From left to right: Lower Klamath NWR, along Volcanic Legacy All American Road; Eastern Neck NWR, along Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway; Bosque del Apache NWR, along El Camino Real National Scenic Byway


America's Byways®, The National Scenic Byways Program
Administered by the Federal Highway Administration


Birding on Byways


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with the National Scenic Byways Program to improve bird watching along America’s Scenic Byways. The links to the materials below provide more information about that effort.

America’s Byways® Vistas (PDF 622k) Newsletter, March/April 2007 on The National Wildlife Refuge System Birding Initiative and Scenic Byways


2009 National Scenic Byway Conference presentation by Mike Carlo,  Refuge System birding initiative coordinator, Creating Birder Friendly Sites along a Byway(PDF)


New Byway Designation

 

There is no regular cycle for new byway designations. The last two nominations calls and designations were in 2005 and 2009.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) puts out a call for nominations on its Web site http://bywaysonline.org Information on the designation process is also posted on this page.  A State Scenic Byways Agency, an Indian tribe, or a Federal land management agency may submit nominations to the Federal Highway Administration. After the call for nominations has closed, the FHWA convenes a panel of experts to recommend additions to the family of America’s Byways®.  In order to be considered for National Scenic Byway designation, a route must already be a designated State Scenic Byway.

National Scenic Byways Guide for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and Friends (PDF 452k)

Questions? Contact the appropriate regional FWS transportation coordinator http://www.fws.gov/refuges/roads/contacts.html or the Service’s Scenic Byways coordinator, Nathan Caldwell, at Nathan_Caldwell@fws.gov, 703-358-2205.