Jericho Research Forest Recreational Trail Mapping and Assessment. Prepared for the University of Vermont Natural Areas

Transcription

1 Jericho Research Forest Recreational Trail Mapping and Assessment Prepared for the University of Vermont Natural Areas By the Land Stewardship Program (LANDS), July 2014

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3 Table of Contents Executive Summary.. 1 About LANDS.. 1 Acknowledgements... 2 Introduction... 2 Goals and Objectives 3 Site Description.3 Trail Assessment Protocol.3 Recommendations. 4 Conclusion 6 Work Cited 7 Appendix A: Trail Condition Form 8 Appendix B: Maps.. 11

4 Executive Summary This report was prepared in July 2014 by the UVM/SCA LANDS Crew. It presents a map of recreational trails as well as information on the conditions of trail segments connected to the VAST trail within Jericho Research Forest (JRF). This project was conducted in preparation for a specific upcoming recreation event, and also to assess trails for long-term recreational use. The upcoming event is a horseback poker ride planned by the Green Mountain Hounds, in which up to 30 horses will be riding on JRF trails. The ride has the potential to impact the trail heavily, so it was essential to plan a suitable route, and to assess the condition of the trails before and after the ride. LANDS developed a protocol for assessing the trails that can be used throughout JRF to streamline future maintenance and monitoring of the trail network. In order to recommend a trail system for the equine riders to use, the LANDS interns designed a protocol and data sheet for feature classification and trail assessment (Appendix A), then used the protocol to survey the proposed trails. Features such as erosion, invasive species patches, woody debris, trail widening or narrowing, and significant changes in slope were recorded and analyzed to determine which trails would be best suited to support the horse riders. The crew determined that the existing trail would need to be rerouted to prevent the usage of a trail segment in poor condition. Several reroute options were proposed and surveyed, and will be presented to staff at Jericho who will choose the best option for the poker ride. For long-term management and monitoring of the trail system, student groups as well as volunteers from surrounding areas should be encouraged to participate in trail clean-up days and monitor for significant changes to trail features, such as what may occur after a significant weather event or simply from use over time. With the Trail Condition Form created by LANDS, the process for collecting these data will be streamlined and easy to compare over time. LANDS also hopes that the monitoring protocol will enable the many different groups who visit JRF to communicate significant changes they notice during their time in the forest. About LANDS The field of conservation is rapidly evolving to meet the growing demands of society. New ideas and strategies are changing how we conserve and steward the land; The Land Stewardship Program (LANDS) is one of these new ideas. During the Great Depression, the Conservation Corps model was pioneered as a means to promote stewardship in the nation and provide jobs for the unemployed. The idea has since been reinvented 116 times by local and state corps across the United States. However, the general theme is the same: young people learning and growing through service. LANDS is an innovative College Conservation Corps designed to train tomorrow s conservationist practitioners and leaders, and is a pilot partnership between the University of Vermont and the Student Conservation Association in its eighth year of successful programming. Thanks to college level education and prior experience in environmental science fields, LANDS interns are able to take on projects that are more technical than the work traditionally done by conservation crews. LANDS interns draft management plans, map areas of interest using GPS and GIS, inventory resources, survey for non-native species, survey soils, calculate 1

5 carbon stocks, and even find time to build trails. Municipalities, land trusts, state agencies, university researchers, national forests and parks, and volunteer-managed conservation organizations all benefit from LANDS s high quality, affordable services. LANDS interns are advanced undergraduates and recent graduates with natural resource experience from all over the world, and they bring a wide range of skills and interests to the program. LANDS is a unique service-learning model that addresses an ever-expanding list of conservation needs, while training young adults as future environmental leaders. Acknowledgements LANDS would like to thank the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) at the University of Vermont and the Student Conservation Association (SCA) for establishing and supporting this internship program. In addition, we acknowledge the Aiken Center at UVM for providing us with their valuable resources and work facility. We greatly appreciate the knowledge and preparation from Liz Thompson, Steve Libby, Alicia Daniel, Gary Hawley, and Matt Hollingsworth during our training. In addition, we would like to recognize Glenna Hartman and Ralph Tursini of the Rubenstein School for helping to organize our office space on the property, offering up their knowledge of the area, and providing us with a variety of equipment that was invaluable for our trail assessment. Introduction Green Mountain Hounds, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit that conducts fox hunts and other horseback events around Vermont, recently inquired about using the Jericho Research Forest trails for a day. Their inquiry spurred JRF management to evaluate the condition of the trails and identify necessary repair projects for both short-term and long-term recreational use. The Green Mountain Hounds requested use of the VAST (Vermont Association of Snow Travelers) trail, a statewide snowmobile trail that runs through part of JRF. There are numerous other trails running throughout the forest, some large and well-cleared, and others heavily overgrown or blocked by debris. Most trails in the forest are mapped, though some are either not mapped or incorrectly mapped. Few of the trails are clearly marked, though signposts are placed at some junctions marking the VAST trail. The many foot trails are often used by locals, and JRF management is interested in maintaining their accessibility and promoting their use. Recreational trail use presents ecological and social impacts and includes activities such as jogging, mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Natural environments may be stressed by trampling, habitat disturbance, erosion and nitrification (Lynn and Brown 2003, Pickering et al. 2010). The National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee reported social conflicts among trail users and the need to promote trail sharing activities as well as future research to understand these issues (Moore 1994). The LANDS crew conducted recreation trail condition inventories as well as created protocol to streamline future assessments. In addition, LANDS proposed a route for the Green Mountain Hounds to be used during their event that is in good condition and accessible by horse. 2

