trail assessment & project planning update. 2014 update after 10 years of data collection on the...
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Trail Assessment & Project PlanningUpdate
2014 UpdateAfter 10 years of data collection on the trail(two complete assessments of the entire trail), we have decided to take a year off so we can:
1) analyze the data for patterns and trends
2) evaluate the planning process and identify where improvements can be made
Data Patterns & Trends
∙ Over 90% are “treadway” related problems
∙ Over 50% are “serious” or “critical”
∙ ME & NH have the most
∙ WV, MD, NJ have the least
TreadwayCampsite
Critical
Serious
Minor
Maine
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Virginia
Tennessee
Vermont
Pennsylvania
Massa-chusetts
New York Georgia Connecticut New JerseyMaryland West Virginia
92.4%
52.1%
10.9%
Data Patterns & Trends
∙ Over 70% of the proposed solutions
involve building something new
∙ Over 75% of the new items are
steps, checkdams or waterbars
Steps50.82%
Waterbars15.64%
Checkdams21.78%
Other5.57%
73.28%
9.88%
9.02%
4.76%
1.68% 0.50% 0.42% 0.41% 0.05%
Build/AddRepairReplaceRemoveOtherMonitorCloseReportMow
∙ 43,690 Steps ∙ 13,342 Check Dams ∙ 11,909 Water Bars ∙ 9,542 Other Items
78,483 Total Items
Data Patterns & Trends
∙ Nearly 50% of the problems need
a trail crew to fix
∙ In New England alone, 75% of the
problems need a trail crew to fix
YESNO
Not Sure
YES
NO
Problems per Mile for each Club
Maine A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Appalach
ian M
ountain Club
Randolph M
ountain Club
Dartmouth O
uting Club
Green M
ountain Club
AMC - Berk
shire
Chapter
AMC - Connecti
cut C
hapter
New Yo
rk-New
Jerse
y Trai
l Confer
ence
Wilm
ington Tr
ail Club
Batona H
iking C
lub
AMC - Dela
ware Vall
ey Chap
ter
Philadelp
hia Tra
il Club
Blue Mountai
n Eagle
Climbing C
lub
Allentown Hiki
ng Club
Susq
uehan
na Appala
chian
Trail
Club
York
Hiking C
lub
Mountain Club of M
arylan
d
Cumberlan
d Valley
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Potomac Appala
chian
Trail
Club
Old Dominion Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Tidew
ater A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Natural
Bridge
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Roanoke
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Outdoor Club of V
irginia
Tech
Piedmont A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Hike
rs
Mount Roge
rs Appala
chian
Trail
Club
Tenness
ee Ea
stman
Hiking a
nd Canoein
g Club
Carolin
a Mountai
n Club
Smoky
Mountai
n Hiking C
lub
Nantah
ala Hiki
ng Club
Georgi
a Appala
chian
Trail
Club0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
ME, NH & TN/NChave the most
PA has the least
Cost per Mile by Club
Maine A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Appalach
ian M
ountain Club
Randolph M
ountain Club
Dartmouth O
uting Club
Green M
ountain Club
AMC - Berk
shire
Chapter
AMC - Connecti
cut C
hapter
New Yo
rk-New
Jerse
y Trai
l Confer
ence
Wilm
ington Tr
ail Club
Batona H
iking C
lub
AMC - Dela
ware Vall
ey Chap
ter
Philadelp
hia Tra
il Club
Blue Mountai
n Eagle
Climbing C
lub
Allentown Hiki
ng Club
Susq
uehan
na Appala
chian
Trail
Club
York
Hiking C
lub
Mountain Club of M
arylan
d
Cumberlan
d Valley
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Potomac Appala
chian
Trail
Club
Old Dominion Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Tidew
ater A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Natural
Bridge
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Roanoke
Appalach
ian Tr
ail Club
Outdoor Club of V
irginia
Tech
Piedmont A
ppalach
ian Tr
ail Hike
rs
Mount Roge
rs Appala
chian
Trail
Club
Tenness
ee Ea
stman
Hiking a
nd Canoein
g Club
Carolin
a Mountai
n Club
Smoky
Mountai
n Hiking C
lub
Nantah
ala Hiki
ng Club
Georgi
a Appala
chian
Trail
Club0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
ME, NH & WTC’s sectionhave the highest cost
MA, CT, NY, RATC & the South have the next highest cost
Recap
∙ Over 90% of the deficiencies are “treadway” related
∙ Over 50% of the deficiencies are considered “serious” or “critical”
∙ ME & NH have the most deficiencies; WV, MD, NJ have the least
∙ Over 70% of the proposed solutions involve building something
new
∙ 75% of the new items suggested are steps, waterbars or
checkdams
∙ Nearly 50% of the problems need a trail crew to fix
(In New England alone, 75% of the problems need a trail crew to fix)
How do we incorporate this informationinto the planning process?
