Archeological Site Stewardship Training is Valuable Trail Tool

The evolution of a well-trained and multi-disciplined volunteer OHV trail workforce is both impressive and important.  In the 21^st Century, it has become a critical tool and force-multiplier for land management agencies to utilize in taking care of recreation facilities.

In many areas, highways, roads, and OHV/OSV trails overlay historic routes used by Native Americans and early pioneers to travel cross-country or for trading goods and services.  Because of their history, these trails and nearby areas have significant archeological value.

Kyburz Petroglyph Open to the Public

  

Three good examples of historic pioneer routes are the world famous Rubicon Trail, the Mormon Emigrant Trail, and the Henness Pass (Kyburz) Trail.  Segments of said routes provide important OHV and/or OSV opportunities.

LINK TO HENNESS PASS/KYBURZ PETROGLYPH INFO/MAP

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5293641.pdf

QWR believes that trail volunteers have an increasingly important role to play in assisting Forest Archeologists as stewards to monitor cultural sites.  Trail volunteers are equipped to travel long distances and can access remote archeological sites under supervision by the Forest Archeologist.

Recently, Don Amador took the California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program (CASSP) Volunteer Workshop held on the Eldorado National Forest.  QWR believes this training is important for engaged trail volunteers because it expands their ability to assist the agency in managing OHV recreation as it relates to protecting archeological resources.

The volunteer training is managed by CASSP.  It received a 2014/2015 grant from the California OHMVR Division because it is an innovative partnership program designed to assist federal land management agencies balance the statutory requirements to protect cultural resources with their responsibility to sustain long-term OHV opportunities on public lands.

Through services provided by CASSP volunteers, agencies have been able to maintain OHV opportunities that would have been restricted in order to protect cultural resources. CASSP training workshops and CASSP volunteers also help agencies to educate the public about environmental responsibility, safety, and respect for private property. CASSP has become a critical element in conserving significant historical and prehistoric cultural resources.

According to the grant application, CASSP workshops and volunteers enhance existing OHV opportunities in three ways: helping to keep trails open, improving the visitor experience by providing information about the prehistory and history, and increasing communication, education, and understanding among different groups.

Historically, the management response has often been to close trails or restrict OHV opportunities. By monitoring and protecting archaeological and historical resources, CASSP helps maintain a balance between protecting cultural sites and responsible OHV recreational use of trails and OHV areas. Also OHV site stewards serve as role models and inform other off-highway vehicle users to follow the designated trails, ride responsibly, and remember to ride safely. As a result, the cultural resources, agencies, and volunteers all benefit.

With intense wildfires burning out important trail areas on National Forests throughout California and the West, QWR believes that post-fire trail rehabilitation efforts lends import to the CASSP training since wildfires often burn vegetation or trail delineators that protect archeological and cultural sites. 

  

QWR looks forward to incorporating the CASSP training into its ongoing trail stewardship module.

Big thanks to all of you trail volunteers out there that are already doing a great job!  Also, helmets off to the CA OHMVR Division for funding this grant in partnership with Region 5, USDA Forest Service.

To find out more about the CASSP training go to:

http://www.cassp.org/

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Eagle Scout Leads Archeological Site/ OHV Trail Project - Partnerships in Action

Early Stage of 2012 Mill Fire at Stonyford OHV Area

Mendocino National Forest

Over the last few years, large wildfires throughout the West have had a significant impact on cultural/natural resources and managed recreation programs including those prescriptions related to OHV activities.

This article will focus on partnerships that help the Forest Service protect archeological sites where the protective vegetation – that acts as a trail delineator - has been burned off.

A good case study is where in 2014; Sean Griffith led a volunteer crew to install trail delineators to help protect an archeological site in California’s Sierra Nevada.  This project was part of Sean’s progression to obtain Eagle Scout status.

According to the agency, Sean planned, directed, and led 21 scouts, adults, family members and friends in a project to protect an archeological site on the Mi-Wok Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest. The district’s Camp Clavey, Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area has a section which passes by an archeological site. The 2013 Rim Fire burned much of the area, and Sean’s project was to build barriers on both sides of the OHV trail to delineate the trail and protect the site.

Sean selected the project well in advance, but delays happened due to the government furlough, the Rim Fire and hazard tree removal activities. That’s when his perseverance paid off. Once started, the project was completed in 4.5 hours.

“Sean set a good example of being a dedicated steward of the National Forest with the Eagle Scout project he undertook,” said Chuck James, District Recreation Specialist, who was Sean’s mentor and advisor throughout the project.

“Having a partnership with the Forest Service is a win/win for both organizations. Six Eagle projects through the Forest Service have been completed since I’ve been involved with the scouts,” Sean declared. “It’s been an honor to have worked together with the agency and I know that my project will make a difference in protecting the Forest.”

QWR believes partnerships such as this one on the Stanislaus National Forest or the volunteer efforts on the Mendocino National Forest to address the 2012 Rim Fire are excellent examples of how various interest groups can work together to protect both cultural resources and recreational access.

