Sediment Flux and Compaction Trends on Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) and Other Trails in an Appalachian Forest Setting

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sediment dynamics and compaction in the forested hillslope terrain of southeastern Ohio. A dense network of ground-height change, penetrometer resistance, and penetrometer depth measurements was collected from trails and trail-adjacent forest land at four ORV and, for comparison, two non-ORV trail study sites (hiking, horse-riding). Repeat measurements were made at the height of the ORV season, at the end of the ORV season, and near the end of the off-season. Separate statistical comparisons of ground-height change and penetrometer observations for forest versus trail locations, ORV versus non-ORV study sites, and one time period versus another reveal compaction on all trails, significant surface compaction on the ORV trails, and considerable sediment flux on both the trails and the adjacent forest land at the ORV sites. This flux includes sediment transfer during the riding season from the ORV trails to the adjacent forest land by wash and tire throw. Net erosion that occurred on the ORV trails during the studied part of the riding season was quantitatively offset by off-season aggradation, but the system is primarily one of sediment through-put. Considering the entire riding season, erosion rates on the ORV trails may be as high as 0.11 m3/m2/yr.