24 Jul Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Calcasieu Ranger District Educational Signage Installation

Project: Calcasieu Ranger District Educational Signage Installation
Project #46/50
State: Louisiana

Description: This project was funded by the Quadratec 50 for 50 Initiative. Together with Tread Lightly!, Quadratec has committed to fund a project to improve off-road trails and public lands in each state over 24 months. 

On June 19, 2024, two Forest Service employees and two youth conservation students conducted a “holiday workday” to install 15 Tread Lightly! educational signs along the Camp Claiborne OHV trail system located on the Kisatchie National Forest, Calcasieu Ranger District. There were also multiple locations where trash was collected for disposal.

The Camp Claiborne OHV trail system consists of over 80 miles of multi-use trails for ATVs, UTV, Dirt Bikes, and Horse Riders. There are three trail heads in which two of the trails are open to the public for all use of OHV and one trail open for single track and horse riders only. These trails are very popular for users who want to spend a day riding with friends and family.

Locals use these trails on a weekly basis, and many trail users from the southern part of the state travel over 100 miles because our district’s location is the closest public OHV trail system to them. Over the past four years, the Kisatchie National Forest has been targeted by a number of natural disasters including hurricanes, tornados, droughts, and wildfires which have affected many areas of the Forest. Since then, recovery and rehabilitation efforts have been top priority of the Forest Service. The Forest Service has made great process since these disasters, but there is still much work that needs to be completed.

Thank you to the following partners for their support:

• Quadratec
• Texas Conservation Core
• Venture Unknown

“One of the recovery efforts that the US Forest Service is perusing is replacing damaged or missing signages as a result of these natural disasters. The mission of this holiday workday was to install signs in locations where signs were previously but are now missing. Replacing these signs has resulted in many positive outcomes. Not only have the signs been replaced, but these specific signs from Tread Lightly! promotes a positive message to the public which educates the visitors to take care of our forest resources. I am pleased to say that these areas have now been improved for the public to enjoy! Thank you Quadratec and Tread Lightly! for helping to make this restoration project possible.”- Vincent Chatelain, Natural Resource Specialist, Kisatchie National Forest, Calcasieu R.D.

“Thank you to our partner Quadratec for their 50 for 50 funding support which has allowed us to make a positive impact in all 50 states this year. Their support, and the support of all Tread Lightly! partners is so important in helping us educate, remediate and repair both private and public lands and trails so that future generations can enjoy the beautiful lands available for motorized recreation.”- Lowell Eckart, Southeast Program Manager, Tread Lightly!

Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.