Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area
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Abstract
This report describes results from a comprehensive assessment of resource conditions on a large (24%) sample of the trail system within Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area (BSF). Components include research to develop state-of-knowledge trail impact assessment and monitoring methods, application of survey methods to BSF trails, analysis and summary of results, and recommendations for trail management decision making and future monitoring. Findings reveal a trail system with some substantial degradation, particularly soil erosion, which additionally threatens water quality in areas adjacent to streams and rivers. Factors that contribute to or influence these problems are analyzed and described. Principal among these are trail design factors (trail topographic position, soil texture, grade and slope alignment angle), use-related factors (type and amount of use), and maintenance factors (water drainage). Recommendations are offered to assist managers in improving the sustainability of the trails system to accommodate visitation while enhancing natural resource protection.
Suggested Citation
Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area; 2006; USGS Unnumbered Series; Marion, J. L.; Olive, N.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Unnumbered Series |
| Title | Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area |
| Subseries | National Park Service, Final Research Report |
| DOI | 10.3133/5200309 |
| Year Published | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Eastern Ecological Science Center |
| Description | iv, 80 p. |
| Public Comments | Original contributing office: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |