News Releases from the Southern Research Station

Forest Service's Southern Research Station Receives $550,000 in ARRA Funding

Asheville, NC -- Southern Research Station (SRS) Director Jim Reaves announced today that the SRS will receive $550,000 to fund two economic recovery projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for roads and facilities maintenance. The funds are part of an additional $94.6 million in funding announced by Secretary Tom Vilsack on Aug. 18, 2009, to fund 105 Forest Service projects in 36 states.

"These road maintenance projects will provide for public health and safety, resource protection, and access to lands in the National Forests,” said Vilsack. “The rehabilitation of roads will improve water quality by reducing sediments in nearby streams and help to restore natural resources and habitat in areas impacted by deterioration and erosion of road surfaces.” 

SRS has received a total of $3.17 million in funding to fund five projects. The $550,000 in recently released funds will support a $300,000 project at the Henry R. Koen Experimental Forest and a $250,000 project at the Crossett Experimental Forest, both in Arkansas.   

“In addition to creating job opportunities in economically distressed areas, both projects will help in reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing energy efficiency, while generating additional tourism and stimulating local economies,” said Reaves. 

The Koen Experimental Forest project will provide construction jobs in economically distressed Newton County through energy upgrades to the Henry R. Koen Experimental Forest workshop facility. The project will renovate the building and install an energy-efficient HVAC system. It will also rehabilitate the heavily used interpretive trail around the Koen administrative site.

“The improved, handicapped-accessible interpretive trail will provide opportunities for the public to better understand the contributions of the Forest Service's experimental forests and the specific research activities conducted on the Koen Experimental Forest and Ozark-St. Francis National Forest,” said Reaves.

The Crossett Experimental Forest Laboratory project will provide construction jobs through renovations to the facility located in Ashley County. The project will renovate the 2,027-square-foot building to provide temporary quarters for visiting scientists conducting long-term research. The project will also increase the facility's energy efficiency through building enhancements and upgrades to the HVAC equipment.

The ARRA directs the Forest Service to improve, maintain, and renovate public and administrative facilities. Maintenance needs for these and other Forest Service projects were identified through studies of specific public facilities and their support of the primary outdoor activities provided on national forests and grasslands.

“Workers hired under ARRA will maintain facilities so that they contribute to safe, high-quality outdoor experiences for citizens,” said Reaves.  “Once work is completed, these buildings will be more energy efficient, use less water, have a smaller environmental footprint, and save taxpayers money.”

Information on other Forest Service ARRA projects and related economic recovery can be found at http://fs.usda.gov/recovery.

Additional information on the SRS and the work taking place at the19 experimental forests can be found at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/.

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