Don Amador on 2013 Volunteer Project 

to Protect Archeological Site

State or OHV industry grant programs can also play an important role as a force multiplier in post-fire trail rehabilitation efforts or other projects that protect the resource and enhance OHV recreation on designated roads, trails, and areas. For example, the CA OHMVRD Grant Program helped purchase the materials used on the Stanislaus NF project.

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"Signs" are Important Communication Tools

South Border Fence at Oceano Dunes SVRA

Festive lights at shopping malls, decorated store fronts, and carols playing in many venues are all signs the Christmas season is upon us.  Signs are important forms of communication.   Land management agencies also use “signs” to communicate their commitment to high quality recreation and resource protection.

Boundary Fence between Motorized and Non-Motorized Area

One example of that commitment is Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) located on California’s Central Coast.   Managing about 1,500 acres of open OHV sand riding and another 1,500 acres for non-motorized uses requires a complex system of “signs” that include border fencing, travel management placards, and public education.

Placards are used to advise users about speed limits, dangerous surf, and where to camp.  With over 1.6 million recreationists visiting the SVRA each year, maintaining those signs is a must. 

Dune Condition Advisory Sign

Insuring the integrity of the border fencing that separates the motorized area from the non-motorized section requires a constant vigil due to blowing sand or sand washed in by the tide.

Native plants are protected by exclosures in the OHV open area.  Exclosures (specific areas fenced in to protect important natural or cultural resources) have proved effective management tools in many sand-based state and federal OHV open areas.

Vegetation Islands (Exclosures) within SVRA OHV Open Area 

QWR believes the ongoing public education program at the SVRA is also an important sign the agency has dedicated a significant amount of time to help users, school children, and local residents understand the many recreational, natural, and cultural resources that reside within the unit.

SVRA Education Program on Cultural Heritage

The aforementioned signs are the most effective (and often the only management tool the public sees) method by which a land agency communicates its commitment to the public and the resource.  Other “signs” can include level/type of law enforcement, route markers, and understandable maps.

QWR believes the quality of an agency’s signing program is directly proportional to the rate of user enjoyment, public compliance with regulations, and success of the unit’s mission, vision, and values.

Trail Management Tools - Heated Rain Gauge

"Heated" Rain Station on Upper Lake RD

QWR has long been an advocate for the use of modern scientific methods to accurately measure rainfall on federal and state units that have wet weather-based trail management prescriptions.

On February 27, 2014, the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission toured various recreation and resource management programs on the Upper Lake Ranger District located on the west portion of the Mendocino National Forest.

One of the tour stops included a review of the new Campbell Scientific rain station with heated catch basin.  Unit staff explained how freezing temperatures had often rendered older “non-heated” rain stations inoperable due to the water freezing in the catch/measuring device.

FS Staff Explains Rain Station Operation

The Forest Service also stated that riders appreciate being able to access rain gauge data on the internet so they can evaluate – in real-time – if it looks like a rain-closure of system trails will be put into effect.

Link to Upper Lake Rain Gauge

http://raws.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/roman/meso_base.cgi?stn=TR164&unit=0&time=LOCAL

QWR believes these updated units could be useful to the agency and users as more federal riding areas evaluate if it is practical to transition from seasonal extended period wet-weather closures to rainfall-based closures.

GAO Issues Report on Forest Service Trails

QWR's Don Amador Helping FS Trail Rehab Project

 

The Western Congressional Caucus announced today that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report regarding the maintenance of system trails on National Forest lands.

 

Link to GAO Report

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-618

 

In 2012, Rep. Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Simpson (R-ID), and Rep. Moran (D-VA) asked the GAO to analyze   various challenges faced by the agency to maintain over 158,000 miles Forest Service System Trails in motorized and non-motorized areas.

 

Volunteer Support for Trail Projects

 

QWR believes the report highlights the need for the agency to better utilize partnerships with volunteer groups and other trail stakeholders.  We also believe the report correctly notes how NEPA-related red-tape (and subsequent lawsuits) hinders the agency’s ability to effect on-the-ground services such as trail maintenance and environmental mitigations that both protect resources while allowing public use of route networks.

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Water Quality Management Key to OHV Future

Hillside Stabilization at Carnegie SVRA

 

The future of OHV recreation depends on our collective ability to successfully address motorized recreation-related water quality issues on state and federal lands.  Recently, QWR had the opportunity to tour and document various water quality/soil erosion mitigation measures that have been implemented at Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area.  This unit is managed by the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division at California State Parks and is located near Tracy, California.

Designated Routes/Signs are Key Management Tools

 

Sometimes these management prescriptions designed to keep riding areas open for future generations are overlooked and/or under appreciated by the casual rider.  QWR believes it is important for riders to appreciate the tremendous amount of work performed by land managers and volunteers to help ensure that OHV recreational opportunities remain viable on public lands.

 

Trail Delineators, Contour Trails, and Hillside Stabilization are all Water Quality Tools

 

Next time you go riding, keep your eyes on the lookout for the multitude of management tools (e.g. signs, catch basins, contour trails, hillside stabilization measures, etc.) that help keep our trails open.  Feel free when you get home to send the appropriate land manager and/or club that has been working on those projects a thank you.  They will appreciate it.

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Comments welcome - send to: damador@quietwarriorracing.com