Great American Outdoors Act investments will advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to create good-paying, union jobs and build back better by improving recreation facilities, water and utility infrastructure, schools and other historic structures, as well as projects to increase visitor access by restoring and repairing roads, trails, bridges and parking areas.
The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration (LRF) fiscal year 2021 investments provided $26.1 million to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and National Park Service for projects in Alaska, including:
$19.27 million for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve to replace concessioner housing units. This project will address deferred maintenance, safety, and accessibility issues in the Glacier Bay Lodge concessions housing. It will allow the Lodge rooms to be returned to public-use and increase the economic viability of the Lodge.
$3.5 million for Campbell Creek Science Center to rebuild the parking lot to eliminate pedestrian-vehicle conflicts.
$1.9 million for Sourdough Campground Bridge to replace an aged road bridge that is deteriorating.
$636,000 for Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to modernize facilities and repair seismic issues for phase one of the design, which includes the replacement of water and sewer lines and seismic and architectural building rehabilitations.
$440,000 for Fort Egbert National Historic Landmark to remove asbestos and lead materials and repaint the exteriors of five buildings.
$276,000 for Glennallen Log Bunkhouse to dispose of unneeded buildings in poor and unrepairable condition.
$100,000 for Campbell Tract Recreation Access repairs to realign public trails to provide safer public access.
The LRF fiscal year 2022 investments provided $30.6 million to the Service and BLM for projects in Alaska, including:
$13.5 million to modernize outdoor recreational access facilities and transportation assets to eliminate deferred maintenance, improve the visitor experience, and increase pedestrian safety at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
$10.4 million to access repairs at White Mountains National Recreation Area. The project repairs the Nome Creek Road, which provides year-round access to the White Mountains National Recreation Area and sole access to Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. The 18-mile road will be repaired by grading and restoring lost aggregate and surfacing, repairing culverts to improve drainage, and repairing the site roads providing access to Mt. Prindle and Ophir Creek campgrounds and other spur roads.
$6.6 million to modernize facilities and repair seismic issues at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.