Description/Background:
Nearly one in four Americans participate in off-highway vehicle use every year. The number of potential riders using the trails each year can affect soil erosion, water quality, rider safety, and habitat fragmentation. Trail-based soil erosion that occurs near stream crossings represents a non-point source of pollution to streams, which can harm aquatic life, disrupt salmonid spawning habitat, and increase water-treatment costs.
This project invites observations of trail erosion from across Alaska, with special interest in observations from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley in southcentral Alaska. This area has an abundance of water bodies and recreational trails that may be affected by trail erosion. Observers are asked to submit observations on current trail condition, as compared to past conditions, and complete a short, anonymous, survey on trail use. This survey can be found on the right-hand side of this page. Survey results will be displayed as they are collected.
For observations from the Matanuska-Susitna Valley:
Several data resources, including historical GIS data, current satellite imagery, and drone footage, will be used to quantify the changes in trail density from 1949 to present day, and evaluate soil erosion rates. Water quality sampling will test for turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS), in accordance with best management practices. Flow rates, rainfall and temperature, in addition to changes in trail slope will provide a baseline of erosion rates across trail types for a summer season. This soil erosion and water quality research will be useful for recreational trail management to ensure the sustainability of the growing off-highway vehicle population in southcentral Alaska. This information will be displayed as project updates on this page, and presented in an upcoming LEO webinar.
Location:
Observations from the entire state of Alaska will be included, however this project is specifically interested in observations from the following areas:
1) Knik River Public Use Area
2) Eklutna Lakeside Trail
3) Bald Mountain Trail (Wasilla)
4) Permanente Trail (Chickaloon)
5) Jonesville Trail (Sutton)
6) Buffalo Mine Trail (Sutton)
7) Eska Creek Trail (Sutton)
Funding:
The National Institute of Water Resources (NIWR) and Alaska Space Grant
Partners:
Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation and Alaska Trails
Observing guidance:
Observers are asked to report overall observation of trail condition, types of users (OHV, horse, hiker, etc.), number of stream crossings on the trail, and total distance of trail travelled. Detailed photos are encouraged in addition to information about the precise location and dates of the observations. Any additional items about the trail experience, whether positive or negative is welcome. Data summaries from point locations are also requested. If you have experience with soil quality or water quality, observations, particularly at stream crossings is greatly appreciated.
Source Data:
Observations, aerial photography, satellite imagery, drone footage
Outputs:
Addition to final map product (possible) and possible included in the summary of my master’s thesis, NIWR Report, and Alaska Space Grant Report
Project Updates:
Quarterly or as requested
Resources:
The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation works to maintain a quality trail system in the Mat-Su Valley by developing a management plan for the integrated system of trails and parks throughout the Mat-Su Borough. Read more about their work at https://matsutrails.org/
Soil texture indicates the content of certain particles, such as sand, sil, or clay. A soil texture calculator can be found here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/research/guide/?cid=nrcs142p2_054167
References:
Arp, C. D., & Simmons, T. (2012). Analyzing the impacts of off-road vehicle (ORV) trails on watershed processes in wrangell-st. elias National Park and preserve, Alaska. Environmental Management, 49(3), 751–766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-012-9811-z
Bartram, J., & Ballance, R. (n.d.). Water Quality Monitoring -A Practical Guide to the Design and Implementation of Freshwater Quality Studies and Monitoring Programmes Edited Chapter 13 -SEDIMENT MEASUREMENTS, 0–419. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resourcesquality/wqmchap13.pdf
Kim, Y. (2014). Soil Erosion Assessment using GIS and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Retrieved from http://www.caee.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/giswr2014/ProjectReport/Kim.pdf
Marion, J. L. (2006). Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area. Retrieved from https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/prodabs/pubpdfs/6612_marion.pdf
Mitasova, H., Barton, M., Ullah, I., Hofierka, J., & Harmon, R. S. (2013). 3.9 GIS-Based Soil Erosion Modeling. In Treatise on Geomorphology (pp. 228–258). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00052-X
Observations From Members