State of the Trail Report
Agencies
Assessment by County
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Background
In 1983, Congress amended the National Trails System Act, designating a corridor between the Chesapeake Bay and the Laurel Highlands in the upper Ohio River basin of western Pennsylvania for a "Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail." To date, three trails have been recognized as "official" segments: the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath, administered by the C&O Canal National Historical Park; the 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail, administered by George Washington Memorial Parkway; and the 75-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Secretary of the Interior was authorized to recognize additional components of the Trail upon application from the states or local government agencies if such segments would be managed at no expense to the United States.
Today, the concept of a Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT) is supported by citizen's organizations, towns, cities, county tourism offices, regional park and planning agencies, state agencies, and the National Park Service and other federal agencies. The PHT corridor designation provides an opportunity to create and maintain thematic and physical connections between and among local trail networks and associated educational and outdoor recreational resources; it is one of twenty-two national scenic and historic trails and trail corridors in the United States, and provides a window into the complexity of eastern biological communities and places synonymous with the history, culture, and evolution of the United States.
Ultimate realization of the PHT concept would include continuous recreational trails in counties adjacent to the Potomac River, and a network of side trails connecting to other scenic and historic resources in the corridor. This evolving network of trails provides a framework to tell the many stories of each region in the corridor to residents and visitors alike. Thus, the Potomac Heritage Trail would have many partners and many points of entry and exit, all in support of a consistently high-quality recreational and interpretive experience for people of all ages, abilities and interests.
While this concept has been eagerly embraced by numerous local and regional agencies and organizations, there are significant portions of the corridor that are not served by properly designated and managed trails and that have yet to explore how they might take advantage of the PHT legislation. For a local trail to become designated as an official segment of the PHT, a local government, state agency or other responsible entity must guarantee its long-term viability through development of a management plan. The organizational effort and financial commitment necessary to develop a credible management plan generally requires a sustained campaign by local supporters.
Corridor-Length Issues, Activities and Opportunities
Many issues, activities and opportunities that relate to the entire PHT corridor (or to major sections of it) are being addressed at the regional level. Organizations that have an interest in the entire system have initiated the programs outlined in the following paragraphs under the issue headings.
Identity: Because the PHT corridor passes through so many natural and man-made communities along its 425-mile length, and because it blends into the landscape, the issue of its physical identity is a concern. Tools are needed to help unify the corridor, on and off existing and potential PHT segments, to convey the basic concept and purposes of the PHT legislation. In response to this need, an official logo and brochure are under development, due for completion in 2001. Also, a system of wayside exhibits and trail markers are in the early stages of planning.
Research: The existence and longevity of the PHT is due in no small part to the abundance and significance of cultural and natural resources that are readily accessible in the corridor. For many, the stories and conservation components of many places are as compelling as the physical experience of walking, riding or paddling. There is concern that the body of knowledge about ecosystems, wildlife, scenery, communities and historic events is not as accessible as it might be, but that connections among local resources — through trail networks — can help to tell a variety of stories.
To this end, an interactive guide to the PHT corridor is being developed by the International Institute of Tourism Studies at George Washington University with support from an advisory committee and from the National Park Service. The project will provide users with an opportunity to construct a multi-dimensional guide organized by time, place and theme. The themes category, initially, will focus on Human Settlement/Ethnobiology, Agriculture and Fishing, Commerce and Transportation, and Conservation. With assistance from the Northern Neck Travel Council, a demonstration project will focus on the Northumberland, Westmoreland and King George counties.
Education: As with any set of natural and cultural resources, conservation efforts in the PHT corridor depend extensively on education as a continuous process. Those who live and travel within the watershed must have reliable and current information on the condition and requirements of resources in order to conduct their affairs in ways that will sustain the resources. To help address this need, the most recent PHT annual caucus included a description of an outline for an Interpretive Concept Plan being developed by the Potomac Heritage Partnership through a cooperative project with the National Park Service; examples being researched as part of this project illustrate the importance of local educational opportunities tied to regional themes.
Communication: Research and educational needs cannot be addressed without effective communication. This task has been at the heart of many PHT projects over the past five years (and lead to the formation of the Potomac Trail Council). Many established and traditional means of communication (e.g., maps, brochures, and news articles) have been in use over the years to further the goals of conservation organizations in the corridor. However, an emphasis on the exchange of information, including full use of World Wide Web technologies, is being developed and used to assist organizations and local governments associated with the PHT projects.
User Experience: Maximizing the range and intensity of the user experience is a vital aspect of public outreach to enrich lives and sustain the resources of the corridor. To advance this purpose, a reference guide to travel in the entire corridor was developed in 2000 and a template for wayside exhibits is currently being developed to enhance users' experiences.
Funding: Stable sources and adequate levels of income are needed to maintain trails in safe and inviting conditions, as well as to expand and extend the system to accommodate increasing numbers of users into the future. To address this need, the Potomac Heritage Partnership, through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, has developed a fund raising guide for communities and organizations in the PHT corridor. Additionally, the Potomac Trail Council is organizing a fund raising committee as part of the corridor assessment process.
Facility Management: Financial support must be effectively converted into physical improvement and maintenance on the ground over the length of each PHT segment — a formidable logistical and organizational challenge to crews working with often severely limited access and little reliance on machine power. The best use of resources under these constrained circumstances calls for a highly sophisticated and dedicated management approach.
The existing status of trail planning and development in the corridor is being documented by this Corridor Assessment. Combined with an emerging geographic information system (GIS) mapping and data base, this effort will provide needed tools for trail planning, monitoring and the most efficient application of Potomac Trail Council and member resources to local projects.
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