Responsibility for maintenance and management of the Tuscarora Trail and PATC-owned corridor lands is vested with the Supervisor of Trails and the Supervisor of Lands. These elected officers are accountable to the Club through the Council and the President of the Club. These officers are administratively supported by a staff employee, the Trails Coordinator. Many of the maintenance and management responsibilities have been delegated by these officers to the District Managers of the Tuscarora Trail.
PATC Roles & Responsibilities
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is strongly committed to the principle of cooperative management and maintains close relations with each of its public and private partners. The Club has executed formal memoranda of agreement with the Shenandoah National Park and Jefferson & George Washington National Forest (see Appendix C), and other agreements that provide legal easement for the trail on private property. The Club also closely coordinates work plans and reports work accomplished to these and other partners. Most of the Club’s work is coordinated by its District Managers directly with each of its partners in their respective districts.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is not responsible for law enforcement; that is the responsibility of local law enforcement agencies.
Partners’ Roles & Responsibilities
National Park Service
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
The Park does not allow trail blazes for the Tuscarora Trail along the canal towpath. It has allowed one sign to be placed across the canal from the towpath where the trail heads north into Maryland and Pennsylvania. PATC has no formal agreement with the Park for the Tuscarora Trail.
USDA Forest Service
Jefferson & George Washington National Forest
The Service retains the primary authority and responsibility for the administration of the Tuscarora Trail within the Forest. The Lee Ranger District is the primary trail partner, acting on behalf of the Forest Supervisor. The Supervisor of Trails and/or representatives meet annually with the Lee Ranger District staff to coordinate trail work.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Bureau of Forestry—Buchanan State Forest (District #2) and Tuscarora State Forest (District #3)
The Bureau of Forestry is responsible for all trails and related structures on their land. Any volunteer working in commonwealth forests is considered a “Volunteer in the Forest” and is covered by workmen’s compensation should they be injured during their work. A form is available for registration at district offices. There is no restrictive chainsaw policy. The Bureau maintains a corridor 200 feet wide, centered on the trail, that is kept free from logging. PATC has no formal agreement for maintaining the Tuscarora Trail other than a Letter of Mutual Understanding signed by the PATC North Chapter in 2004 and returned to the Keystone Trails Association for transmittal to the Bureau of Forestry (see Appendix C).
Bureau of Parks—Colonel Denning State Park and Cowans Gap State Park
The Bureau of Parks is responsible for all trails and related structures on their land. PATC has no formal agreement for maintaining the Tuscarora Trail with the bureau.
Department of Transportation
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDoT) is responsible for all pedestrian crossings on commonwealth roads. In 2004, the Department initiated a new rule requiring a “Highway Occupancy Agreement” for all trails crossing PennDoT roads. The rule requires a professional engineering survey at each road crossing and also requires a bond be posted. The requirement is being protested by other trail-maintaining organizations in Pennsylvania. PATC has not yet been approached by PennDoT to fulfill the requirements of this rule. PATC has no formal agreements with PennDoT.
Game Commission
The Commission is responsible for a trails and structures on its lands. The Commission discourages hiking and trail maintenance on its lands during Turkey season. The Commission initiated a rule in 2005 that restricts access on state game lands between November 15 and December 15, (Sundays excluded) unless one is hunting and wearing at least 250 square inches of blaze-orange visible from all directions. PATC has no formal agreements with the Commission.
Keystone Trails Association
The Keystone Trails Association (KTA) is the umbrella organization for hiking and trail-maintaining clubs in Pennsylvania. KTA provides the interface with state government for trail related interests. PATC is a member of KTA, as is the PATC North Chapter.
Maryland
Department of Natural Resources
Forests, Parks, Fish & Wildlife; Wildlife & Heritage Service—Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area
The Wildlife and Heritage Service is responsible for all trails and related structures in wildlife management areas. PATC has no formal agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or its sub-agencies.
West Virginia
Division of Natural Resources
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area
The Division of Natural Resources retains the primary responsibility for the management of West Virginia wildlife management areas. Everyday management is delegated to the SCWMA Wildlife Manager, who administers the Tuscarora Trail and side trails through agreement with PATC’s Tuscarora Central district manager.
