Action Alert: Waterloo Recreation Area

[dauber76]

Thank you Jason. Video evidence before and after was needed.

"I don't want to run you over". Sounds like someone either doesn't know how to control their horse or they don't want to share the trail with another user.

[jrshome]

Even worse than I expected. Some friends and I have plans to do a multi day hike on that trail next month. I can only imagine what that hill will look like after a nice big storm. Thanks for ruining my trail equistrians. So glad they only think of themselves

[jajones]

Thank you Jason. Video evidence before and after was needed.

"I don't want to run you over". Sounds like someone either doesn't know how to control their horse or they don't want to share the trail with another user.

I went out there without safety being a concern, but I have to say that my head was also turned a bit on that issue. I was filming about five feet off on the side of the trail when I suddenly heard snorting and yells of "whoa". I looked up and saw this horse rearing up and his back half coming sideways at me off the trail. I'll see if I can find that video to post.

[HiptonRadcliffIII]

you should edit some audio in (motown bubble gum for the pre damage and cannibal corpse for the damage, haha). In all seriousness, this is really awful. that trail is no longer fun to hike on. I would be interested to see how it looks today after the rain I'm sure not better, but I wonder how the DNR will persevere it.

[bill_m]

The next key footage will be pre and post torrential downpour. It seems that most/all of the erosion at the poto is during deluge thunderstorm events. One big storm will take all the rototilled soil and carry it away to the lowest point.

Then you'll see the skeleton of what that hill was.

[Loren]

Thanks for doing this Jason. Lots of us have intent, but you always seem to follow through.

Ya know, I was looking at this again, and trying to see it how others might. It's just dirt out in the woods. It's not compelling. I'm thinking we need something to make a viewer experience this in a more real, more personal way. Maybe we could get another segment, following some hikers as they struggle through the pockmarked trail, listening to them describe in their own words what it was like before, and what the experience is now.

[SteveF]

It'll be interesting to see what passes as trail repairs according to equestrian standards...

...wish I was made of money--I'd bring civil suit against the equestrian groups responsible for this latest access legislation and tie 'em up in court for a few decades.

Actually, might be better to sue the DNR and State of Michigan--they don't have any money or vested interest so they'd cave quicker!

[Roy]

Jason,
Great job!
Did, go back out during the next rain and film the loose dirt washing away? (like builder Bill talked about)
That would make a classic trilogy!
Again, thanks for the going the extra mile!

Roy

[djansen00]

Just want to add my thanks for the time and effort put into this. I'm just getting into this whole trail maintenance and advocacy thing and I'm having my eyes opened to what it really takes to keep trails open and in good repair for our community. Big kudos to you guys that have been doing this forever. Hope I can do my part and help in the future.

[Jerry68]

Unbelievable. Anyone that has ever set foot on the horse trails between the Lakeland Trails Rail Trail, and He!! Creek Ranch can tell you just how badly horses destroy trails.... Well, anyone except apparently the DNR.

[dennismurphy]

a couple thoughts

1. I think the science shows horses damage trails more than bikes but.. that said

2. This now appears to be a one time activity much like the biking on that same section - a one time activity.

I think that those in the area concerned about damage should watch and review but perhaps in this one instance the DNR needs a bit of slack? after all if they gave the bikers a one time pass on a hike-only trail it's tough for them to reject horses

caveat- we may indeed find that the one time activity is indeed too damaging..

Just my .02

(what ever happened to cent signs? )

It is a one time event -- with 800 hooves going over a very poorly cut fall line trail with some of the biggest singletrack grades I've ever seen, and it is mostly sandy loam.

Imagine what would happen if 800 hooves went over some of those back bowl sections of Yankee in a day, Dennis. Think that would be much of a problem for the trail?

Point taken

[JeffOYB]

Hi... Does anyone have news about the official followup of this event?

I saw Jason's videos. It looks like a LOT of damage on the MOAH section. (What about elsewhere?)

I heard that the Unit Manager said he surveyed the aftermath and determined there was MINIMAL damage. (So do we have a problem here?) He did say there were a couple apparently short sections needing repair -- and that he'd do subsequent followup after the repair and after some rain, etc. My impression at this point is that he would issue another permit for an event like this and would certify that these kinds of events are OK elsewhere.

Anyone have some hard facts, news, about the aftermath, the overall impact, and the official response to the event at this point? (I don't think there's an official *conclusion* yet because it seems like repair hasn't been done yet, rain analysis, etc.)

[Di_bear]

Jason, thank you for doing this. I am very happy that you got video of the horses actually kicking up dirt. Do you have any video of a mountain biker going up a hill to show just how little damage we do in comparison? Get one of a hiker, too. Really zoom in on the contact points with the dirt/sand to illustrate just how little damage bikers do. Hikers kick up some dirt. Trail runners even leave divots (witnessed that at Tech as a runner ran by me when I was climbing a hill ). This is great stuff to have on video.

Thank you very much for doing this. I really think this is of great value.

[adroit rider]

Interesting publication from the feds:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/trailsini ... Report.pdf

My take away from the above:
Equestrian use of trails designed for hiking results in unusable trails for all and leaves the government holding the bag.

[adroit rider]

http://www.imba.org.uk/uploads/papers/m ... report.pdf

"Trampling and erosional impacts caused by horses have been found to be significantly higher than hikers, llamas, mountain bikes and even off-road motorcycles (Cole & Spildie, 1998; DeLuca et al., 1998; Wilson & Seney, 1994). Many studies demonstrate that trampling by a horse is more destructive to vegetation than trampling by foot (Nagy and Scotter 1974; Weaver and Dale 1978; Whittaker 1978)."

"The lower weight and ground pressure of hikers and bikers creates less disturbance to vegetation and soils along trails, which have fewer problems with widening, erosion, and muddiness. Point sampling data reveals that bike trails are quite narrow at BSF with a mean width of 24 in, followed by hiking trails at 32 in. Horse trails are more than two times as wide (81 in) but ATV trails were widest at 104 in (Table 6). These differences in trail width were statistically significant."

"Significant differences were also found in the extent of soil erosion associated with different types of use. Again, bike trails have the lowest CSA values (mean = 6in2) followed by hiking trails with a mean CSA of 19in2 However, a very substantial increase in erosion occurs on horse trails, with an average CSA of 150in2, followed by another large and significant increase for ATV trails (mean CSA = 246) (Table 6). Mixed use trails (mean CSA = 144 in2) were similar in erosion levels to horse trail."

"Trail position, trail alignment, grade, water drainage, and type of use are all significantly influential variables in the best trail degradation model. According to this model, trail erosion can be most effectively minimized by avoiding use on steep trails with direct ascent alignments, valley trails, by installing tread drainage features, and by reducing horse and ATV use or restricting them to well-designed and maintained alignments."