Action Alert: Tell Congress to Reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund
Trails do not maintain themselves.
Across the country, public lands are facing a growing backlog of deferred maintenance on trails, trailheads, roads, bridges, campgrounds, visitor facilities, and other infrastructure that helps people get outside. Here in Tahoe, we see every day how important strong, sustained investment is to keeping public lands accessible, cared for, and ready for the millions of people who depend on them.
That is why the Tahoe Rim Trail Association is joining trail, recreation, and conservation partners across the country in urging Congress to reauthorize the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.
Authorized through the Great American Outdoors Act, the Legacy Restoration Fund provided dedicated funding from 2021 through 2025 to help federal land managers address long-overdue maintenance needs on public lands. That funding expired at the end of fiscal year 2025, but the work is far from finished.
The federal public lands maintenance backlog is now estimated at more than $40 billion nationwide. As trails and recreation sites see growing use, and as wildfire, erosion, storms, and other impacts continue to increase maintenance needs, falling behind is not an option.
The Tahoe Rim Trail depends on strong partnerships with federal, state, and local land managers. Federal investments like the Legacy Restoration Fund help support the infrastructure that makes outdoor access possible, from trails and trailheads to roads, bridges, signs, and visitor facilities. These investments also support the gateway communities and local economies that rely on healthy, well-maintained public lands.
There is bipartisan momentum in Congress right now. The America the Beautiful Act in the Senate and the Great American Outdoors Act 250 in the House would both extend Legacy Restoration Fund investments and help address critical maintenance needs across public lands.
Now we need your help.
Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund. Tell them why the Tahoe Rim Trail, public lands, and outdoor access matter to you. Ask them to work together and send this legislation to the president’s desk as soon as possible.
Your voice matters. Help us speak up for the trails and public lands we all love.
