2022 CDTC Annual Report

2022

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL COALITION ANNUAL REPORT

Photo by Kenny Gamblin

About the Annual Report

As a connector of landscapes, communities, and cultures, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) provides a setting for community members, decision makers, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone connected to the lands and waters of the Divide, to come together to discuss how to steward the vital natural, cultural, and historic resources found across its entirety. With this report, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition hopes to highlight the role of the cooperative stewardship model in the management of the CDT, what we accomplished in 2022, and what we are looking forward to in 2023.

Photo Credit EcoFlights

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In 2022, CDTC celebrated its 10th anniversary working in service of the communities and enthusiasts of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). The anniversary provided us the time to reflect on all we have accomplished in the past decade, and all the challenges we face and aspirations we hold for the future. And, we are excited about what the future holds! From the rag tag bunch of volunteers that met around dining room tables in 2012 to celebrating a National Monument designation along the CDT at Camp Hale in 2022, we remain true to our humble beginnings and our commitment to show up, roll up our sleeves and get to work on behalf of the CDT!

After 10 years of operation, we have so much to show. We built an organization that started with a “budget” of $4, and in 2022, our income surpassed $1.9 million. In 2012, we were all volunteers and now we have 15 full-time employees, seasonal capacity support, and a 15-person active and engaged Board of Directors. In 2012 with the CDT only 60% complete, we dreamt big about closing gaps and completing the Trail, and in 2022 we finalized the New Mexico State Land Easement that helped permanently protect nearly 60 miles of the CDT and move the Trail to 96% complete. We’ve grown and matured our programming to engage communities and partners along all 3,100 miles of the CDT, and we went from a map-less CDT in 2012 to a free downloadable map-set and planning guide, and multiple platforms and apps with digital mapping. The CDT was officially signed for the first time in its entire 40 years with our Blaze the CDT Campaign in 2018 and we’ve since secured funding for trail signage along the CDT in perpetuity. And most importantly of all, the CDT has over 40 partner organizations and youth corps, over 150 Trail adopters, 21 designated Gateway Communities and a network of advocates that love not just the CDT, but the landscapes it connects. All of these amazing accomplishments, especially those that you helped us achieve in 2022, have enabled us to more fully realize the vision of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail set out by Congress before it was even a reality.

The vision for a trail along the Continental Divide was first imagined in the 1966 Trails for America Report, published just before the passage of the National Trails System Act. Among the details of the significance of a trail along this corridor, the Report describes that the Trail experience would be “an intimate one, for one can walk or ride horseback across vast fields of wildflowers and contemplate a story dating from the dawn of earth’s history. This story began when a portion of the earth was thrust upward, creating the sharp precipitous peaks that were sculptured into rich landforms

leaving sparkling lakes, crystal-clear streams, and myriads of cascading waterfalls. Along the way, the tranquility of the alpine meadows, verdant forests and semi-desert landscape overwhelms everyone who passes that way. The trail would provide the traveler their best encounter with the Continental Divide — its serenity and pure air — and would supply for every trail traveler some of the world’s most sublime scenes.”

As we look back on the first decade of our work, I often reflect on these words. Over the past 10 years you have helped us build a strong foundation that will allow us to excel in our next 10, 20, 30 years and beyond, and to continue to meet the vision set out for the CDT before there was a Trail, and way before there was a CDTC. The challenge has been ours to embrace, and this past year we began to fully realize our potential to meet the vision set forth by Congress and the American People in 1978 when the CDT was officially designated. As we look both back and forward and set in our sights a very bright future for the CDT, we hope you will take a look at our annual report and see not just the accomplishment of the past, but how you can help us invest in our future, and the future of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. As always, thank you for all you have done on behalf of the CDT, we look forward to having you by our side as we march toward our second decade of cooperative stewardship along the backbone of America.

