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The United States Army Corps

of Engineers

An overview of the army's role in

recreation activities

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In the beginning

Founded in 1775, Richard Gridley was thefirst engineer appointed by the continentalcongress.

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The day after his appointment, He oversaw theconstruction of earthwork fortifications on bunker

hill.

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The Corps continued to build fortificationsand other large engineering projects for thepast 200 years.

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The Flood Control Act of 1936 gave oversightof flood control to the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers. 

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Post World War II America discovers the outdoorrecreation opportunities that Corps Flood Controlprojects offer.

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The era of Environmental

Awareness: 1960’s to Present 

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The Army Corps ofEngineers begins totake stock of it’s

massive naturalresources holdings

and manage them formultiple uses such asrecreation, floodcontrol and

environmentalimpacts

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Park Locations:

463 Projects locatedacross the UnitedStates of America.

That’s 75 more

locations than theNational ParkService.

360,000,000 peoplevisited Corpsprojects last yearmaking us the

nation’s largestrecreation provider.

1 in 10 Americansvisited a corpsproject last year

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineersin California.

14 locations

Most locations are lakes that hostwater related recreation activitieslike swimming fishing and boating.

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17,000 Acres of:

Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Hunting,Horseback Riding, Mountainbikeing , and

Good times!

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Philosophy andManagement of Trails:

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The Trailhead:

Should be easy to see froma road or parking lot.

It’s the best “advertisement”

for your trail.

It should designate the pathas a maintained trail and be

inviting to visitors.Information on the nature ofthe hike should also beprovided here. Is it steep?Are there water crossings?

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Inherited trails:

Mostly consist of oldlogging roads, fire roadsand even abandonedcounty roads.

Much wider and frequently

steeper than needed andfrequently have problemswith erosion.

Frequently are used astrails but are not as suitableto foot traffic as a purposebuilt trail.

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Custom madetrails:

Should serve a purpose likeexercise, transport to adesirable destination, orinterpretation.

Should be designed to meet theintended use.

Should be designed to avoidsteep slopes.

Should be designed to blendwith the landscape.

Should not be built if it cannotbe maintained.

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A trail may be designed to transportyou to a campsite.

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A point of

historical interest.

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Or a way of getting exercise. 

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How to Build

Trails

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Surveying.

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Selecting a route.

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Trail surfacedesign

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Managing water ontrail surfaces.

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Designingswitchbacks

When touse themand when toavoid them.

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How to get it done.

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“Quantity has a quality all of it’s own.”  Joseph Stalin 

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Mechanization:One or two people can

become an effective trailcrew!

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 All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s): 

Quickly transport trail workers to problem locations.

Workers do not become fatigued while traveling to the work sight.

They can carry or haul heavy tools to the work sight.

Allow quick trail condition surveys to be carried out by park staff.

Can pull earth moving equipment like a box or blade grader!

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MantisGarden Tiller:Quickly removes slough,

and hill slides. Replacesboth the Pulaski andMcCloud.

Will dig thru shale andother factorable rock.

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Skid steer loader:Multiple attachments available

Six way adjustable bulldozer blade.Back hoe

Auger

Dirt bucket

Demolition hammer

Equal in capabilities to the SWECO480 trail dozer.

Large initial capital outlay.

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Hand Tools:Highly effective

Quick training time

Low maintenance

Lower risk of serious injury

Low cost

Easily transportableDrawback is low productivity.

Most common and effective trailtools are the McLeod, PickMattock, and Adz.

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Logistics:The fine art of determining how

to get the people and materialsto the work sight.

Very important to keep in mind ifyou are planning a complex

structure in a remote area.

Use Locally available materialswhenever possible.

Try to keep human structures toa minimum in remote areas.

If a structure must be built, makeit look good. It will then becomea scenic accent to your trail.

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Work Project forFriday:Remove a large amount of slough fromthe uphill side of Bear Creek Trail.

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What You Will Need to Bring With

You:Gloves

Hardhat

Safety glassesGood hiking shoes

Wet weather gear (rain coat etc.)

A bag lunch

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The Work Plan:

Meet at the Public Boat Ramp.

Transport via patrol boat or barge to a landing location onWarm Springs Arm of the lake.

Carry all gear from landing point up 70% slope (150 yards)to the trail.

Hike south on trail ½ mile to work location.

Divide class into two groups.

One group removes slough on trail.

Second group builds a rock ford in the bottom of BearCreak.

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The Goal:

Gain experience usingboth hand tools and

Mechanizedequipment.

Agency Goal:

Widen trail surface toat least 4 feet.

Create a rock ford thatwill allow the ATV tosafely cross BearCreek.

Get out alive 

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The Desired Outcome:

Safe Trails with low environmentalImpact that are fun to use!