Federal officials in partnership with the ANF Chapter of the North Country Trail Association are seeking public feedback on a series of improvements to the trail.

A document outlining the work states that the projects, planned for completion this year, are aimed to “protect soil and water resources and better maintain trail conditions.”

The projects include a bridge over Tracy Run and a stepping-stone ford over the north branch, a bridge over Johnnycake Run, .4 miles of rerouted trail to accommodate the bridge locations and construction of a three-sided shelter.

All of the work is proposed to occur on the section of the trail in Mead Twp.

Tracy Run and Johnnycake Run “can be difficult to impossible to cross at certain times of the year because of the width of the streams and the amount of water they can carry,” the document details.

“(I)n years of excessive rain when the Army Corps of Engineers needs to hold back water to protect downstream assets, the reservoir pool can be much higher. This can put the trail crossings under a significant amount of water for as much as a month at a time.”

The Tracy Run Bridge will be a “single log stringer trail bridge, 36 feet long. This rustic-looking bridge consists of one long, treated timber set on footings at either end. A handrail is attached on one side for safety. Materials can be brought by boat into Tracy Bay and then hand-carried by the work crew to the site.”

Officials say the bridge at Johnnycake Run “is more complicated because of the wide flat floodplain, particularly at the current trail crossing, and the steep slope on the south side of the run” The bridge proposed will be 45 feet with taller footings “to clear the worst of the flooding.”

Comments on the project can be provided until March 28.