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A Proposal ·Submitted by
The Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club Dismal Swamp Committee P.O. Box 62044 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
I ,
' 'f i ·January 1979 TEST AND EVALUATION OF TRAIL SURFACING MATERIALS
ON PEAT SOILS IN THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP
I. Purpose of the Research Project
The purpose of this research project is to: (1) test selected
trail surfacing materials on peat soil conditions indigenous to
the Great Dismal Swamp; (2) measure the strength, resiliency,
compaction, and durability of each of these materials; (3)
determine their effect on peat soil horizons, biological impact,
and water flow; and (4) evaluate their suitability for use in
the construction of trails and footpaths • . Thia study is proposed as a cooperative effort between the
United Stntr.s Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Dismal Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge, Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, and
Old Dominion University.
II. Background and Significance of the Project
More than four years ago, the Secretary of the Interior
submitted a report to Congress which, among other things, analyzed
the recreational potential of the Great Dismal Swamp and suggested
extensive rather than intensive recreation. One of the recommendations
included a trail and waterway system in which "canoeing and hiking ' ' would be the majQr recreational activities" (2, p~ 61). In July of 1977, the Ti~ewater Appalachian Trail Club prepared a proposal 2
for an extended hiking trail which would pass through 28 miles of the Great Dismal and continue on to Merchant Millpond State
Park in North Carolina (1). Thia proposal was endorsed by fifteen clubs and organizations and several government agencies as p~rt of a two-state trail network which would help to meet the increasing demand for hiking opportunities, recognized as the second moat· popular outdoor activity by the Virginia Commission of Outdoor
Recreation (7).
The Interior Department responded with a study of its own conducted by the consulting firm of Presnell-Kidd Associates. The consultant's study resulted in a preliminary plan which included provision for an extended north-south trail, but one largely confined to existing roads and spoil banks in the Dismal Swamp. .., The prospect of hiking straight roads and ditches for 28 miles had little appeal to many who had endorsed the original proposal, and efforts were undertaken to work out a compromise solution which would still protect the integrity of the swamp.
Plans for an extended trail were then deferred by the Depart ment of the Interior, and the reasons cited included a number of management and environmental problems that had to be considered before definite commitments would be made to a specific trail plan (4). Some of the problems listed are no different from similar problems encountered elsewhere in national parks and forests where some excellent trails have been built. However, there are problems unique to the Dismal Swamp due to the compreseibility 3
of peat soils and high water content at certain times of the
year. Fire is also a major concern due to the combustibility of
peat soils during drought periods. In light of these difficulties,
the Fish and Wildlife Service prefers to conduct a further study
of swamp conditions and observe the environmental effects of
shorter interpretive trails until adequate evaluations are made (4). ' At the pres;ent time, there are no designated 'trails of any
!/ length in the Dis~al Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. (The
Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club has been studying ,and maintaining
trails outside of Refuge boundaries: the Cedar Forest Trail in l .. North Carolina a~d Soldiers' fath on private property in Virginia.)
There are also numerous hunting trails in use outside of the . . ' Refuge; however, these are nothing more than footpath, to favorite
hunting areas. The Refuge has begun construction on a 1hort
interpretive trail near Washington Ditch Road which has not yet been completed.
One of the reasons for the slow pace of trail :~onstruction is the high cost of board walks previously considered necessary
for an environmentally sound trail.~ This is the only trall surface
which has. been applied to trails in the Dismal Swamp. However,
an Old Dominion University student has been given permission to
teat a synthetic fabric on the swamp floor as a base for other I , trail surfacing materials, a technique which may reduce peat
· f compaction and permit t~e use of lees expensive, easier to apply, 4
tread eurfacee. Members of the Dismnl Swamp Trail Conmittee have been gathering information on several promising trail surface materials which need to be teated for application on peat soils.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated that trail design
and impact studies will be undertaken, and that the assistance
and cooperation of the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club will be welcome (3). Funding should be available since the passage of House Bill 5493·
this summer (S). It is for these reasons that the current
proposal has been prepared.
