Managing Degraded Off-highway Vehicle Trails in Wet, Unstable, and Sensitive Environments

Book excerpt: Environmental impacts associated with the degradation of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails have become a serious concern in many regions. Where OHV trails indiscriminately cross alpine areas, wetlands, steep slopes, and other areas with sensitive soil conditions, trails can become rutted, mucky, and eroded. Such areas are referred to as degraded trail segments. Degraded trails develop when trail use exceeds the trail's natural carrying capacity. This document provides land managers and trail users with an introduction to OHV trail degradation and outlines a framework for management responses.