The Black Hills National Forest is teaming up with Ellsworth Airforce Base in a stewardship agreement to maintain an accessible trail and picnic site at Pactola Reservoir.
Veterans Point is a popular recreational area just north of the Pactola Dam. It features wheelchair accessible paved trails with gradual slopes down to the shoreline, picnic tables and fishing spots.
As the forest service’s budget has decreased and use increases, the Black Hills National Forest is entering into a shared stewardship with Ellsworth Airforce Base for trail upkeep.
Ben Schumacher, a recreations and lands staff officer with the forest service, said a stewardship agreement is a great way to partner with other organizations.
“We don’t have 10-person trail crews that go out specifically to take care of things. We need shared stewardship with like-minded and like-focused groups, organizations and individuals that want to go out and help care for our facilities, our trails and the general forest," Schumacher said. "This is a shift in the way we’ve done things in the past to how we’re going to carry things into the future.”
Ellsworth officials said they purposefully adopted the Veterans Point trail.
Col. Derek Oakley, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, said a core value at Ellsworth Airforce Base is "service before self."
“This is exactly what this partnership is about. It’s an opportunity for our airmen to get out and connect with our local community," Oakley said. "It’s an opportunity for us to give back to the Black Hills National Forest, and just appreciate where we live and the opportunities we have.”
Veterans Point was recently approved for updates as part of the Great American Outdoors Act. Projects include fixing asphalt and handrailing down the reservoir’s shore.
Once complete, Ellsworth volunteers will maintain the trail by building retaining walls to keep debris off trail, removing brush and sweeping pine needles from the asphalt.