We need to focus more attention on sections with the greatest needs
For effective stewardship and continuity So we have something to work with – save it before it’s too bad to fix
We need to address the critical and serious problems before we address minor ones We need to consider alternative solutions for areas that have a
high number of deficiencies (possible relos or realignments?) and implement more sustainable designs with projects where the trail is in its optimal location
Gullying on Saddleback Junior
Why is this important?Showing Improvements = $$$ NPS provides 1-million dollars per year towards trail work, which includes:
NPS funding for trail work is only possible if we can show improvements to the trail and that we are working to address identified deficiencies
• Konnarock Trail Crew Program
• Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew Program
• Rocky Top & SWEAT Crew Programs
• MATC Trail Crew
• AMC-WM Trail Crew
• DOC Trail Crew
• Vermont Trail Crew
• Youth Crews
• Bridge Projects
• Shelter Projects
• Parking Lot Projects
• Maintained Landscape Projects
• Boundary Maintenance
• Structure Demolition
• Other Trail Projects
APPA currently has the second lowest CRV of all Class III Trails in the entire park service – this is NOT good!
The CRV for APPA should be at least equal to the closest comparable CRVs, which is $43.03/linear foot if you average DEWA, SHEN & GRSMParks Selected Trail Class CRV per Linear Foot
All NPS All $56.62All NPS Class 3 Only $55.99All NPS Class 2,3,4 $59.61Northeast Region All $68.63Northeast Region Class 3 Only $79.29Northeast Region Class 2,3,4 $96.14Delaware Water Gap All $58.29Delaware Water Gap Class 3 Only $78.59Delaware Water Gap Class 2,3,4 $100.68Shenandoah All $25.41Shenandoah Class 3 Only $24.85Shenandoah Class 2,3,4 $26.95Great Smoky Mountains All $43.66Great Smoky Mountains Class 3 Only $43.96Great Smoky Mountains Class 2,3,4 $44.40DEWA, SHEN, GRSM All $44.75DEWA, SHEN, GRSM Class 3 Only $45.18
DEWA, SHEN, GRSM Class 2,3,4 $43.03
APPA also has low or inaccurate API scores for individual assets, meaning our projects rank low for funding
Trail (Treadway) – API 100 (OB 1)
Maintained Landscapes – API 88 (OB 1)
Shelters/Privies – API 75 (OB 2)
Parking Areas – API 46 (OB 3)
Campsites – API 37 (OB 3)
API = Asset Priority Index; OB = Optimizer Band
To improve our CRV & API values, we need:
Additional photos & documentation on facilities (shelters, privies, parking areas, etc)
Detailed inventory of all treadway assets (including stairs, boardwalk, puncheon, turnpike, etc)
Pleasant Pond Mountain Lower section, Old Blue
We also need better reporting so we “count” all the work
We need better information
for all projects (not just NPS
funded projects) – including
total hours on each project,
list of materials for each
project, and before & after
photos – all in a standardized
format, trail-wide
Reporting
Draft Reporting Form
We also need to provide better information to you, the
trail maintainers and managers
Supply data in different formatso e.g. Google Earth, Online Webmap, Interactive Forms
Organize information in more manageable unitso e.g. by club district, by maintainer section
What else would help?
Provide Better Information
Proposed plan for 20151. Begin prioritizing projects and realigning resources
towards areas with the highest identified needs
2. Begin collecting additional data on trail assets so we can more accurately calculate the value of the trail and its features
3. Standardize the reporting process so we can close out deficiencies that have been addressed and illustrate where trail conditions are improving
4. Provide more useful information to clubs
ContactKeith Stegall – Acting Facility Manager for [email protected] 304-535-4001
Jessica Bundy – FMSS Specialist for [email protected] 304-535-4027
Matt Robinson – GIS Specialist for [email protected] 304-535-4010