Teresa Ana Martinez Executive Director Continental Divide Trail Coalition

CDT OVERVIEW

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail climbs and descends along the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada, traversing 3,100 miles of the most dramatic and wild lands along the backbone of America. More than just a trail, the Continental Divide is an incredibly biodiverse and unique landscape that connects cultures and communities through the healing properties of the outdoors.

1968

History of the CDT

The National Trails System Act creates a system of National Scenic, Historic, and Recreational Trails.

1978

Congress passes the National Parks and Recreation Act, designating the CDT as the third National Scenic Trail and making the Forest Service its lead administering agency.

2009

The USFS amends the CDT Comprehensive Management Plan, providing direction for local management.

2012

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is founded to complete, promote, and protect the CDT.

2020

Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act secures permanent funding for completion of the CDT through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

2021

The CDT Completion Act is introduced to Congress to prioritize completion of the CDT by 2028.

2022

CDTC celebrates 10-years of working in service of the communities and enthusiasts of the CDT.

Kate Bobal

CDTC’S 2ND DECADE OF STEWARDSHIP

In 2022, CDTC celebrated its 10th anniversary working in service of the communities and enthusiasts of the CDT. As we reflect back on our first decade of stewardship, we are excited about the work ahead to complete, protect, and promote the CDT in our 2nd Decade of Stewardship. 2023 2033

15 full-time CDTC staff are located along the entirety of the trail, with interns, fellows, and seasonal positions supporting ongoing projects.

The CDT is 95% complete. CDTC participates in standing working groups across the trail on the major gap areas. CDT Completion

CDTC holds a memorandum of understanding with USFS, BLM, and NPS recognizing CDTC as the lead private partner in the completion, protection, and promotion of the CDT.

Cooperative Management

CDTC strengthens our presence along the trail, continuing to regionalize operations and to connect with the work important to Continental Divide communities.

The CDT is 100% complete. CDTC works with partners and communities to continue to optimize the trail route for the CDT Experience, and create more opportunities for connection and access.

CDTC continues to strengthen relationships with traditional partners, and bolsters community-led stewardship centering Indigenous nations, Divide communities, and groups that have been historically excluded from the benefits of the outdoors in the management of the CDT.

CDTC has 18 field projects in 2022 across all 5 states.

Trail Stewardship

USFS, BLM, CDTC, youth corps, and other stewardship organizations partner to “Blaze the CDT,” marking the trail in its entirety for the first time in 2018.

Trail Promotion

Lander & South Pass City, WY becomes the 20th designated CDT Gateway Community.

Community & Outreach

500 - 700 hikers attempt to thru-hike the CDT annually, with the growing popularity of public lands brings thousands of new recreationists and international travelers to the CDT.

Popularity of the CDT

CDTC facilitates a robust community-based stewardship program that encourages local projects to enhance the CDT led by volunteers, recreationists, partners, Gateway Communities, youth, and other CDT enthusiasts.

CDTC works to ensure trail signage, trailhead kiosks, trail markers, and other access information educates and encourages the CDT Experience as one that is accessible and enjoyable for all.

Communities along the Continental Divide feel connected to each other in their stewardship of the CDT, and are able to share challenges and opportunities to embolden the resiliency of the Divide communities and landscapes.

The use of the CDT continues to grow and diversify, welcoming an evergrowing number of first time CDT travelers, new user groups, and even locals to explore the National Scenic Trail in their own backyard.

CDTC Growth

Hike the Hill 2022

CDTC participated in the 25th annual Hike the Hill in coordination with partners like American Hiking Society and other members of the Partnership for the National Trail System. CDTC met with more than 20 decision makers from each of the five CDT states to celebrate major accomplishments like CDTC’s Return on Investment in 2022 and the recent designation of the Camp Hale - Continental Divide National Monument. We also met with agency leadership in the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service to discuss trail completion, equity in the outdoors, pathways to conservation careers, and climate resilience on the CDT.

