Funding Opportunity for Trail Projects
In previous years the Waterman Fund has discussed providing larger grant awards towards trail projects to better serve the mission of the Fund. The Fund has cumulatively awarded over $22,000 towards trail projects since 2002, consisting of only 11% of the total grants awarded. These individual grants have been generally between $2,000- $3,000. As a result, the Fund has not been able to invest a significant amount of funding towards trail projects.
In recent dialogue with land managers, trail maintainers, and researchers there appears to be a need to invest into the greater alpine trail infrastructure. This improved trail infrastructure will help protect the fragile alpine ecosystem that surrounds these trails.
In the 2019-20 grant cycle, the Waterman Fund is offering up to $15,000 towards alpine / sub-alpine trail reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. This grant will be in addition to our annual grants awarded and will follow the same guidelines and parameters.
We encourage nonprofit trail maintenance organizations to apply to the Waterman Fund if there is a trail project that the Fund can contribute to. The Fund is excited to offer this expanded opportunity to help strengthen trail stewardship in the alpine areas of Northeastern North America. Please submit a grant application by December 15, 2018 to grants@watermanfund.org.
Mt. Mansfield Field Trip
July 13th, 2018
9am – 3pm
Join Waterman Fund board members and field staff of the Green Mountain Club atop Mt. Mansfield. We will ascend via the toll road and then hike the remaining 1.3 miles to the summit. Along Mansfield’s sweeping alpine ridge-line we will be reviewing recent Waterman Fund grant work and highlighting stewardship work of the GMC Summit Caretaker Program that is about to enter it’s 50th year! Moderate hiking involved. There is no fee for the field trip. Lunch will be provided.
We will meet at 9am at the Toll House off Rt. 108, Stowe, VT.
Space is limited. To reserve, leave a message by July 6th for Will Kemeza at wkemeza@gmail.com or 978-201-0791.
This is a weather-dependent event.
The Waterman Fund Opposes Proposed Cog Railway Hotel
The Waterman Fund was alarmed to hear of the Cog Railway’s proposal to build a 35-room hotel in the alpine zone of Mount Washington. This development would threaten the spirit of wildness found in New Hampshire’s alpine areas and raises significant concerns pertaining to the impact on surrounding ecological communities. While no formal application to build the hotel has been submitted to the Coos County Planning Board, we are monitoring this situation, in discussion with other like-minded organizations regarding our concerns, and will keep our supporters updated as to how they can become involved in the process if and when an application moves forward.