VTMT crew on Mid Treadwell
Background:
Gold mining companies built the Treadwell Ditch (TWD) in the 1880’s.They constructed it to a slight downhill grade to intersect and move waterways along the route to operate stamp mills in Douglas.The 14-mile route ran from Eaglecrest to Douglas paralleling the Fish Creek drainage and Gastineau Channel (nearly 20 miles when including the six access spurs). It operated 363 days yearly until it shut down in the 1920’s. Now the US Forest Service (USFS), Alaska State Parks and the Çity and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) steward most of the land with private property at a few spur trailheads. These public agencies did some maintenance over the years with most of it relatively light and sporadic. Consequently, it fell into poor shape over 100 years with a rocky, rooty, flooded and overgrown trail tread and failed bridges.
However, this trail’s unique location in the heart of the community with multiple trailheads, loop sections and an easy 1% grade grew in popularity. Some bridges were replaced and a few individuals labored to improve short sections on their own. CBJ did contract with Trail Mix to construct bridges at Lawson and Paris Creeks and public interest increased. It rose to the top of activity surveys in Juneau.
Dave Haas and Marc Scholten at State Parks N. Treadwell bridge site
Then in 2017 two Trail Mix Board members, Jack Kreinheder and Dave Haas, along with former USFS employee Marc Scholten formed the Volunteer Trail Maintenance Team (VTMT) to assist the USFS, State Parks, CBJ and Trail Mix in renovating TWD and other local trails. Most VTMT members are retired, get trail training and are physically fit. They typically work part days twice weekly April through November, cooperating with Trail Mix by signing waivers, getting insurance coverage and acting like a crew. Since its start, the team has donated over 10,000 hours improving Juneau trails and currently numbers 30 people.
TWD got a big boost when the Juneau Community Foundation contracted with Trail Mix in 2019 to reconstruct the TWD trail using a large Pittman-Robertson grant. This 5 year renovation, scheduled for completion in 2023, includes installation of over 30 new bridges (out of more than 60 along the route), more than 20 culverts and reconditioning over 10 miles of trail using 5 years of seasonal labor from both professional Trail Mix and VTMT crews. This work, with remaining renovations, will amount to nearly $2 million in improvements. It warrants care and upkeep to maintain its usefulness to residents!
Vision:
Trail Mix and VTMT crews on Bonnie Brae Reroute
TWD needs annual maintenance to stay in good shape. Yearly maintenance includes trimming overgrowth, root removal, clearing both culverts and bridge crossings (over 60), stabilizing muddy areas, improving drainage and clearing blowdowns, for 20 miles! Bridges will fail over time and need replacing. Gravel is used for tread repairs and often requires helicopter delivery. All this is costly and not a typical part of the local public agencies’ budgets for a multiple use trail although hunters, hikers, bikers, runners, skiers and more all use it.
Consequently, Dave Haas and Mary Ellen Arvold established the Treadwell Ditch Trail Maintenance Fund in 2021 with a $25,000 contribution and the hope that the community will help them grow it to more than $250,000 within 10 years. “We envision the fund growing large enough to generate interest sufficient to fund annual maintenance with capital available in later years for more costly bridge and structural replacements.” While VTMT crews can perform most routine maintenance at low costs, professional TM crews will be still be used for that and more complicated repair/construction as well.
With all the resources invested in TWD, we plan to help renovate and maintain it decades into the future.
To Donate
Donate by credit card using the link below or make your checks payable to: Juneau Community Foundation, 350 North Franklin Street, Suite 4, Juneau, Alaska 99801. Please call us at 907-523-5450, or email info@juneaucf.org for information on donating stock, wiring funds, establishing a Fund, gifting a portion of a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA, or naming the Juneau Community Foundation in your will as a designated beneficiary.
