The South Zone Great American Outdoors Act Trail Crew has been busy! In early September, the crew repaired a washed-out section of the North Moore’s Trail #312. Check out the great work they completed in their hitch report from Crew Lead Kayti Lavicky!
“A lack of adequate drainage had left this section of trail deeply rutted. Water moving along the trail created narrow gullies in the tread that measured up to 3 feet deep. The crew not only needed to repair the severely damaged tread but also install structures to divert surface runoff away from the trail.
They utilized a variety of materials including local rock, native timber, and pressure treated lumber in order to alleviate drainage issues and return the trail to a more sustainable state. The crew restored the trenched tread by installing check dams that will help stop erosion by holding fill material in place. These check steps were supplemented by reinforced grade reversals. Water bars made of log or large rocks were constructed to divert water off the trail and prevent the gullies from deepening.
In total, the crew constructed 20 new check dams/steps and installed 13 water bars. The check steps will retain soil that is being washed down the trail. Adding drainage structures above and below each new set of steps will force water to exit the trail and prevent further degradation to the tread surface. The work accomplished during this project will significantly improve the experience for users who recreate on this popular section of trail.”
This project work was accomplished through the Great American Outdoor Act (GAOA) – a historic piece of legislation which gave the USDA Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access, and land and water conservation.