US forest service's brown MTN purchase equipment mini-excavator

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded the North Carolina Department of Transportation $125,000 under the Recreational Trails Program (CFDA 20.219) on September 9, 2025, for the acquisition of a mini-excavator to support trail maintenance operations at the Brown Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area. The equipment will be utilized by NCDOT force account operators to maintain and improve motorized trail systems across national forests in North Carolina, including routine trail tread maintenance, drainage feature repairs, silt trap construction, and other standard trail preservation activities on Trails 2 and 9. Upon acquisition, the mini-excavator will become part of the permanent NCDOT equipment fleet for ongoing trail management.

This formula grant award, with an ultimate completion date of August 28, 2030, supports eligible equipment purchases under the Recreational Trails Program, which provides states with federal funds derived from motor fuel excise taxes to develop, maintain, and rehabilitate recreational trails serving both motorized and non-motorized users. The acquisition of specialized trail maintenance equipment directly aligns with the program's permissible uses for equipment purchases that enhance state capacity to perform cost-effective trail maintenance operations across federal, state, and local trail systems.

Project description

Maintenance for portions of trails 2 and 9 in the brown mountain off highway vehicle area. Purchase of a mini-excavator to maintain & improve off highway vehicle (OHV) system trail tread, drainage features, silt traps, and other routine trail maintenance on the motorized trail system. This equipment would allow force account equipment operators to more effectively perform routine maintenance on motorized trails across the national forests in north carolina and specifically at the brown mountain OHV area. IT would become part of the US forest service equipment fleet.