Trail Proposal #1; May 14, 2005 Dennis Kaltenbruner Bow Cycle Dean Cockshutt Mountain Toys Dave Sheridan GPS map Coord. Plus many others! Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders Association (RMDRA), on behalf of all singletrack users
RMDRA Mandates To promote responsible trail use, maintain trails and be a land access advocacy focal point To organize off-road events that meet or exceed a high level of environmental sustainability. Demonstrated Advocacy Performance Event Organizers Code of Ethics adopted by ADRA and endorsed by SRD Education forums (meetings, printed material, web site) McLean Creek Stewardship Program Promote and demonstrate trail legal equipment
RMDRA Objectives Support a good GAMP and the designated trail system concept Agree to work within the SRD process RMDRA does not support the degree and methods of OHV exclusion in the GAMP, nor the 3 meeting constraint. Obtain greater singletrack trail access essentially none in the current plan map Obtain destination and loop trails few in the current plan map Maintain winter riding access
RMDRA Objectives (Con t( Con t) Improve safety for all users accessing trails on high-speed linear quad or truck trails is not safe. We need trail head access near staging areas where possible Prevent widening of singletrack and trail braiding Avoid or create passage over or around wet or meadow areas Promote use of trail legal equipment Remove the perception and reality of trail conflicts Educate the others Design and develop a trail sticker program
Trail Proposal Recommend SRD bring forward for consideration all previously supplied trail proposals and historically recognized motorcycle trails for impact assessment. 2 new singletrack loop and destination trails accessed by trail heads off Hwy 40. Approximately 20-30 km each. Selected to minimize impacts. Combination of dirt bike and shared equestrian access only. Create exclusion zones around camps and sensitive areas. Trail maintenance funding through Trail Sticker Program and Adopt-a-trail trail system.
Singletrack Examples Simon s Trail (soft bottom)
Singletrack Examples Simon s Trail (hard bottom)
Trail Selection and Mapping Methodology Popular existing loop or destination route. Primarily hardened surface. Initial mapping compatible with SRD systems. Mapped by volunteer on motorcycle. Numerous waypoints collected describing trail characteristics. Other resource checks completed (water quality, endangered species, cultural); no impacts based on available data.
Overview of Proposed Trail Additions Moose XC Simons Trail
Sample GPS Trail Form Sample Trail
Creek Crossing Examples Natural streambed filtration intact Simon s Trail
Proposed Trail 051401; Moose XC Previously permitted race course and recognized OHV trail
Proposed Trail 051401; Moose XC Characteristic Estimated Quantity Total Length (km) 31.0 Single Track (km) 18.4 Double Track (km) 12.6 Hardened Surface (km) 30.6 mixed or hard Soft Surface (km) 0.4 Meadow / Wetland / Muskeg Side Slopes (no.) Water Crossings (no.) Other users none none 3 total, 1 bridged Quads, trucks on double trk
Proposed Trail 051401; Moose XC Potential Impacts Water Quality (siltation( siltation, pollution) Slope Erosion Grazing Degradation Proposed Mitigation Few crossings. River crossing is hard bottom. A few muddy areas to re-route. route. Initial Initial uphill eroded. Repair work in place already, but work needed. No No Meadow areas User Conflicts None expected. Existing use is motorcycle only. Other Previously permitted race course and recognized OHV trail
Reference Material
Proposed Trail 051402; Simon s Trail
Proposed Trail 051402; Simon s Trail Characteristic Estimated Quantity Total Length (km) 30.5 Single Track (km) 20.6 Double Track (km) 9.9 Hardened Surface (km) 23.6 Soft Surface (km) 6.9 Meadow / Wetland / Muskeg Side Slopes (no.) Water Crossings (No.) Multi-use use (other user) None numerous 8 only 1 soft bottom Partial Equestrian
Proposed Trail 051402; Simon s Trail Potential Impacts Water Quality (siltation( siltation, pollution) Slope Erosion Grazing Degradation User Conflicts Other Proposed Mitigation 7 out of 8 stream crossings are hard bottom. No wet meadow areas. Soil erosion well set back from river Some issues on the hills. Adopt-a-trail, trail, and re-route route where necessary No meadows Grassy areas are highly sloped. No existing evidence of cattle 50% of trail is not prime equestrian Trail comes close to random camping areas re-route? route? Staging area location and size.
Water Quality Data Source Ghost River - 17 samples from 1993 to 1997 OHV s Allowed? Yes Fecal Coliforms #/100ml Turbidity NTU Average 4 1 Bow River Upstream of Ghost - 568 samples from 1993 to 1997 No Average 79 4 Recreational Limit <1000 <50 is Low Habitat Limit None Increase of >8 over background Data extracted from Alberta Environment database
Water Quality Observations Ghost Water quality is very pure and worth protecting. No sampling since 1997 Why? Bow River where OHV use is not allowed is poorer quality. No evidence that OHV use is contaminating Ghost waters. Water purity can be maintained by re-routing routing trails, building bridges and creating exclusion areas where wet.
Biological Concerns We agree that wild life, fish and cattle impacts should be minimized. At Risk Species (SRD database) At Risk is a lower rating that Threatened or Endangered. No Threatened or Endangered species in Ghost that we could find in the data. Bull Trout is considered Sensitive. Grizzly Bears considered Maybe at Risk. Extinct Extirpated Endangered Threatened Special Concern Not at Risk Data Deficient
Reference Material (Biological) Biological Committee On The Staus of Endangered Wild Life in Canada (COSEWIC) Nov. 2004 Canadian Species At Risk Sustainable Resource Development - Aug. 2003 Alberta Species At Risk Program
Reference Material (Water) Water Bow River Basin Council Alberta Water For Life Alberta Environment Water Sampling Database Surface Water Quality Guidelines For Use In Alberta Nov 1999 Waiting to access ACA Ghost Watershed study.
Trail Selection and Construction Joe Wernyx; ; Techniques of Trail Selection and Construction Date, AMA endorsement.