Continental Divide Trail Completion Act

The CDT Completion Act was included in the House National Defense Authorization Act and a bipartisan CDT Completion Act was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Heinrich (NM) and Senator Daines (MT). CDTC helped gather over 60 endorsements for the bill. We look forward to movement on this bipartisan bill in 2023!

Agency Planning 2022

In 2022, CDTC participated in the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Cibola, Santa Fe, Carson, and Gunnison Grand Mesa Uncompahgre National Forest Plans. Our responses were informed by exciting new reports like the Connecting Across the Continent Report and CDTC’s 2022 Small Business Survey, which help to inspire the future of our work.

Camp Hale - Continental Divide National Monument Designation

In October 2022, President Biden designated Camp Hale–Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado, marking the first National Monument designation by the administration, on the lands of the Ute people. The designation came after leaders from Colorado, including Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, Governor Polis, and Representative Neguse, sent a letter to President Biden urging for protections of this area in August, following a visit from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to Camp Hale. This designation includes some of the most treasured landscapes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains – including over 20 miles of the CDT!

Camp Hale and the Continental Divide landscape are one of four landscapes identified for protections in the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act, a piece of legislation that is the result of over a decade of collaboration with Colorado stakeholders. Included in the National Monument designation are the Camp Hale National Historic Site and the surrounding natural landscape, including the Tenmile Range and over 20 miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. This section of the 3,100-mile trail that spans from Mexico to Canada acts as a primary habitat and connective corridor for wildlife, as well as a continuous footpath for recreationists and others hoping to explore the scenic ridgeline trail between Leadville and Breckenridge.

Photo by CDTC Staff

Official White House

Photo by Adam Schultz

VOLUNTEER & FIELD OPERATIONS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Muddy Pass Priority Gap

An area near Muddy Pass, CO continues to be a top priority for trail completion efforts by CDTC, as the trail is now 96% complete. In this area, CDT travelers are diverted onto a busy highway to roadwalk between patchworks of available public lands. CDTC has secured funding to hire a seasonal intern in 2023 to work in full dedication to this project and to help build local support.

New Mexico State Lands Easement Acquisition - COMPLETE!

After years of work and dedicated support from The Conservation Alliance and our members, CDTC completed the permanent easement acquisition of 74 parcels of New Mexico State Lands to the Bureau of Land Management. As a result, 100% of the CDT in the state of New Mexico is on permanently protected public lands. In addition to permanent protections, the easement acquisition accomplishes the following:

1) CDTC and agency partners can more easily address trail maintenance and other impacts and improvements to the CDT

2) Future risk of development or resource extraction along these sections of the CDT is now mitigated

3) Permit requirements to access these sections of the CDT have been eliminated

As we move into our second decade of work along the CDT, volunteer and field projects remain the lifeblood of CDTC. Combined, CDTC and its partners provided over 76,000 volunteer hours valued at $2.29M in 2022 alone, collectively matched the federal funding allocation 10:1. We now have over 500 partners and volunteers committed to stewarding the CDT for the next generation and we are continually re-imagining ways to create more accessibility in our trail projects. CDTC is committed to ensuring communities and individuals are a central part of the work to protect and maintain the CDT, and we consistently provide education and skills-based training to hundreds of individuals along the trail each year. We are immensely grateful and thank our volunteers for all you do on behalf of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

Trail Condition and Cultural Resource Assessments

In 2022, CDTC launched a multi-year effort to collect detailed and accurate information regarding the condition of the CDT. This data will inform the State of the Trail Report which CDTC and agency partners use to prioritize maintenance and construction work along the trail. Additionally, in partnership with Amanda Grace from the US Forest Service, CDTC launched a Cultural Assessment of the CDT to better understand the ancestral significance of the CDT landscape to Indigenous peoples, and to inform our future trail completion work.