6 Goals and Objectives Project goal: Evaluate current trail condition and impacts of trail use at Jericho Research Forest, specifically along a route proposed by the Green Mountain Hounds, which includes a VAST trail and adjacent trail segments. Objectives: Develop user-friendly data sheet and protocol for trail assessment. Test and revise data sheet and protocol. Assess current conditions to identify major priorities for management along trails. Identify vulnerable areas within trails. Analyze data and interpret assessment results to estimate trail use impacts Propose and map a route for the horse riding event with potential for future event reuse. Propose management strategies for current and future trail conditions and impacts of use. Site Description The Jericho Research Forest is located on 478 acres of former agricultural land between the Winooski River Valley and the foothills of the Green Mountains in the southwestern corner of the town of Jericho, Vermont. Acquired by the University of Vermont in 1941, it is managed by the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. The site is utilized extensively for practical projects, ecological research and education (Rubenstein School, 2014). The topography is both rugged and diverse, with steep slopes, sandy terraces, and bedrock outcrops. The elevation is 505 feet, the average aspect is 269 (SW) and the average slope is 18. The surficial geology is a diversity of glacial till, lake bottom sediments, recent alluvium, and deltaic sands. The forest types include northern hardwoods, rich northern hardwoods, white pine-red maple, red oak-northern hardwoods, hemlock forests, and pine plantations (Rubenstein School, 2014). Trail Assessment Protocol There are two methods that we have developed for recording information about trails, and they each require different equipment and training levels to accommodate different types of volunteers. The first method will require a GPS unit, clinometer, the Trail Condition Form, and preferably a camera. The second method involves the use of a smartphone and the ability to access the 4G connection that is available throughout the Jericho Research Forest on a variety of networks. The Trail Condition Form (TCF; Appendix A) is designed to be used by a wide range of data collectors using any combination of equipment. The top section of the Trail Condition Form collects general information about the project and the data collectors. The next section collects information about the specific section of trail that will be assessed in the form. Some trail segments may have pre-assigned names, or it may be necessary to describe the segment and its 3

7 location in order to specify the exact range that is being assessed. The data fields for this section are the trail dimensions, slope, substrate type, and canopy cover. Segment length, width, and slope may be exactly measured or estimated depending on the available gear. Substrate type may clearly fall into one of the categories, or may be a mix of substances and surface types. All values in this section can potentially vary throughout the trail segment, in which case an average value should be estimated. Notably drastic changes can also be noted as trail features. The trail feature codes provide a shorthand method of recording common points of interest for trail management. A glossary of terms is attached to the form that describes each feature code and explains how to evaluate degrees of severity. The trail features section provides a column to enter trail feature codes and a column to record notes on the condition or location of the feature. Data on GPS waypoints and coordinates or information about a photograph of the feature may be entered in the indicated columns. If GPS units are unavailable or there are a lack of TCF s for the assessors, a convenient way to collect the data with a large group of volunteers, perhaps in a bio-blitz type format, involves the use of a smartphone with the following applications: Flickr (for compiling and sharing photos), Turbo GPS (for collecting location data), and Clinometer (for measuring slope). These virtual applications replace the need for volunteers to borrow equipment to bring out onto the trail. Individuals or groups will need to take note of the fields required by the assessment. At appropriate features, data should be collected off of Turbo GPS and Clinometer and added to the caption section of an already taken photo of the area all within the Flickr application. This information should then be shared with the Jericho Trail Assessment Flickr account, which can easily be created, and the gathered information may then be uploaded directly if the account information is given out to volunteers. In addition to collecting these data via the Trail Condition Form and GPS units, another form of trail update communication can be implemented in the kiosk that is to be installed near the Orr center, at the entrance near the main access trail. This kiosk can include a trail register that includes a space for notes on trail condition and any critical issues groups may come across while on the trail. This communication between user groups as well as the JRF staff can aid in assessing trail issues and getting them resolved in a timely manner. Recommendations Based on our trail assessment and general observations, we have developed recommendations for trail management in JRF. Two categories of recommendations were developed: re-route options for the upcoming horseback ride (Appendix B, Map 1) and recommendations for future management. Segment two is the only major segment of trail along the predetermined route that needs major work, including brush/tree removal and improved drainage to alleviate erosion and muddiness. Due to the current impassability of this segment, we suggest multiple options for rerouting (Table 1). We stress that these are only short-term options to be used for the horseback ride. They are not necessarily permanent trail options. While some of the possibilities utilize other trails on the property, the linking to other public areas, such as the Mobbs forest, are not as fluid as the more straight-forward option which uses segment two. 4

