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Rural Roads Webinar Series

Rural roads are defined as low traffic volume roads located in forested and rangeland settings that serve residential, recreational and resource management uses. They may have been constructed to relatively low standards with a limited budget. They may be “legacy” roads that evolved over time to serve present uses from their original uses as railroad grades, wagon trails or historic logging roads.  They are commonly one to two lanes wide with natural, gravel or other surfacing.  Rural roads may be owned and/or managed by governmental or private parties.

Why Are Rural Roads Important?

Rural roads are the backbone of the transportation system in rural California. Rural areas commonly lack public transportation and residents depend on their private vehicles to get them to work, school and shopping sites. Rural roads also serve millions of recreational users every year.  In emergencies such as wild fire and flooding events, rural roads provide the means for emergency response and evacuation.

Rural roads in California are associated with several environmental impacts. They have been identified as a major source of sediment production in watersheds supporting beneficial uses. They can provide the means by which exotic plants and animals and pathogens are spread into wild lands. Roads fragment the landscape and adversely affect wildlife habitat.  Vehicles traveling on rural roads are responsible for thousands of road-killed wildlife every year.

Objectives of the Webinar Series

  • Provide a broad overview of the environmental issues associated with rural roads in California.
  • Describe the fundamental principles of rural road construction, re-construction and operations.
  • Describe practices used to minimize the environmental impacts of road construction, operations and maintenance.
  • Review methods used for road assessment and inventory to identify problems and maintenance or re-construction or restoration needs.

 

Series 1: Rural Roads and the Environment May 7th, 14th and 21st, 2012

Series 2: Rural Road Design and Operations July 2nd, 9th, and 16th, 2012

  • Road Drainage Alternatives: Don Lindsay, Professional Engineer, California Geological Survey (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Stream Crossing Alternatives: Pete Cafferata, Hydrologist, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Roadway Materials, Dust Control and Surfacing Alternatives:Gordon Keller, Professional Engineer, USDA Forest Service (retired) (pdf of presentation, recording)  
  • Slope Stabilization and Treatment of Wet Sites Gordon Keller, Professional Engineer, USDA Forest Service (retired) (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Erosion Control During Road Construction/Re-construction: Stephen Smith, Registered Professional Forester and Certified Erosion Control Specialist, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Maintenance Best Management Practices: Mark Lancaster, Five County Salmonid Conservation Program (pdf of presentation, recording)

Series 3: Rural Road Assessment, Remediation and Restoration September 10th, 17th and 24th, 2012

  • Road Assessment and Inventory: Michael Fuller, California Geological Survey (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Prioritizing Road Treatments: Richard Harris, NorCal Society of American Foresters (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • The Basics of Road Upgrading and Decommissioning for Watershed - Aquatic Habitat Protection and Restoration: Bill Weaver, Pacific Watershed Associates (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Monitoring Road Upgrading and Decommissioning for Watershed/ Aquatic Habitat Protection and Restoration: Bill Weaver, Pacific Watershed Associates (pdf of presentation, recording)
  • Rural Road Expenditures and Funding: Steve Smith, Natural Resources Conservation Service (pdf of presentation, recording)