracked Equipment Operator training and certification

• October 2024:  Advanced Trail Building Training/Culvert replacement South Balloon

• March 2025: Phase III of NFF/Polaris rehabilitation of Kellys Pond Trail to FM 1375 completed

• October 2025: Repair of bridge 28 and replacement of bridge 41 completed

• October 2025: Tread Repairs completed on Honeymoon & South Woodpecker; 1 mile of tread rehab and hardening Woodpecker

KELLY'S POND TRAIL BEFORE AND AFTER

NEXT STEPS:

• USFS Heritage Survey clearances.  Until the clearances are done, repair activity is limited to the existing trail tread and areas with prior clearance.

• Complete additional tread rehab on Westside MUT as remaining grant funds allow