All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trail Mitigation Study: Comparison of Natural and Geosynthetic Materials for Surface Hardening within Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Allen JL, Shea KE, Loya WM, Cook MB, Happe PJ. 2001. All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trail Mitigation Study: Comparison of Natural and Geosynthetic Materials for Surface Hardening within Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) Research and Resource Management. No. 2001-1. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Research and Resource Management
Several studies have documented the potential and existing environmental degradation due to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use in sub-arctic terrain. Impacts include vegetation damage or destruction, changes in vegetation community composition and structure, substrate thermal change and permafrost thaw, and soil erosion and subsequent development of thermokarst features and terrain degradation. One of the most evident effects of prolonged ATV use in sub-arctic tundra is the development of extensive trail braiding. Trail braiding results from alternate trails that are created by users in order to avoid mud bogs and standing water (ponding) that develop on ATV trails which are underlain by ice ridge permafrost. One option for mitigating the effects of ATVs is to use surface hardening materials to stabilize trail degradation on ATV trails. This study tests the practicality, effectiveness and feasibility of several geosynthetic and natural trail hardening materials in sub-arctic environments in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska. This report documents the results of the mitigation phase of a Natural Resource Preservation Program funded study: the Assessment and Mitigation of ATV Impacts Project within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Allen, J; Shea, K; Loya, W; Cook, Mary; Happe, P
- Date of Issue
- 2001
- Publisher
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Research and Resource Management
- Units
- WRST
- Keywords
- all-terrain vehicle, ATV, Erosion-Sedimentation, geosynthetic material, Hydrology(Surface), Management, Monitoring, natural materials, OHV, ORV, Physical Sciences, Plant Communities, Plant Studies, Recreation/Aesthectics, Restoration-Natural, surface hardening, trail mitigation, Trails, Visitor Impacts