tacrac
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March / April 2010 No. 35
Improving Trails, Protecting Resources
Trails are the intersection of conservation and recreation. They are the pathways through which we can experience, explore, interact and connect with beauty, diversity and wonder of nature. However, trail construction, maintenance and use also impact the nature that we are there to enjoy. Most times, the ecological impacts of trails are minor and limited, and certainly worth the trade off of appropriate public access into natural areas, but sometime these impacts can be significant or serious, and should be avoided.
All recreational trail uses have impacts to the environment. Whether you are a bird watcher or a bike rider, your presence contributes to:
Vegetation trampling
Soil compaction and displacement
Wildlife disturbance
Potentially, erosion and sedimentation into wetland resource areas
Among the factors that contribute to the extent of these impacts are the magnitude of trail use, trail layout and design, and user behavior. For example, trails with higher levels of use, will likely have greater impacts in terms of soil compaction, trail widening, vegetation trampling and wildlife disturbance than those with lower use levels. Fall line trails (those that are oriented directly downhill), are much more likely to channel water, erode and produce sedimentation than well-designed contour trails (those that roughly follow the contour and have grade changes designed into them to shed water). Off-trail activities – including free-riding, off-leash dogs, and off-trail nature study – extend the environmental impacts of recreational use beyond the existing trail network.
Of particular concern to trail builders, maintainers and users should be areas where off-trail uses or existing trails intersect with sensitive resources, such as:
Wetland resource areas
Vernal pools
Rare and endangered species habitats
Priority natural vegetation communities
Sensitive archeological and cultural sites
Protecting Wetland Resources
Trails can negatively impact wetland resources when they directly traverse wetlands without sustainable surfaces, and when they generate sedimentation through displacement and erosion that is carried into wetland resources. The primary contributor to wetland impacts is trail design, including the presence of sustainable wetland crossing structures such as stepping stones, bridges and boardwalks.
In Massachusetts, any activity, including trail construction or maintenance, that has the potential to fill, remove, dredge or alter wetland resource areas (including bordering vegetated wetlands and the 200 foot riverfront area) must be permitted through the local conservation commission. The conservation commission will determine whether a project is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act, and if so, what conditions must be met to protect wetland resources.
It is important to note that mud holes or wet trail segments are not necessarily wetland resource areas, and do not necessarily impact wetland resources through sedimentation. The primary impact of wet trail areas is trail widening and vegetation trampling as users try to avoid them.
Protecting Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are important wildlife habitats (temporary wetlands) best known for the amphibians and invertebrate animals that use them to breed. Some vernal pools are important breeding habitat for rare and endangered species. The Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) “certifies” the occurrence of vernal pools, and this certification process relies on volunteers to identify, document and submit findings to NHESP.
Most vertebrate species that depend on vernal pools for breeding spend the majority of their lives in the upland habitat around the pool. Thus, NHESP has provided the following recommendations to consider when maintaining and constructing trails near vernal pool. These include:
Consult existing maps or NHESP to determine the location of vernal pools near proposed trail construction or maintenance projects
Identify, and if possible certify, vernal pools near trails
Maintain pool water quality by adopting best management practices that prevent erosion of sediments into pools
Maintain shading around pools, do not clear vegetation around pool edges
Maintain habitat structure in adjacent upland by not disturbing rocks, tree trunks and branches near pool
Maintain habitat structure in pools by not removing or piling branches
Close and / or re-route any trails within vernal pools
Try to avoid building trails within 50 feet of a vernal pool
Consider relocating heavily traveled trails 100 ft. away from vernal pools
Protecting Threatened and Endangered Species
Rare plants and animals exemplify the beauty and diversity of the natural world. There mere existence can be inspiring and motivating. However, threatened and endangers species also brings home the fragility of the natural world and our role as humans in forces of either protection or destruction. Over 440 species of plants and animals are protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). MESA protects state-listed rare species and their habitats by prohibiting the “take” of any species that is listed as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern. A “Take” is any activity that directly kills or injures a MESA-listed species, as well as activities that disrupt rare species behavior and their habitat.
Trail building activities have the potential to “take” rare species and are thus subject to review by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhesp.htm) if they occur in areas that have been delineated as “Priority Habitat.”
