Northwest forest projects announced

PORTLAND — Up to $40 million will go to forest projects in Washington and Oregon byway of the Great American Outdoors Act.

The projects range from deferred maintenance to recreation infrastructure in national forests this fiscal year.

The USDA Forest Service made the announcement March 8.

A total of 29 projects will be funded in Washington and Oregon, including maintenance and repairs to more than 1,500 miles of forest trails and repairing dozens of pedestrian bridges, capital improvements for visitor centers, historic buildings and other recreation facilities, and fish passage projects and habitat for salmon and steelhead.

The Great American Outdoors Act was passed by Congress last August.