OF4WD Trail Maintenance Program

Through the use of the Adopt-a-Trail, and the Trail Reporting systadems the OF4WD is able to monitor the conditions of the trails under its mandate. The Trail Reporting system allows for all users of trails to report problems as they find them, while the Adopt-a-Trail program ensures accountability for key trails and ensures that they are being monitored regularly.  These two programs collect a wealth of information that provide a baseline for trail conditions as well as information that inform needs for trail maintenance.

The OF4WD Trail Maintenance Program is intended to provide resources and education to facilitate the maintenance of these trails helping to contribute to a sustainable trail system.

Examples of activities that fall under the Trail Maintenance Program include;

•    Trail garbage cleanups
  

  Repair work on the Millennium Trail with KATVA

•     Maintenance of trail surfaces or crossings
•     Replacement of culverts
•     Trail signage
•     Tree planting
•      Clearing fallen trees
•      Trail Investigations

To help with Trail Investigation Runs Please fill out this form

How to Address Trail Maintenance Concerns

Trail maintenance of Ontario trails is likely the most important aspect of providing a sustainable trail system for all trail users. It is also the most expensive item on the budgets of most user groups as well, except for our OFSC friends who have additional large grooming costs during the winter months.

Trail maintenance is 90% taken on by the volunteers of each organization and with today’s society it has become harder and harder to find volunteers due to time restraints.

This article will help you address trail maintenance concerns on your own and provide a path for escalation when you are un-able to conduct the activity required to correct the issue.

What should I do if I come across fallen trees across the Trail?
Tree fall after large storms or pre-season maintenance is one of the most popular events to occur. Trees fall across trails all the time causing trail blockages where users are un-able to get through. These events, if not dealt with can cause a few un-wanted attributes;

Some trail users not equipped to remove the tree will attempt to find another way around it by creating a new trail. This is not desirable and does not conform with the tread lightly principles. Always stay on the designated trail.

Users become perturbed at the situation and are forced to turn back. If this happens all the time in a certain area users will stop using those trails affecting economic impact in those said areas

When coming across a fallen tree in your path you have a few options;

You can clear the tree, if equipped and trained / experienced to do so ensuring it fully clears the trails edges allowing all other user groups to pass safely. Generally speaking we like to see the trail at a minimum of 14 feet wide to allow snow groomers to pass in the winter months and allow safe passing of oncoming vehicles travelling in opposite directions

If not equipped to clear the tree please perform the following;

• Take a picture from a few angles
• Mark the location via a gps or odometer reading
• Turn around and use a different trail that day
• Report the fallen tree location and send pictures via online trail report
  

The trail reports are intercepted by OF4WD volunteers and shared with other trail user groups where as they coordinate efforts to have the tree cleared. The OF4WD index map is also updated to reflect the condition if it will be there for any amount of time. Generally speaking trees have been getting cleared within a few days of a report by organizations volunteers thanks to your help and the communication avenues between users groups.

What should I do if I come across a mud / water hole to deep for me to pass safely or had a great deal of trouble in negotiating passage?

Dependant on trail rating, time of year and vehicle specs water / mud holes are very difficult to rate and deal with. These holes can change levels dependant on many different situations and have to be addressed on a case by case scenario.

 

 

You encounter a hole that requires addressing, what to do?

• Take a picture from a few angles
• Mark the location via a gps or odometer reading
• Scope out what maybe causing the abnormal water levels (water runoff, beaver dams, wet season?)
• Scope out a possible bypass to higher ground and take picture
• Report your findings via the online trail reporting system Trail Report

Reports will be intercepted by OF4WD volunteers where a few things may happen;

• Trail rating could change if nothing can be done about the situation
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to re-direct the trail
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to provide adequate drainage or fill to the area to reduce the problem

How to address smaller water holes with low lying areas in close proximity and why bother?

Many trails have random water holes with low lying areas to one or both sides of them. Generally speaking these holes are only the length of a vehicle or a little more. Smaller water holes are a concern because it softens the trail tread. As vehicles pass through them it becomes compressed allowing water to collect which only adds to the problem.

In discussions with the MNR it is permissible to drain these small holes to adjacent low lying areas providing it does not cause flooding or other trail drainage issues. This is preferred as certain species will bread in these areas and by moving the habitat close by will not allow for vehicles to interfere. In addition this also protects the trail tread allowing for less trail maintenance and prevention of worsening conditions.

