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Missoula's Conservation Lands: Missoula s Conservation Lands: Trailheads and Trails Priorities Morgan Valliant Conservation Lands Manager Missoula Parks and Rec ---PAGE BREAK--- Misso la Conser ation Lands (MCL) Missoula Conservation Lands (MCL) Trailhead Inventory ---PAGE BREAK--- Types of Signs Types of Signs • Permanent Signs: eg directional info trail Permanent Signs: eg. directional info., trail etiquette/rules, trail name, trail maps, informational/interpretative signs informational/interpretative signs T i i d • Temporary signs: eg. construction, detour trail closure, rehab projects • Seasonal Postings: eg. closures, warning g g , g signs, management activities ---PAGE BREAK--- Trailheads Hierarchy Trailheads Hierarchy • Major Trailhead: main trail system access points with: parking for Major Trailhead: main trail system access points with: parking for 8‐10, bike racks, access gate, informational kiosk w/space for permanent signs and seasonal postings, trail map, mutt‐mitts and garbage. • Minor Trailhead: similar access but with parking for 2‐8, bike parking, access gate, space for permanent signs and seasonal postings, trail map mutt‐mitts and garbage trail map, mutt mitts and garbage. • Neighborhood Access: primarily used by adjacent residents and has space for permanent signs and seasonal postings has space for permanent signs and seasonal postings. • Access Point: located on trail where trail crosses a property b d d h f i d l i boundary and has space for permanent signs and seasonal postings ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Trailhead Inventory Trailhead Inventory • 63 Trailheads in the MCL System 63 Trailheads in the MCL System. 66 Si • 166 Signs • 23 garbage cans (8 that are bearproof) • 22 Mutt‐mitt dispensers ---PAGE BREAK--- The Signage Bottom Line The Signage Bottom Line • We have no consistent design theme for signage. We have no consistent design theme for signage. • We have no protocol for # or type of signs at We have no protocol for # or type of signs at trailheads. • Almost all trailheads don't have adequate space for seasonal postings. p g • Multiple trailheads have too many signs and many Multiple trailheads have too many signs and many have too few. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Current Trail Maps • Primary trail map y p used by public • Show about 16 mi. of trails (30% of of trails (30% of established) • Multiple dead – ends ---PAGE BREAK--- Management Goals for MCL Trailheads Management Goals for MCL Trailheads Short‐term goals: Long‐term goals: • Standardize signage at trailheads • Develop design theme for all MCL Trail signs. • Increase areas for seasonal postings • Upgrade all Major trailheads postings • Repair or eliminate • Prioritize interpretative areas for future projects. p degraded interpretative signs • Develop New Trail system Maps ---PAGE BREAK--- MCL Trail System Inventory ---PAGE BREAK--- MCL Trail System Inventory MCL Trail System Inventory • Complied information from 2004 to Jan 2008 Complied information from 2004 to Jan 2008. C i d il b d h i l • Categorized trails based on physical characteristics, origination and users • Mapped all trails not just designated trails pp j g ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Fig 2: Miles of Trails by Type 3.71 22.76 Miles of road Miles of 28.97 singletrack Miles of Doubletrack ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Fig:3 Distribution of Trails between Properties 50.0 60.0 82% of total 30.0 40.0 MILES 10 0 20.0 M 18% of total Total Trails User‐made Trails Designated Trails South Hills 2.82 0.30 2.52 0.0 10.0 .8 0.30 .5 Rattlesnake & Hellgate C. 8.84 0.65 8.19 Tower st. 2.27 1.48 0.79 Mt. Sentinel 7.37 0.82 6.55 North Hills 11.47 1.75 9.72 Mt J b 22 3 9 9 65% 