For example, vista clearing on a ridge top has the potential to destroy a rare woody plant. A boardwalk through a marsh might disturb endangered nesting birds. Or a new trail next to a vernal pool might contribute to mortality of threatened salamanders.
You can determine if your project will occur within Priority Habitat with the help of the Priority Habitat on-line viewer (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/regulatory_review/priority_habitat/online_viewer.htm). If your trail project is located within priority habitat, you must file a MESA project review checklist.
Protecting Archeological Resources
New trail construction, particularly if it involves soil excavation, has the potential to disturb historic and pre-historic archeological resources that may still exist below ground. In addition, trails and trail use could impact historic structures such as stone walls or cellar holes.
Any trail project that is on state property or is funded through state or federal funds (including Recreational Trails Grants) require review from the Massachusetts Historic Commission (MHC; http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/) and require a Project Notification Form. This form may be found at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/MHC/mhcform/formidx.htm. If the project is not in an area with archeological and/or cultural resources, the MHC will not require anything further. If the project is in such an area, or in an area that meets the criteria for a site that might have archeological resources, the MHC may request additional information or an archaeological survey.
Tips and Tools (Mattock and McLeod)
Request for Determination of Applicability form, for use with local conservation commissions, is at http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/wpaform1.pdf.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection website: http://www.mass.gov/dep/
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program’s (NHESP) online viewer, with explanations, is at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/regulatory_review/priority_habitat/online_viewer.htm.
MESA Project Review Checklist is at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/regulatory_review/pdf/mesa_proj_review_check_elect.pdf.
NHESP website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhesp.htm
Massachusetts Historical Commission’s (MHC) Project Notification Form is online at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/MHC/mhcform/formidx.htm.
MHC website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/
2010 Changes to Motorized Trail Opportunities in
Pittsfield State Forest
DCR is initiating a planning and design process to rehabilitate and improve the Pittsfield State Forest trail system for multi-use (motorized and non-motorized) recreational access and resource protection. During the process, DCR will close approximately 20 miles of the currently designated ATV and motorcycle trails in the Forest for the 2010 season to protect rare species and sensitive wetland resources. Approximately 14 miles of Pittsfield State Forest’s ATV and motorcycle trails will remain open for those uses for the 2010 season. The trail system is scheduled to open to recreational ATV and motorcycle use on Saturday, May 29, 2010. To maximize rider safety and enjoyment and minimize degradation of the remaining trails from overuse during the closure period, DCR will institute an ATV and motorcycle recreational use permit system for Pittsfield State Forest. A maximum of 50 rider permits will be issued through Pittsfield State Forest headquarters each day.
More information is available at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/ohv/pittsfieldplanning.pdf, and additional information on the permit system will be posted on DCR’s website as it becomes available.
On the Path Ahead
DCR Park Serve Day
DCR’s statewide volunteer day, Park Serve will be held Saturday, April 24th. Why not join Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray, Secretary Bowles and Commissioner Sullivan and pick a park, give a day and make a difference! Many of the 67 sites have Friends groups co-sponsoring their events and signing up additional volunteers throughout the state. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Park Serve Day, please visit our website to register on-line: www.mass.gov/dcr/parkserve.
National Park Service Community Assistance: Application deadline August 1
The National Park Service can provide staff time to assist community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. NPS staff provide guidance to communities so they can develop trails and greenways, conserve waterways and preserve open space. Currently NPS is working on four projects in Massachusetts (http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/whatwedo/projects/MA.pdf).
Prospective applicants should discuss their project with NPS before applying for assistance. It can be helpful to schedule an advance field visit by our staff to best understand how RTCA can be of assistance. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/rtca or contact Charles Tracy, Massachusetts Director (charles_tracy@nps.gov or 617-223-5210).
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Please forward to others who might be interested in Massachusetts Greenways and Trails.
Connections is the electronic newsletter from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Greenways and Trails Program,
Paul Jahnige, Director
136 Damon Road
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-8706 ext. 20
paul.jahnige@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/greenway/index.htm
Deval Patrick, Governor
Tim Murray, Lieutenant Governor
Ian Bowles, Secretary, Energy and Environmental Affairs
Rick Sullivan, Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Recreation
DCR Greenways
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