Analysis of Erosion Rates on User-Created Off-Road Vehicle Trails inSoutheastern Ohio

The need for understanding the impacts of off-road vehicle (ORV) usage on trail systemsis widely accepted, with few studies being conducted in humid climates and even fewerexamining the impacts of unauthorized user-created ORV routes. This research examinescross-trail profile measurements along authorized ORV trails and unauthorized ORVroutes in southeastern Ohio over a six-month period in order to calculate erosion ratesand understand how each trail type behaves throughout the riding season. Measurementsfrom the two trail types are compared to one another in varying combinations andbetween data collection periods. Spatial comparisons of soil compaction and soil textureare also analyzed.Results from statistical analyses showed that there is no significant difference inerosion rates between authorized and unauthorized trail segments despite apparentdifferences in eroded sediments between the two trail types. The highest measurederosion rates on authorized and unauthorized segments totaled 3.65 m3/yr and 15.95m3/yr, respectively. Few sites were found to have significant geomorphic change alongthe trail surface during the six-month study period. Soil compaction values were found tobe greater on the trail surface compared to the trail-adjacent forest in both trail types. Soilcompaction of the trail surface was not found to be statistically different between the twotrail types, nor were values from the trail-adjacent forest different between the trail types. The results of this study demonstrate the need for effective management efforts that focusmanagement efforts not only on authorized ORV trails, but also the unauthorized routesthat are associated in ORV trail systems.