Sedona News – In September 2024, the U.S. Forest Service announced a budget shortfall on the order of $750 million. One of the remediation measures enacted by the agency was a national suspension of hiring seasonal workers.
In the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, its 411-miles of non-motorized recreational trails are maintained by a 16-member seasonal crew, along with support from the Friends of the Forest members and citizens at public volunteer days.
The seasonal crew is comprised of trained workers who are resident in the Red Rock Ranger District from October through the end of April each year. They work under the supervision of permanent USFS crew chiefs. At the end of the season, the individual workers move on to assignments in other national forests or other seasonal employment. Many return to the Red Rock District year after year.
Normally, the district’s seasonal workers are directly employed by the USFS and largely supported with funding provided by the non-profit Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund (SRRTF). A Collection Agreement with the federal agency allows the non-profit SRRTF to raise funds specifically for the trail system in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek areas. This arrangement has enabled upkeep of the trails and responsible stewardship of the forest for the past decade.
The USFS decision to suspend the hiring of all seasonal workers for 2025, just weeks before the beginning of the work season, effectively furloughed the dispersed workers as they were readying themselves to arrive in the Verde Valley for their 6-month hitch. Many are trained in skills specific to Red Rock environment. Without warning, they had to regroup to seek other employment and housing.
It was learned that the Forest Service would not allow exceptions where full funding was provided from an outside source such as the SRRTF, however prior to enactment of the new policy, five crew members were hired.
According to Dick Williams, president of the SRRTF, “When the decision came down, the Trail Fund board doubled down on our determination to help the Red Rock Ranger District save the much-needed work season, come hell or high water.” As the SRRTF board searched for a solution, one possibility came up whereby the workers would be employed by a third party and “loaned” to the district through a Volunteer Services Agreement.
This concept appeared to meet USFS regulations, and the SRRTF had the resources to fund the workers. However, the SRRTF lacked the staff and business structures to become the employer.
Another Verde Valley non-profit, Wheel fun, came forward to offer help. Their mission provides free programs and mountain bikes to kids from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and identities. As getting kids outdoors on mountain bikes involves safe, accessible trails – Wheel Fun’s board has a great appreciation for maintaining the extensive Red Rock trail system. Wheel Fun had the essential business structures in place, and offered to become the employer partner.
In a matter of days, a contract was signed between the two non-profit boards that Wheel Fun would hire and administer the workers and SRRTF would cover the $360,000 cost for the 24/25 season.
With a method and funding in place, USFS staff shifted into high gear, working around the clock to contact as many of the original crew as possible and recruit others to complete the crew. By December 4th,13 SRRTF-supported seasonal crew were in place.
According to SRRTF President Dick Williams, “This remarkable feat is a testament to commitment and collaboration, like a Christmas miracle.” He explains, “It goes beyond government and non-profits working together to find a way in the dark. The seasonal workers kept their cool, were patient and jumped in as fast as they could to make up for the late start. This would not have been possible without the long standing USFS-SRRTF partnership and the generous community of individual donors, businesses, and grantors who provide the means to tackle and solve unexpected, difficult problems.”