2021 Field Programs Accomplishments

65,818 feet of trail corridor cleared

1,100 feet of trail reconstructed

353 Trail Adopters 65 cairns or structures built

RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CDTC 2022 Small Business Report

CDTC surveyed 136 small business owners in 38 communities located along the Continental Divide Trail to learn more about how the CDT impacts their businesses, the local economy, and their support for public lands.

90% believe protecting, promoting, and enhancing public lands is important to the wellbeing of businesses, jobs, and their community’s economy

78% believe protecting, promoting, and enhancing the Continental Divide Trail is important to the well-being of businesses, jobs, and their community’s economy.

80% have seen growth in business in their community at large due to use of the Continental Divide Trail Since 2014

70% support the 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, a goal aligned with the federal America the Beautiful Initiative

70% report that trail users spend money and have a positive impact on their revenue

Business Member Focus Group

Opportunities:

1. Trail Completion

2. Infrastructure & Transportation Investment

3. Promotion & Education of the Importance of the CDT

Challenges:

1. Trail Connectivity & Completion

2. Extreme Weather Events (wildfire, flood, etc.)

3. Creating Opportunities to Connect & Educate

Kate Bobal

OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Latino Conservation Week 2022

CDTC participated in a series of 5 events for Latino Conservation Week in partnership with the Hispanic Access Foundation, including a family picnic and overnight all-girls float trip! “As a Latina-led conservation organization, CDTC celebrates the intersectional power that can affect real change in our communities and landscapes, and we are grateful for every opportunity to help support connections between the people of the Continental Divide and its greenspaces and waters.”

-Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of CDTC

3rd Annual Gateway Community Summit

We hosted the 3rd annual Gateway Community Summit for communities throughout the Rocky Mountain West. The 2-day virtual summit provided conversations and trainings on ways communities can contribute to and benefit from the completion, promotion and protection of the Continental Divide Trail.

Pride on the Divide

2022 marked the inaugural Pride on the Divide! Throughout the month of June, CDTC celebrated the LGBTQIA2S* members of the Divide and trail community. CDTC participated in celebrations trail wide and designed celebratory stickers.

Indigenous Youth Hiking Group

In 2022, CDTC launched the first Indigenous Youth Hiking Group in partnership with the Pueblo of Acoma and El Malpais National Monument. Throughout the 4-week series, Acoma youth learned about ancestral significance of the landscape, Leave No Trace principles, and conducted a public ‘Indigenous Star Stories’ event in connection with the Monument’s Dark Sky Initiative. As we look to 2023, CDTC hopes to expand this program to the Zuni Pueblo as well.

Connecting Across the Continent

The Connecting Across the Continent (CATC) Report was created to provide the CDT as an anchor for bold, innovative landscape conservation outlined in the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. The CATC Report highlights the natural features like the remoteness and biodiversity along the divide, the need for inclusive consultation in addressing access and representation, and offers the success of the cooperative stewardship on the CDT as a model for future conservation efforts. Read the report at: bit.ly/cdtc-catc

Laura Flores

FISCAL SUMMARY

Total Expenses by Program Area by Year

Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2022

Kenny Gamblin

Strategic Planning

$46,122 in 2019, most recent year

INCOME Year-Over-Year

Geographic Information System

$34,191

Shuttle

$64,931

Trail Management

$259,860

Volunteer Stewardship

$107,363

Trail Info/Outreach

$143,383

Community

$80,247

Advocacy

$57,475

Membership & Development

$145,041

Special Events

$50,118

General Administration

$305,839

Thank you to all our supporters!

With your help, CDTC’s work to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail has never been stronger. Thank you so much to all of our members and partners who make the CDT community so vibrant!

Teresa Martinez Executive Director

TMartinez@continentaldividetrail.org 303-996-2759

Lauren Murray Director of Development LMurray@continentaldividetrail.org 720-378-0106

Steven Shattuck Director of Operations

SShattuck@continentaldividetrail.org 303-775-4572

CDTC General Information info@continentaldividetrail.org 303-996-2759

Mike Fuhrmann