If there is ever a doubt or you are un-sure about what to do, report the issue though the trail reporting system https://www.of4wd.com/trailreport.asp (Sorry, no mobile app for this feature yet) where volunteers of the OF4WD will assist you in correcting the issue at a future date.

What should I do if I notice the trail is becoming dug out or eroded where it is almost impossible to pass or causing other trail degrading issues?

Every sport out there has an impact on trail surfaces where as organizations have to address the problems on a case by case scenario.

These situations could include;

• Hill climbs or descents where water runoff or wheel spin is causing a considerable amount of materials to collect at the bottom of the hill. This is especially concerning when the trail is near rivers and lakes as the minerals can cause water contamination issues.
• Trenching or rutting of the trail surface is un-wanted as it makes the trail impassable and not enjoyable for most riders.

What can I do about it?

• Take a picture from a few angles
• Mark the location via a gps or odometer reading
• Scope out what maybe causing the erosion (water runoff, or vehicles)
• Scope out a possible bypass with a reducing slope or higher elevation and take pictures
• Report your findings via the on-line trail reporting systems

Reports will be intercepted by OF4WD volunteers where a few things may happen;

• Trail rating could change if nothing can be done about the situation and it has no significant environmental impact
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to re-direct the trail
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to provide alternate water runoff locations to reduce the erosion caused by high water volumes and velocity.
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to provide a slope change if required

I’m noticing that a water crossing, bridge or culvert, is breaking down and could pose a hazard or make the trail impassable. What should I do?

Many of the bridges and culverts on trails are becoming degraded and it has become very expensive to replace and repair these devices. Organizations are teaming up every year to address such issues.

What you can do to help;

• Take a picture from a few angles
• Mark the location via a gps or odometer reading
• State possible fixes or alterations that could be performed to correct the issue
• Report your findings via the on-line trail reporting systems

Reports will be intercepted by OF4WD volunteers where a few things may happen;

• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to re-place and or repair the device
• A work plan developed and approved by the MNR to provide alternate water crossing location if more suited for the situation
• A trail index map notice will be posted to notify members of situation.

I have encountered a beaver dam on the trail causing levels to rise or making it impassable. What should I do?

Beaver dams posse to be problems for all trail users and land owners as the beavers try to expand their habitat. There are very specific rules in dealing with beavers which can be found Here

The MNR and OF4WD have discussed certain locations and situations where we as an organization can deal with beaver dams while maintaining the trails. The OF4WD trail map index will describe a beaver dam location and dictate whether it has had a history of posing to be a problem on a trail. If it is stated in the map pdf document then you may do the following;

If the dam is of no significant size, meaning it is not holding back large amounts of water (Only an inch or three high of water on trail) than in can removed to allow drainage of the trail

If the dam is holding back significant amounts of water, more than 4 inches of water on the trail then you shall leave the dam in position and notify the OF4WD via the trail reporting system by;

• Take a picture from a few angles
• Mark the location via a gps or odometer reading
• Scope out where the water will go if it was to be drained
• Report your findings via the on-line trail reporting systems

Reports will be intercepted by OF4WD volunteers where a few things may happen;

•  The MNR will be notified of the situation where as the OF4WD will be given direction on how to proceed.
• If a problem persists the MNR has people who can relocate the beaver and clear the dam in a controlled fashion that will not impact flooding concerns. This method will also have the dam completely removed making it hard to rebuild

A trail index map notice will be posted to notify members of situation

**If ever in doubt and un-sure of what to do, STOP, and do nothing physically. Report the problem and allow the OF4WD and mnr to address the situation.

Why do trail maintenance?

All trail users deserve the right to enjoy the trails with whatever means they choose. What works for the 4WD may not necessarily work for the ATV, horse, bike or sled and visa versa. The key to a unified sustainable trail system is through trail maintenance where all users can decide and negotiate best options on how to address issues while still bringing enjoyment and safety to their riders. Without this concept in place and the teamwork of multi-trail user groups, places to ride will be greatly reduced on all fronts. This has an economic impact on travel and tourism, sales of merchandise in each related sports field and an overall effect on each individuals sport positive experience and riding enjoyment.

By conducting trail maintenance and helping each other out we can all enjoy the trails to its furthest extent as money goes further.