22% Mt. Jumbo 22.73 4.94 17.79 22% ---PAGE BREAK--- Estimate for Closing 1mi. of Trail (option 1) YEAR 1 Estimate for Closing 1mi. Of Trail (option 2) YEAR 1 YEAR 1 Labor (signage, debris) 287.8 seed (30 LBS @ $15.00/LB plus labor) 450.0 Signs 50.0 YEAR 1 Labor (signage, debris) 287.8 seed (10 LBS @ 15.00/LB plus labor) 150.0 Signs 50 0 Signs 50.0 subtotal: 787.8 Signs 50.0 live plants (planting at 1 per 5 ft. with labor) 996.7 subtotal: 1484.6 YEAR 2 Labor (signage, debris) 287.8 seed (20 LBS @ $15.00/LB plus labor) 300.0 YEAR 2 Labor (signage, debris) 287.8 seed (5 LBS @ 15.00/LB plus labor) 75.0 Signs 25.0 subtotal: 612.8 YEAR3 ( @ / p ) Signs 25.0 subtotal: 387.8 YEAR3 Labor (signage, debris) 67.0 seed (15 LBS @ $15.00/LB plus labor) 225.0 subtotal: 292.0 YEAR 3 Labor (signage, debris) 67.0 subtotal: 67 0 GRAND TOTAL: 1692.6 subtotal: 67.0 GRAND TOTAL: 1872.4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Costs for Closing Trails: • Approximately $600 a year to close and Approximately, $600 a year to close and restore 1 mile of User‐made trail (dependant on location, aspect, age of trail, vegetation establishment and user reaction to closure). • If we choose to…..it would cost around $17,800 and take about 3 years to close and restore all user‐made trails in the system. ---PAGE BREAK--- Management Goals for User‐Made Trails • Prioritize trails for closure Prioritize trails for closure – Eliminate redundant trails – Eliminate unsustainable trails and those through sensitive g areas • Incorporate "good trails" into trails system. p g y – Costs will include fixing unsustainable sections • MUST DIRECT USERS TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGNATED TRAILS! (Mileage markers? update trail maps!!) DESIGNATED TRAILS! (Mileage markers?… update trail maps!!) ---PAGE BREAK--- USER GROUPS ---PAGE BREAK--- How Have We Determine Which User Groups are Acceptable? • Historic Use of the Property (eg. Mt jumbo trails) p y ( g j ) • Based on transportation corridors (eg. Rattlesnake Greenbelt) • In Reaction to User Conflicts (eg. Mo‐z trail) • "Cause that's the way it's always been" (eg. North Hills) • Ultimately the Park Board decides. ---PAGE BREAK--- Fig. 4: Percentage of All Designated Trails Open to Multiple Trail User Groups Three User Groups (ped. & bike & horse) Two User Groups 14% Two User Groups (ped. & bike) 32% One User Group (pedestrian only) 54% ---PAGE BREAK--- 9.00 Fig. 5 Miles of Designated Trails Open to Multiple Trail User Groups 7.00 8.00 6.00 M. Sentinel 4.00 5.00 MILES M. Sentinel Mt. Jumbo North Hills 2.00 3.00 Tower St. South Hills Rattlesnake & Hellgate C 0.00 1.00 Rattlesnake & Hellgate C. One User Group (pedestrian only) Two User Groups (ped. & bike) Three User Groups (ped. & bike & horse) ---PAGE BREAK--- How We Should Evaluate Trail Development and Access 1)Need to study the amount of use and abuse our Conservation ) y Lands receive from users. 2)Need to develop a system that evaluates impacts of users on flora and fauna vs. recreational opportunities. 3)All new trail construction and access decisions must be based on current use and habitat impacts. 4) We must also begin to incorporate population trending into t il t ti our trail construction. ---PAGE BREAK--- Plan for Evaluating Trail Development and Access • Inventory critical areas for Flora and Fauna (ongoing) Inventory critical areas for Flora and Fauna (ongoing) • Begin Trail use Monitoring Program (spring of 2008) Begin Trail use Monitoring Program (spring of 2008) – Institute a scientific monitoring program for trail usage – Utilize volunteers and parks employees to collect data p p y • Rank and Buffer all current trails based on data • Rank and Buffer all current trails based on data collected (fall 08‐2009) ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- THE END THE END