Road and Trail Treatments
Postfire road treatments consist of a variety of practices aimed at increasing the water and sediment processing capabilities of roads and road structures, such as culverts and bridges, in order to prevent large cut-and-fill failures and the movement of sediment downstream. The functionality of the road drainage system is not affected by fire, but the burned-over watershed can affect the functionality of that system. Road treatments include outsloping, gravel on the running surface, ditch rocks, culvert removal, culvert sizing, overflows, armored stream crossings, rolling dips, and water bars. The treatments are not meant to retain water and sediment, but rather to manage water’s erosive force. Trash racks and storm patrols are aimed at preventing culvert blockages due to organic debris, which could result in road failure that would increase downstream flood or sediment damage.
Trail rehabilitation treatments mimic road treatments but on a smaller scale. Trail treatment is labor intensive, as all the work must be done by hand with materials that can be carried or brought in on ATV’s.
Comprehensive discussions of road-related treatments and their effectiveness can be found in Goldman and others (1986) and Burroughs and King (1989). These references cover design standards, improvement techniques, and evaluation of some surface drainage treatments for reducing sedimentation. Water/Road Interactions Field Guide is a new web-based tool that illustrates common forest road/water problems and appropriate mitigation techniques (Water/Road Interaction Team 2000).
Encyclopedia ID: p291
