The pinnacle creek watershed in west virginia is an ecologically significant area containing designated criticalhabitat for the federally endangered guyandotte river crayfish

The landscape within the watershed is almostexclusively privately owned and is managed for mineral extraction, hunting and fishing, and for the popularhatfield mccoy trails off-road vehicle trail system. All of these interests experience challenges related to watermanagement, trail delineation and maintenance that affect both aquatic wildlife and overall stream health. Treadlightly! Proposes a comprehensive project aimed at addressing these issues through a combination of traildesign improvements and advanced water management strategies. This project will involve the procurement of contractual services for professional trail design and water management consulting, as well as the necessary supplies and equipment to execute the improvements effectively. Another key component of the project is the acquisition of a lightweight aluminum trailer that will facilitate the transport of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) essential for delivering the trail and water management work. This equipment will enable tread lightly! And US fish and wildlife service (service) staff and volunteers to transport tools and supplies into remote areas of the watershed not reachable with full sized vehicles. Successful completion of this project promises to yield improved trail infrastructure, safe and sustainable public access, and minimized erosion and degradation of the trail surface. Additionally, these water management practices will support the watersheds ecological health and resilience by reducing suspended sediment in the waterways, ultimately enhancing water quality and restoring in-stream habitat for the endangered guyandotte river crayfish. Funding from federal assistance will be instrumental in enabling tread lightly! To collaborate with the service to ensure that the watershed management practices are sustainable and beneficial to both the environment and the community. This initiative not only aligns with federal conservation goals but also promotes community involvement and awareness, reinforcing the importance of protecting natural resources for the vitality of aquatic life for both current and future generations.