III. Methodology
The.proposed research could be carried out in four stage,
summarized as follows:
1. Selection of a teat site or trail route.
2. Application of trail surfacing materials.
3. Testing and monitoring of the trail under actual condition,.
4. Evaluation of trail surfaces.
The selection of a teat site or trail route should be made by Refuge personnel and carefully flagged to assure that the
~ ... route will not be misinterpreted. A loop-trail route is recommended, and it should be on soils representative of typical swamp conditions. The ideal would be for the route to traverse both wet and dry (or relatively dry) sections. Since the trail will be put to the , teat by people actually hiking it, it ia reconnended that the route be not leas than a mile. Two or three milea are preferred. 5
The application of trail surfacing material• can be carried out by selectively applying each of the following typies of
surfaces on sections approved by Refuge personnel.
1. Wood chips and/or shredded bark.
2. Crushed shell marl.
3. Wood planking on cut sections of railroad ties.
4. Other surfaces deemed appropriate.
These materials have been found to be available locally,
and their coats have been computed in SectionVII of this report. r·
Materials which are likely to inhibit the flow of water could be
applied with open sections spanned by split logs or planking.
Highly organic soils could be covered by permeable cellulose
fiber available in rolls from various chemical manufacturers.
After the laying down of trail surfacing materials, several
test points should be established to measure the compaction and
durability of various thicknesses. Certain biological tests
and PH tests of the soil may be appropriate as well. It is proposed
that a register be placed at the entrance to the trail test site
so that the number of people hiking the trail can be recorded.
It is suggested that visitors and hikers be allowed to traverse the trail route in order to replicate actual conditions of trail
use. The duration of the study and the number of 1 testa may be
decided once ac~ual site conditions are determined. Upon completion of the observation phase, the, materials teated should be rated according to their suitability ae tread surfaces ..
6
in different soil conditions. It is hoped that the combined
facilities of Old Dominion University and the Fish and Wildlife
Service will make it possible to accumulate the necessary data
and evaluate the materials accordingly.
IV. Relationship of the Project to Other Trails
The members of the Dismal Swamp Trail Committee have in
the past visited--for informative, as well as recreational purposes-
a great many of the areas owned by the Federal Government, by
the State of Virginia and its counties and cities, and areas owned
by other states and their counties and cities. We sincerely believe
that the methods that have been advanced for our proposed trail
through the Dismal Swamp will benefit these other areas now and
in the future. We believe that the name of the game is to use
the most practical and available means for the least money expended.
We will name a few of the surrounding places that probably
could and will benefit from a study such as this. No attempt is
made to mention these in numerical order or priority.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: · News reports indicate
that the Refuge will take over the state-owned False Cape State
Park in exchange for seacoast frontage to the north for Virginia
Beach. Improvements will need to be made there.
Seashore State Park in Virginia Beach and Northwest River City
Park in Chesapeake: These parks need some trail and road work.
There is a proposed Virginia State Trail across the southside -
7
of the state from the ocean to the mountains: This will require
extensive planning and methods of construction on practically
every phase of trail building.
The Croatan National Forest in eastern North Carolina has
recently opened its Neusiok Trail, a nice seventeen mile foot trail
from the Neuse River to the Newport River. It is in its infancy
and still needs considerable planning and work to bring it up
to acceptable trail standards. The North Carolina Merchants Millpond
State Park is also in its infancy and will need further improvements.
In addition, the State of North Carolina is planning a trail from
the mountains to the sea.
We feel that these areas will profit from our labors.
V. Schedule
If this proposal is accepted we are prepared to begin work on
this project as soon as a suitable test location has been determined
by Refuge personnel. A period of one year may be sufficient for
test purposes. After completion of the test period, there may be
need for another ninety days to coordinate teat data for presentation
to and analysis by Wildlife Refuge personnel.
VI. Goal
The primary goal is toprovide data for the Department of the Interior
and Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge officials that a trail may be built in the refuge without damaging the peat and surrounding ecology.
That is, to find an economical and aesthetically pleasing trail
building material that will protect the peat understructure and have
absolutely minimal impact on the swamp. 8
Vll • Budget: Cost & Types of Trail Construction Materials
Materials*
Type Cost per Foot Cost per Mile Penta treated, pine plank trail $1.77 $9,328.44 (hardwood cross-ties)
Aggregate (marl) over cellulose fiber $ .60 $3,168.00 (Mirafi 140 fabric liner)
Wood chips, cedar bark, pine bark, free free shredded boughs and limbs
Bridges Per Foot Cost per Bridge (about 25 feet ea.) Juniper logs (dead- fall) topped & bound $1.50 $37.50 with cables & staples. Cable hand line.
