2021-09-27-minutes-public-works-study-session

Home Browse Search

o Maximum pitch density: 5-20% of trail 0 Native with improved sections of borrow or imported material, and routine grading — stable with minor roughness Blue/Intermediate — USFS Trail Class 3 (Multi -use: mountain bikes, hikers and winter uses) 0 3-12% gradient range o Short pitch maximum: 25% o Maximum pitch density: 10-20% of trail o Native, with some onsite borrow or imported material where needed for stabilization and occasional grading — intermittently rough. Section of soft or unstable tread on grades more than 5% may be present, but not common. Trail Operations, Maintenance, and Management Management of the overall trail system, including organization of ongoing maintenance and funding for the trails and trail heads, will be critical to the success of the project. Proper maintenance of the trail system will minimize user conflicts, improve the safety and recreation experience, and improve aesthetics. The effective stewardship of trail facilities depends not only on the quality of trail construction, but also on effective organization through a sound operations and maintenance plan. A holistic management plan for the trail system will help organize volunteers effectively, and may be a crucial consideration for donors and grant agencies interested in supporting the TTC. Tools for operational management could include an online maintenance log for tracking trail needs and project priorities for staff and volunteers. Operations The proper management of a trail system involves a guiding operations plan. The operations plan should include an inventory of trails to document trail type and purpose, estimated volume and season of use, and intended level of development. The plan should document appropriate trail management objectives to guide use of funds, as well as defining leadership roles and responsibilities for the system of trails, trailheads and facilities. Important aspects to consider include: which organization is responsible for overseeing facility and who within the organization would be most appropriate for managing the maintenance and operations? A good guide for this plan is the USFS's Trail Management Objective (TMO) form, which will help compile the information needed to develop the best management objectives for each trail. Input items include the trail type, the designed use, design parameters of the trail and the frequency of maintenance needed for efficient and safe operations. It is important to remember that TMO's are not static documents, and should be updated on a regular schedule to include new information. Trail closure and decommissioning: As new trails are constructed and old trails rerouted, every effort should be made to close and decommission the routes they are replacing. This is critical to ensuring there is not a proliferation of trails and that old, poorly located trails do not continue to impact the land. Many resources exist to guide successful trail decommissioning. Key steps include installing erosion control structures and fully scarifying and "disguising" the old route to make it less noticeable and attractive to the trail users. In some cases, signage will be needed to inform trail users why the former route was closed and a new route was established. Maintenance The maintenance of a trail system includes the various activities involved in keeping the trail in a safe, usable condition. This includes numerous efforts ranging from root cutting and brush removal, to Towns to Teanaway Corridor Master Plan p 176 of 26 Prepared for: Economic Development Group of Kittitas Co. & Kittitas Co. Parks and Recreation District No. 1 Prepared by: J.A. Brennan Associates, Landscape Architects & Planners