Illegal trail construction a problem for public land near Reno and Carson City
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 06/21/2021 - 7:35pm
CARSON CITY — An increasing number of recreationists are using public lands managed by Washoe County and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Carson Ranger District. With this burst in popularity, large numbers of illegal trails are being built.
“We are excited that more people and new users are enjoying the outdoors,” said Colleen Wallace Barnum, Washoe County Parks Operations superintendent. “Unfortunately, illegal trail building can have devastating ramifications for the local ecosystem.”
User-created trails have their own set of management issues when a trail’s location is not properly considered. Illegal trails can damage cultural resources, destroy wildlife habitats, disrupt wildlife migration corridors, harm fragile or rare plants, spread noxious and invasive weeds, cause soil loss, and create safety and liability concerns.
“User-created trails cost the county and Forest Service, and thereby taxpayers, thousands of dollars in restoration and rehabilitation costs every year,” said Matt Zumstein, Carson District Ranger.
Zumstein explained that these types of routes are frequently on steep hills and cross streams, resulting in severe soil erosion or compaction, slope stability issues, and negative effects on water quality or flow. This type of natural resource damage is expensive and time consuming to repair, and restoration can take many years to complete.
“For every user-created trail we have to mitigate, it detracts from us putting in new trails,” said Zumstein. “We recognize the demand for trails and the economic driver this activity is to the local community, but we need to do it the right way by working hand-in-hand with our partners to build a sustainable trail system that minimizes impacts to other resources.”
Washoe County and the USDA Forest Service have processes for adding new trails into the system. It does take some time, because it considers all the factors that go into managing the landscape. “We encourage people to bring trail ideas to us and participate in our planning process,” said Wallace Barnum.
Wallace Barnum also suggested that anyone interested in volunteering to help with approved trail maintenance and construction projects should contact one of the local trails organizations such as Biggest Little Trail Stewardship, Muscle Powered, Reno Area Dirt Riders (RAD) and Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association. Additionally, the public can contact the Washoe County Parks and Open Space at (775) 785-4512 x 106 for volunteer opportunities or Washoe 311 to report illegal trail building. The Carson Ranger District can be reached at 775-882-2766.
Carson Ranger District Recreation Officer Brian Hansen stressed how import it is for recreationists to refrain from building trails and stay on existing designated routes. People who are found guilty of causing resource damage on National Forest System (NFS) lands by riding on or building undesignated trails could receive a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or six months in jail. Violators can also be ordered to pay rehabilitation costs for repairing areas that have been damaged.
“The future of trail opportunities on county and federal lands depends on YOU! Protect your right to recreate. Respect the land, the wildlife, and the rights of others,” stressed Hansen.
For trail information and tips on how to recreate responsibly on Washoe County lands, visit:
https://www.washoecounty.us/parks/parks_and_trails/trails/index.php
For tips on how to recreate responsibly on NFS lands, visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/mountain-biking
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/off-highway-vehicle-tou...
For Leave No Trace or Tread Lightly tips, visit:
https://lnt.org/why/problems-we-solve/damaged-trails/
https://treadlightly.org/learn/recreation-tips/