*Note - Only the aggregate (marl) includes delivery costs. No costs for labor or rental of equipment are included. (It is assumed that labor will be provided by Refuge personnel, TATC club members, and Old Dominion University students.) • < ..
9
References
1. A Dismal Swamp Trail, Proposal prepared by the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, Dismal Swamp Trail Committee, Virginia Beach, Virginia, July 1977.
2. Great Dismal Swamp and Dismal Swamp Canal, A report to the United States Congress from the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to Public Law 92-478, prepared September 1974.
3. Letter from John D. Green, Area Manager, DELMARVA Area Office, Fish and Wildlife Service, to Fess Green, Co-chairman, Dismal Swamp Trail Conunittee, TATC, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia. October 16, 1978.
4. Letter from Robert L. Herbst, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, to Fess Green and David Wike, Co chairmen, Dismal Swamp Trail Conmittee, TATC, Inc., Virginia, July 10, 1978.
5. Seal Beach, Great Dismal Swamp, and San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuges Authorizations,. House Report 5493, passed into law, Swnmer 1978.
6. Schwab, Doanld J. "The Effects of People on Designated Trails within the Great-Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge," a tentative re?ort on a study conducted for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, D~partment of the Interior, December 1, 1975.
7. Virginia Commission of Outdoor Recreation, Virginia Outdoors !!..!D., Richmond, Virginia, January 1979.
Trail Construction References
A. AMC Field Guide to Trail Design, Maintenance and Recpnstruction, ,,/ Appalachian Mountain Club, Pinkham Notch Camp, Gorham, NH V 03581 ( $3.00).
B. ATC Publication No. 503, A Manual of Trail Construction and Maintenance Techniques, Appalachain Trail Conference, Box 236, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 ($1.50).
c. Maintenance Manual, Arkansas Trails System, Department of \ .... ~· Parks and Tourism, 149 State Capital, Little Rock, AR 77201.
D. Trail Manual of the Florida Trail, Florida Trails Association, P.O. Box 13708, Gainesville, FL 32604 ($3.00). FORM 3-1383 (REV. 11/75)
Permit numbe Sta. No. to be credited UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract number Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.r-_2_9______. SPECIAL USE PERMIT Date Permittee (Name and address) Period of use (inclusive) Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, Inc. From October 18, To February 29, 1980
Purpose (Specify in detail privilege requested, or units of products involved) To study potential cross country hiking trail locations, investigating fuel types & quanti ies, soil types, and water depths.
Description (Specify unit numbers; metes and bounds; or other recognizable designations) A (I e.
Travel all accessible roads in personal vehicles. Collection of soil & vegetation samples authorized. All samples to be returned to Refuge office for processing. J,.. )'"'e l)o.v:o.. LJ,k~ Pc.t1-r-AY\Jel~ Fil '1 ?f', Jv-.dy Ke.rntH P--.E.ese Luktl/ A~ Y 1 G)l'.1~1acn1 xlakws kPy::,y,r,n Y1/on()f Gre:~ 1 Cur::t, c Flevr ) Clleq /\, Amount of fee$ ______If not a fixed fee payment, specify rate and unit of charge: ______
D Full payment D Partial payment-Balance of payments to be made as follows:
Record of Payments
Special Conditions 1. Collections restricted to those materials or specimens defined in this permit.
2. Vehicular access is prohibited on wet or saturated roads.
3. Contact Refuge office at 804-539-7479 before entering to obtain necessary supplies, current gate combination and report on road conditions.
4. Progress or final report is due upon expiration of permit or completion of study. (Will be compiled with cooperation of refuge)
5. All samples should be delivered to M. K. Garrett, 2233 Whitemarsh Road, Suffolk.
This permit is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and accepted by the undersigned, subject to the terms, covenants, obligations, and reservations, expressed or implied therein, and to the conditions and require ments appearing on the reverse side.
Permittee (Signature)