Research Related to Roads in USDA Experimental Forests

Abstract

Forest roads are essential in experimental forests and rangelands (EFRs) to allow researchers and the public access to research sites and for fire suppression, timber extraction, and fuel management. Sediment from roads can adversely impact watershed health. Since the 1930s, the design and management of forest roads has addressed both access issues and watershed health. Road design and management practices developed from research on roads in EFRs in the 1950s are applied throughout the USA and the world. Long-term data sets on watersheds with and without roads have helped us better understand the role of roads in runoff processes. Data collected from roads in EFRs have contributed to the development of hydrology and erosion models used throughout the world. As forest management and utilization practices change, such as gas abstraction, wind energy generation, and off-road vehicle recreation, research will be necessary to address the watershed impacts of roads and other access networks to support those new uses.