Cross-country skiers at Friends of a Fierce Chase, a popular Nordic ski area in Monson, Maine, may have noticed some significant upgrades this year, including new signage supported by the Center to help folks navigate the newly improved network.

The Center provided $5,000, secured from the RK Mellon Foundation, to enable the ski network to put this finishing touch on its major overhaul of the trails.

“We’re very excited about the new signs!” said John Chase, board president at Friends of a Fierce Chase Cross Country Ski Trails. “Many of the skiers have expressed gratitude and are excited about now being very confident in finding their way on our trail system. Thank you again for your donation!” The Maine Community Foundation also helped fund the signage project, which cost $12,000.

The trail network used a $40,000 grant from the Maine Recreation Trail Program to advance its long-term environmental stewardship of the trail infrastructure. It made the network more climate resilient through better management of surface water runoff. The project included the installation of 32 oversized culverts, eight bridges, more than two miles of ditching, and eight large catchment basins that will act as vernal pools to enhance amphibian population. “These trail improvements enhance our all-season capacity,” said Chase, noting that hikers, mountain bikers, and runners all use the trails in the offseason.

“This project is just one of several we are lending support to in the Moosehead region,” said Joe Fox, the Center’s outdoor recreation manager. “We recently completed an intensive outdoor recreation investment strategy for the region working with local partners and have identified several actionable projects that will provide real benefit to both the local community and visitors upon implementation.”

The Moosehead Outdoor Recreation Investment Strategy, or “MORIS,” was funded through the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation and the RK Mellon Foundation and is intended to help guide strategic investment in the region’s outdoor recreation economy for the coming three to five years.

The goal of MORIS is to help organizations succeed in raising funds for important local and regional projects. The framework was based on regional asset mapping, a recreational users survey, community engagement, and the insight and perspectives of Northern Forest Center staff and a local project steering committee.

“The MORIS project is an example of how the Center builds local capacity by contributing resources and hands-on assistance to address community priorities. I look forward to sharing news about some of the other great projects we will be supporting in the region in the near future,” said Fox.

To learn more about MORIS, visit:  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/609ee14bf4024b5db706d5d2af031665/page/INTRODUCTION?org=CommunityGIS