This bill directs the Agriculture and Interior Departments to make finishing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail a priority. The goal is to connect the trail into one continuous route within 10 years, as funding allows . A joint team from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management must be set up within 1 year to coordinate the work and help write a full development plan within 3 years. That plan will map trail gaps, look at using easements from willing sellers, and estimate costs.

The team should work with other federal agencies, States, Tribes, local governments, landowners, traditional land grant communities (land-grant mercedes), acequias, and others. The agencies are also encouraged to partner with volunteer and nonprofit groups to help complete and manage the trail. The bill does not create new power to take land or expand eminent domain, and it does not put trail land purchases ahead of other land needs under existing law.

• Who is involved: Agriculture and Interior Departments; Forest Service and BLM; other federal agencies; State, Tribal, and local governments; landowners; land-grant mercedes owners and users; acequias; volunteers and nonprofits.
• What changes: Finish the trail as one continuous route; create a joint completion team; develop a comprehensive plan; work with partners; consider easements from willing sellers.
• When: Team within 1 year; plan within 3 years after the team is formed; aim to complete the trail within 10 years, as funding allows.
• What it doesn’t do: No new or expanded land-taking powers; no special priority for buying land for the trail beyond current law.