8 Table 1: Summary of reroute options and trail work needs Option Action Work Time Work Needed Pros Cons 1. Tarbox Road to Segment B6 Reroute 2-3 days Minimal downed tree removal Needs signage Gradual slope Wide Use of Tarbox Rd Clear 2. Tarbox Rd to Y1 Reroute 2-3 days Minimal downed tree removal Beautiful walk Erosion Install/repair drainage Wide Steep areas Needs signage Clear Use of Tarbox Rd 3. Boundary Trail Reroute 1-2 weeks Minimal downed tree removal Boulder reroute Needs signage Gradual slope Mostly open Avoids Tarbox Rd Boulder obstruction Narrow 4. Off-Property Trail Reroute 1-2 weeks Minimal downed tree removal Needs signage Cleared Flat Permission from property owner Avoids Tarbox Rd 5. Segment Y10 Repair ~1 month Significant tree and brush removal Follows existing trail Needs substantial work Install drainage Needs signage Recommendations for Future Management A major project for future trail work could be repairing segment two, which is currently impassible due to many downed trees and muddy conditions. Opening the segment would facilitate increased recreational use in the long-term, as it allows for easy connection to the adjacent Mobbs Forest. Another potential project for aiding increased recreational use could include mapping and assessing the other trails on the property. With the limited time frame of our project, we were only able to consider the route for the horseback ride. While this route contains many of the larger and more heavily used trails, it would be helpful to have a full register of the trails on the property. Inventorying these trails could aid in decision-making about opening trails for horseback riding or mountain biking. The monitoring of all trails should follow up assessments especially after large events such as the horseback ride to ensure that the research forest maintains the standards set forth by FSC certifications. A full inventory and assessment and ongoing monitoring may not be feasible for JRF staff alone, and we recommend the use of resources such as LANDS, volunteer groups, and students from nearby universities. Volunteer groups and individuals from nearby communities could come to UVM s Jericho Research Forest to assist in trail assessment, monitoring and maintenance. Volunteers could come from many user groups, such as student groups (UVM Outing Club, VSTEP, other local colleges and school districts, etc.) community groups (Trail Hounds, Green Mountain Club,) and more. These groups could contribute based on their background and ability to 5

9 access to appropriate technologies. We recommend that volunteer groups make use of the Trail Condition Form we developed, or otherwise simply document major trail features. Such volunteer assessments could include reporting damage after storm events such as flooding, downed trees and dangerous trail conditions. Other options for volunteers include invasive species monitoring and management, as well as trail maintenance. With the spread of many invasives around the area, including new outbreaks on the property such as Japanese stilt grass, monitoring and control measures are critically needed. Seasonal trail clean-up may also be a helpful volunteer activity. Conclusion The Jericho Research Forest is a research area with many opportunities for recreational use. We assessed a large section of the VAST trail as well as other trails which fell within our route for the horseback ride. We found most areas to be suitable for a variety of activities and require only minor maintenance. Segment two was impassible as it contained major hazards and needed substantial repair. The time constraints of this project did not allow for us to extend our assessments beyond the horseback route, but our work presents a starting point for future maintenance and monitoring. The assessment of additional trails that fall within the property boundary is a step that should be taken. From our limited experience on these trails we found some difficulties in navigating them, mainly due to the presence of many unmapped trails. The trails that are mapped should represent a priority for any future assessments, but the unmapped trails should be kept in mind when planning any future work. These trails could first be mapped and then assessed along with the currently mapped trails or at a later date. The protocol that LANDS developed relating to trail maintenance and monitoring can assist all future users of JRF in communicating any issues they come across while on the trail. The Trail Condition Form can also aid students and volunteers who assist in trail monitoring and clean up. The LANDS team hopes that this will streamline JRF s usage and communication, as well as help maintain the trail conditions throughout all seasons of use. 6

10 Work Cited Jordan, Marilyn Ecological Impacts of Recreational Use of Trails: A Literature Review. The Nature Conservancy. Available at: Lynn, Natasha A. and Robert D. Brown Effects of recreational use of impacts on hiking experiences in natural areas. Landscape and Urban Planning 64: Moore, Roger L Conflicts on multiple-use trails: synthesis of the literature and state of the practice. Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program. Available at: conflicts_on_multiple_use_trails/ Pickering, Catherine M., Wendy Hill, David Newsome, and Yu-Fai Leung Comparing hiking, mountain biking and horse riding impacts on vegetation and soils in Australia and the United States of America. Journal of Environmental Management 91: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. (2014). Forest Field Sites: Jericho Research Forest. Retrieved from 7

11 Appendix A: Trail Condition Form 8

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14 Appendix B: Maps 11