
240 views • posted 07/15/2022 • updated 08/10/2023
Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area
This report describes results from a comprehensive assessment of resource conditions on a large (24%) sample of the trail system within Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area (BSF).
Components include research to develop state-of-knowledge trail impact assessment and
monitoring methods, application of survey methods to BSF trails, analysis and summary of results,
and recommendations for trail management decision making and future monitoring. Findings reveal
a trail system with some substantial degradation, particularly soil erosion, which additionally
threatens water quality in areas adjacent to streams and rivers. Factors that contribute to or influence
these problems are analyzed and described. Principal among these are trail design factors (trail
topographic position, soil texture, grade and slope alignment angle), use-related factors (type and
amount of use), and maintenance factors (water drainage). Recommendations are offered to assist
managers in improving the sustainability of the trails system to accommodate visitation while
enhancing natural resource protection.
Attached document published February 2006
posted Oct 4, 2023
The 2002 Hayman Fire grossly affected Trail Creek, a tributary to the South Platte River, with a concomitant increase of sediment yield, increases in significant flood events, and reduced habitat quality.
TRACS Trail Assessment & Condition Surveys User Guide 2011
posted Jul 22, 2020
TRACS is an organized approach for collecting and updating field data on trail conditions and the work needed to meet standard.
System Wide Trail Assessment: A Spatial Data Driven Approach
posted Jun 9, 2019
In this Trail Talk new methods of mobile electronic data collection help streamline assessments for Tennessee State Parks.
Trails Assessment and Recommendations for Management
posted May 30, 2018
An Assessment of Trails, Watercourses, Soils, and Redwood Forest Health in Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland, California.