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Date: January 22, 2009
Contact: John Dell'Osso, 415-464-5135

A section of the Greenpicker Trail (less than 20% of the total length), a former logging road in Point Reyes National Seashore, received major treatment due to severe erosion from poor road alignment design. The majority of the former logging road was first cut into Inverness Ridge almost straight down the drainage and at very steep grades (greater than 20%). In some sections of the former road, there were 4 foot deep and 15 foot wide eroded trenches.

Approximately 4,000 feet of reroute was constructed and 1,500 linear feet of former logging road was converted to trail. The new trail is the mitigation for the old road and will allow for proper drainage within the natural topography. The entire project is in Congressionally authorized wilderness and a minimum tool process was used and environmental compliance was completed in 2003. A medium-sized excavator was authorized for one time use through the minimum tool process because of the severe erosion and the trail to road conversion. Because the heavy work has been completed, the project in the future can be maintained using wilderness hand tools.

This technique of road to trail conversion was successfully completed on the Horse Trail in 2004. The park is systematically trying to convert former roads to trails where there is severe erosion and there are effects on threatened and endangered species habitat. This trail will be closed to the public until late spring.

-NPS-