WRTs Spring Cleaning > SUNDAY, April 28 > Yellow north of WG

[rich_k]

Wolf River Trails Spring Cleaning

When: April 28, 2013, 9 am

Where: Meet at Walnut Grove Rd./Wolf River Trails trailhead (under the Walnut Grove
Rd. overpass)

Work area: Yellow trail from Walnut Grove Rd. to 3-plank bridge; clear privet and
other brush, improve visibility near blind corners

Depending on turn-out, may also clear sections of the Blue in the same area

What to bring: Weed wackers, trimmers, machetes, pruning saws

What to wear: Long pants and sleeves; poison ivy and briars are abundant; eye protection

Who: Brad will clear this with the park and Steve K will bring the DR. Let's have a good turnout get the trails in shape for the warm weather.

[rich_k]

A show of hands by those who can participate will be appreciated.

I imagine that the work can be completed within 3-4 hours (less w/ strong attendance!).

Thanks!

[muddymatt]

Rich
i am a firm maybe. coming back from Little rock that morning.
Matt

[Brad C]

I have secured approval from Shelby Farms to proceed with the corridor clearing. I stated to the park that this is routine trail corridor maintenance and that no trail reroutes are part of this work. Reroutes would need specific approval from SFPC and TDEC.

[111tmoney111]

I might not have 3-4 hours to work depending on some other stuff i got going on sunday early afternoon, but i can make it out sunday morning at 9am. Until next winter, i will only have sundays available to help. I don't have any of the tools requested, but i got plenty of energy.

I wanna fill up some of the holes on the blue that hold water or do something to help the water drain off of certain areas.

[Brad C]

Just to show how MSTA stands with Shelby Farms management, I received the preliminary go ahead from Dir. of Operations Linda Brashear in 36 minutes. That approval was pending Operations Manager Larry Pickens final approval.

Monday is Larry's day off, however he still read the emails. Larry's approval came 34 minutes later.

Not bad for a park that not too many years ago intensely disliked mountain bikes. I doubt any other user group could get approval for a project that quickly, and by email only. We have built a reputation that we will do what we proposed, no more, no less.

[rich_k]

Thanks for handling that, Brad. See you all on Sunday morning...

[Larry D]

I should be there to help. I'll supply gatorade and water and other recovery beverages.

[Larry D]

Brad, Regarding not doing reroutes unless approved. Some of those holes on the Blue are pretty big and deep. If we duck around a tree or two would that be defined reroute? I look at a reroute as being a longer bypass of an area. I know that anything moved is a reroute but could we get an exemption for something smaller, assuming it is an approved work day?

I see filling holes with dirt as being equally destructive (we pulling dirt from another spot) and they normally don't last long term since the spot is lower and water is already directed to the spot.

Just wanted to ask. They trust our opinions in most instances it seems.

[Brad C]

I sent this question to the park. I did state that many of these deep holes are leftover from the 24 years of off road motorcycle use on these trails. So far I have not received a reply.

Ops. Mgr. Larry Pickens is new so I think he is still feeling his way around on questions like this. He may be running this past TDEC to find out the extent he can approve minor modifications to the trails in the NA. Natural area law and the management rules are fairly tight so not much can be done "on the fly."

We may have to leave the trail where it is at the moment and take pictures of the problem locations. Then submit them with comments regarding the proposed improvements. It could even take a meeting with TDEC rep. Allan Trently to get the changes approved.

[Brad C]

The decision on the mud hole issue is leave the trail where it is. Take pictures of the locations that need changes. These locations will be discussed with TDEC for future reroutes.

[111tmoney111]

The ditch on the yellow between WG and 3 Plank has been shaved, profiled, and ready for action. Above is it's current state. Below is the previous state.

I rode this section of yellow and blue yesterday. It's in good shape except for the face slappers and such. Most of the mud spots on the blue can be avoided.

Brad, can we at least smooth out this ditch crossing on the yellow just a little bit? This is some before and after pics from previous work done on the ditch. It's current condition is as bad as in the 2nd picture.

[SteveK]

Sometimes beavers have been known to crawl out of the river and scratch away at dirt. Perhaps that might happen to that area? Nothing we can do about beaver activity, beavers are natural.

[Brad C]

As long as the trail stays where it is. We will call the dirt work a safety improvement. That is difficult to take issue with.

Of course, the erosion will start again with the next rain. The cause is the water running down the trail. We should look at finding a way to divert that water before it builds up enough force to cause that erosion.

The other water source is coming out of the woods. This is an old creek or possibly an old river channel. We can't stop that but we can deal with it. Any solution requires park and TDEC approval. That doesn't mean nothing can be done, it means there is a process and procedure that has to be followed.

[Mark T]

This would be a good place for a bridge.