Proposed Repair and Connectivity Improvements of the Civil War Defenses of Washington Hiker/Mountain Biker Trail

The National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Parks - East proposes to repair and improve connectivity of the Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW) Hiker/Mountain Biker Trail. The proposed project area is a 7-mile hiker/mountain biker trail located in Southeast Washington, D.C. and would involve Fort Mahan, Fort Dupont, Fort Davis, Fort Stanton, and Fort Ricketts; all administrative units of National Capital Parks - East. The project would include tasks that improve connectivity of the trail system by creating connecting trail segments, installing new bridges and replacing several deteriorated bridges. Additional work items would also include the installation of standard motor vehicle prevention and the resurfacing of asphalt pavement. The project would also include installation of six prefabricated bridges (two new bridges, four replacements of existing bridges), 11 sections of new trail to improve connectivity, installation of 28 new vehicle prevention structures, and five areas where existing asphalt would be resurfaced. One new bridge would include the removal of the existing culvert and repairing the stream and riparian area. Overall we hope that the project will result in a net beneficial impact to historic resources by improving of public access to some of the city's most important historic sites. We intend to implement the project in a way that would fully respect the character-defining features of the Civil War forts and the transportation system that links these sites.

The Environmental Assessment (EA), which evaluates effects of the project, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), is now available for public review (December 4 - January 17). We plan to use the NEPA process to fulfill the requirement to take into account the effect of the undertaking on historic properties, as outlined in the implementing regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Contact Information

Kym Elder
Program Manager
Civil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Service
kym_elder@nps.gov
(202) 829-2161