[Sep 18, 2014] Forest Service to Host Trail Strategy Meeting! (Troy, NC)

[trailhugger]

NORTH CAROLINA - Forest Service to Host Trail Strategy Meeting

The National Forests in North Carolina have announced that they will host a workshop on September 18, 2014, to address management of non-motorized and motorized recreation trails across the Uwharrie National Forest. The meeting will be held6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Garner Center, 210 Burnette St., Troy, North Carolina.

Representatives from a wide range of trail-user groups, individuals who represent local communities and ecotourism, or individuals not represented by larger user groups, are invited to collaborate in the process, which is expected to take up to a year to complete. The result will be recommendations for a comprehensive trail management plan for the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina, along with a stronger community of volunteers to assist with these efforts.

The Forest Service initiated this process because use of forest trails in North Carolina is increasing every year. Resources used to maintain trails have been static or decreasing. The emphasis will be on high-quality experiences on sustainable trail systems. The trail strategy is the next step in implementing the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Uwharrie National Forest, which called for designated non-motorized and motorized trails.

With more than 120 miles of system trails, the Uwharrie National Forest encompasses 50,000-plus acres in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc for more information.

Thanks in advance and, as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

 

[RatLabGuy]

How did this go? I know Snappy went.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

From talking with Snappy this weekend, you win some and you loose some.


But we do need to have a better showing of the OHV crowd.

 

[trailhugger]

Update from snappy:

Ok now that I am on my pc I will try to get some of the info that was shared with us at the strategy meeting. The first hour and half was a lot of info to educate the user. The goal over the next year or two is to develop the designated trail system. Sounds like not a lot of change for the OHV trails but the horses, mount bike and hiking trails are up for some changes. First they are trying to see if a dual trail use will work for mountain bike on horse or hiking trails and the possibility of trail pass requirements for other user groups. Here are some stats they shared with us....

5.4 million users use URE each year.

The budget given to the entire NC forest system(including the pisgah and croatan) is $330,000 a year.

The budget per trail mile(all user groups) is $180

There are 122 total miles at URE
52 miles of hiking trails
15 miles of mountain biking
38 miles of horse trails
17 miles of OHV(not sure if the closed section of RML is included in this number)

Last 3 year avg of Volunteer hours has been 21,000 hours worth $470,000 a year in RTP matching funds

Annual trail passes avg $100,000 of which Uwharrie keeps 95% for their use

Goals of this planning has 3 main items
1. Restore Forest to more natural ecological condition
2. Better manage cultural resources
3. Provide outstanding environmental friendly outdoor Recreational opportunities

First Debra Walker spoke and gave a lot of this info. The next to speak was Mr. Eric Crews and I did not get his title but he discussed the goals of proper trail design (looping trails that don't dead end etc etc) and the goal was not to add a lot of new trail mileage but to improve the quality of what is there. He did say that new trails where not out of the question but not the number one goal.

The next to speak was the Botanist for the forest service that gave a great presentation on invasive species and how they get there (never would have thought not washing your rig between venues could do this!) Re-vegation of the trails is a great thing because a lot the the rear plants grow really well in the more open area of the trail!! Look more for this in up coming info.

Next to speak was Joel the "Indiana Jones" of the forest service. He talked about prehistory artifacts and history artifacts and explained layers and they determine if they can be preserved or have to be restricted(case in point on RML). There has been lots of research in the forest and names of arrow heads even in other places have local names we would all recognize.

The next was Terry and she posted pics of improper trails (both design and neglected), and it was like someone kicked me in the gut......She then showed pics of what has been done to correct and fix issues and I was proud to say most of the repairs volunteers have done!

Last was the pr guy that talked about things to come on the tech side.

After this we split up in small groups and were able to do some Q and A with reps one on one.

I spoke with the botanist and got a list of grasses we can use on the trail, and some safe practices to help keep out unwanted plant life.

I moved next to speak with Joel and he will be heading up the contractors in October on RML. He will then need our help to sort the items! I think this will be very cool and I would love to see several of us help so we know what to look for! Details to come on this soon.

I moved to Eric Crews and a huge map of our trail system. We discussed the closure and my concern of it not reopening. I showed the sections on Daniel getting the heavier use to the closure, he seemed concerned and willing to listen. I explained what all we have gotten done as a volunteer group this year (BFG award, SFWDA grant, and the others that have donated). I explained we understood that the goal wasn't really more mileage but we did lose mileage and would like to get that back. I expressed ideas of a "harder" section and had his Attention! Seems that lake view trail is a real possibility if we can get our current trails to become self sustaining! We talked about the idea of a man made obstacle and the issues the FS has with it. We even drew the rough trail on a map. Basically leaves out of the art lilley area behind the outhouse and circles back around to the rocky area at the Wolf Den trail head. Talked about doing away with the mud hill climb on wolf den and dutch john to keep non tagged vehicles off the gravel road.

All in all a very positive and informative meeting. Myself and one other OHV person were there. There where about 40 other users there. The bike guys have there stuff together and the FS listened! The next step is to break into individual user groups for planning. When this happens we need to represent ourselves in a big way. I would love to see a rep from each club that has a trail to be involved and anyone else that will!

 

[75HogCruiser]

I'm a user of OHV trails at least once a month when opened. Also a 4 day weekend in the spring & one in the fall with family and friends. I'm not a member of a 4x4club but I live only 20 miles from the OutPost and want to know what I can do to help and would enjoy attending some of the meetings and volunteering my time and labor.

Please contact me by email - mwburke1@windstream.net with any information available on how my family, friends and I can help keep Urwharrie beautiful and the trails opened!

Thanks,
Mark