Federal Register Notice Today Highlights Water/Soil Loss Trail Prescriptions

OHV Bridge over Stream on Eldorado National Forest

QWR believes the Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 notice today regarding Proposed Directives for National Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Quality Protection on National Forest System (NFS) Lands highlights the import of ongoing use of modern water/soil related OHV trail prescriptions on public lands throughout the country including those on the Eldorado National Forest in California.

May 6, 2014 FR FS Proposed Directives

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-05-06/pdf/2014-10363.pdf

Rolling Dip to Address Soil Loss/Water Quality 

on Eldorado National Forest

 For over 20 years, addressing water and soil concerns have been an important part of managed OHV recreation in California.   Those management prescriptions were updated a few years ago in the California OHMVR Division’s 2008 SOIL CONSERVATION STANDARD AND GUIDELINES which states:

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation facilities shall be managed for sustainable long-term prescribed use without generating soil loss that exceeds restorability, and without causing erosion or sedimentation which significantly affects resource values beyond the facilities. Management of OHV facilities shall occur in accordance with Public Resources Code, Sections 5090.2, 5090.35, and 5090.53.

Wet Weather Prescription on the Mendocino NF

It also requires other land agencies (FS, BLM, counties) with projects funded by the OHV Trust Fund (PRC Section 5090.06) to be managed in accordance with the 2008 Standard. Assessment, maintenance and monitoring activities are necessary for any OHV project to ensure that an OHV facility is managed for its sustainable prescribed use, without generating soil loss that exceeds restorability, and without causing erosion or sedimentation which significantly affects resource values beyond the facilities.

CA OHMVRD 2008 Soil Conservation Standard and Guidelines

 http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1140/files/2008%20soil%20cons.%20standard%20and%20guidelines.pdf

Wet Weather/Wildlife Travel Sign on Eldorado NF

Ongoing drought conditions in the West and new resource and wildlife regulations being promulgated means that being pro-active in the application of modern trail management practices will continue to be important in the decades to come.

Alpine OHV Trail Success Story in Lake Tahoe Area

Armored Water Crossing on Blackwood OHV Trail

 

Addressing water quality concerns on OHV trails is not a new concept.  In fact, federal and state agencies have been doing just that for over 30 years. 

Cresting a Rolling Dip on Blackwood OHV Trail

 

The Blackwood Canyon OHV trail on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is a good case study of a successful 20+ year-old joint project between the U.S. Forest Service and the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s grant program.

Video of Jeep on Rolling Dips Installed on Blackwood OHV Trail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HYU6TMTEII&feature=em-upload_owner

 

While on a recent SUV tour of the trail, QWR was able to document many of the (circa mid 1980s – early 1990s) stream armoring efforts and rolling dips (historically called water-bars) that are now important environmental features of the route.

Rolling Dip and Water Runout

 

QWR believes the success story at Blackwood Canyon highlights the import of OHV being proactive in supporting soil erosion/water quality-related projects on motorized trails.  Installation of modern stream armoring structures and rolling dips can help secure the future of OHV recreation on public lands in even the most sensitive areas including those regions that contain our historic alpine routes.