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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOREST ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 5 Signage Section Page 5.0 5.1 Sign Information and Symbol 5.2 Signage Guidelines 5.3 Information 5.4 Road and Trail Blockage Devices 5 - 1 5 - 1 5 - 2 5 - 3 5 - 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 5 SIGNAGE 5.0 SIGNAGE This chapter includes guidelines on establishing a uniform policy with respect to signing on roads and trails within the Douglas County Forest. Also included are examples of the different sign symbols and images used within the Forest. These guidelines pertain to all roads and trails under the direct authority of the DCFD except for all funded and nonfunded winter snowmobile and summer ATV trails. Signing on these trails shall be completed as prescribed by State statue requirements. The WDNR handbook on signing and existing user-group agreements with Douglas County also shall be consulted. For a copy of the guidelines, contact the regional WDNR Community Services Specialist and/or the Douglas County Parks and Recreation Supervisor. 5.1 Sign Information and Symbol Meanings The Access Management Plan defines six symbols that will be incorporated into signs (Figs. 5.1 and 5.2). Figure 5.1 Designated Authorized-Use Sign Symbols Highway Vehicle All-Terrain Vehicle Snowmobile Figure 5.2 Designated Unauthorized-Use Sign Symbols Highway Vehicle All-Terrain Vehicle Snowmobile ---PAGE BREAK--- ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN Information on use-designation signs will include one or more of the following: the type of trail or route, symbols of permitted and/or restricted motorized uses, seasonal dates associated with permitted and/or restricted motorized uses, trail hotline phone number, purpose for use designation, ethical land-use statement, reference to Douglas County Ordinance 7.2, contract information for reporting violations, contact information for the DCFD. Additional informational signs such as Damage Warning, Illegal Trail, and Use-Designation Change will be used where appropriate and in conjunction with use-designation signs. 5.2 Signage Guidelines Except for informational and guide signs, all road or trail use-designation signs should be fully reflectorized when possible. No road or trail use-designation sign should be placed more than 6 feet from the edge of a road or trail. Signs and posts should be placed carefully with regard to brush line and line of sight to maximize visibility. Road and trail signs should be placed to the right of the trail when possible to conform with user’s familiarity with the placement of highway signs. Restrictive signs should be placed in the center of the road or trail. For seasonal trails or special events, signs should be erected as closely as possible to the trail opening date or day of the event and be removed at the end of the event or season. This reduces vandalism, theft, trespassing, and reduces sign wear by minimizing exposure to the elements. Trail signing will be completed by DCFD staff or authorized designees. All signs shall be affixed to a metal or wooden post when possible. Steel posts (6 to 6 1/2 feet) will be driven 18 to 24 inches into the ground. Sign hardware will consist of standard treaded bolts with self-locking nuts and washers. Grade 2 bolts (5/16 inch) will be used. Posts may be upgraded to heavier metal, wood, or concrete posts and hardware may be upgraded at sites that experience vandalism. (10) Extra sign posts and signs should be carried by County staff while in the field so that missing or vandalized signs can be replaced quickly. (11) Professional, positive signing techniques shall be used. (12) Signs related to road and trail etiquette shall be used as appropriate following approval of the DCFD. 5 - 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- CHAPTER 5: SIGNAGE 5 - 3 (13) Information signs for varying purposes may be placed on a road or trail only following approval by the DCFD and must conform to DCFD standards for installation, color, and shape. (14) On all County Forest Roads, wood posts will be of sufficient size to ensure stability and deter vandalism. They will be used with wooden signs that have the name of the particular road etched into the face. The standard color scheme will be a brown sign with yellow lettering. (15) Only trail signs that meet standards for shape, color, size, and reflectorization will be allowed on roads and trails. (16) Global positioning technology will be used to locate signs for maintenance purposes and inventory records. 5.3 Information Signs Incorporating larger information and area signs has been identified as a potential project by the working group as part of the Access Management Plan. These signs would be located in key areas throughout the Forest that serve as primary access routes. Messages should be brief and clear and highly visible. 5.4 Road and Trail Blockage Devices Roads and trails on the County Forest that are restricted or closed with respect to designated motorized uses and/or seasonal periods may have certain structures installed to further prevent unauthorized use. These structures would include gates, berms, and any other devices to obstruct access. Most of these structures will be berms placed at that point on the road or trail where use becomes restricted. Berms covering the entire width of the road or trail are intended to obstruct all motorized access and close the road. Gates will be located and installed on primary access roads that are used frequently by DCFD staff where berms would be impractical and also on certain trails where access is restricted on a seasonal basis. As with berms, all gates on the Forest are used to obstruct all motorized access and close the road. Sign identification is the primary method for providing clear guidance with regard to permitted-use designations.