Successful Management of Multiple Use Forest Trails Trail Management

Overview Trail Uses Water Runs Down the Hill Trail Volunteerism Meaningful Trail Benefits Erosion Occurs Without Any Trail Use More Uses=More Benefits Maximizing Trail Funding Trail Management

Trail Uses Trail Management

More & More Families are enjoying Multiple Use Recreation, especially Motorized Use. At the same time more & more public lands continue to be closed to Multiple Use Recreation. This has concentrated Recreation on the remaining Multiple Use Lands. Making it more important than ever to keep remaining Multiple Use Trails open. Trail Management

We all know Water runs down the Hill, so how can that be Managed? Without CLOSING THE TRAIL Trail Management

Every form of Recreation & Trail Use has impacts Including Hiking Trail Management

Some of the most severe impacts appear to be on Wilderness Area Hiking only trails, as shown here. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty & cost of getting crews & tools to these remote areas Fortunately our Multiple Use Lands are not hampered by these constraints & can be managed more easily & affordably, to keep the trails in good condition & the Land Healthy for all Trail Management

Trail Management Options Keep Water Off the Trail Waterbars Re-Routes & Rolling Dips Provide Family Fun Recreation Experience Encourage Loops Access to destinations, views & natural areas Trail Management

In a few hours Volunteers were able to turn these gullies Trail Management

Into this sustainable trail tread Trail Management

Volunteers turned this Erosion Rut Into this Enjoyable Trail Trail Management

Closing Trails increases the concentration of users which: Widens trails Increases overall impacts Increases Maintenance Costs Reduces Trail User Satisfaction Trail Management

Encouraging Trail Volunteerism helps Minimize Trail Impacts Produces on the Ground Benefits Makes Volunteers more aware of Trail Needs Educates Users on the Need to Tread Lightly Trail Management

Encourages Loop Opportunities Increases Trail User Satisfaction Keeping Trails Open to Multiple Use Spreads Impacts Over a Larger Trail System Encourages Loop Opportunities Increases Trail User Satisfaction Trail Management

Keeping Trails Open to Multiple Use Maximizes Funding Opportunities Green Sticker Funds provide $8 million each year to California Motorized trails, which is 30% more than all non-motorized group contributions combined RTP Motorized Grants Other Motorized Grants Trail Management

Erosion occurs without any Trail use & where there are no Trails It is important to remember that while all Trail Uses have Impacts, the real enemy is not Trail Use, but keeping Water from flowing down the trail Trail Management

This Massive Erosion Gully occurred naturally & huge efforts by Forest Service have been unable to stop it Trail Management

Trail Closure is not a Management Tool It is an admission of Failure Trail Management

Trail Preservation By Working together we can keep our trails open to Multiple Use Disperse Use Minimize Impacts Maximize Funding Maintain User Satisfaction Provide “Net Best Public Benefit” Follow Multiple Use Forest Mandate Trail Management

This presentation was prepared by Stewards of the Sequoia It is based on thousands of hours of volunteering on Forest Trails while performing maintenance on over 900 miles of Trails. Stewards has an MOU for Stewardship with the Sequoia National Forest & have adopted six Multiple Use Forest Trails Stewards promote Responsible Recreation & Environmental Stewardship Visit our website for more info or to contact us www.stewardsofthesequoia.org Stewards of the Sequoia is a Division of CTUC 501c3 Non-Profit Trail Management