A rented Bobcat T140 loads our Yanmar carrier with 4-8" minus crushed limestone. This is excellent rock for check dams and stabilization work.
Ryan Scott operates the carrier on Trail 4 on the way to the dump site.
Getting to the check dam locations was a little tricky on the steep ground. Terry Burke dumps the load as Pat McHugh looks on.
The carrier was amazingly stable transporting and dumping the heavy loads, however it has the ability to quickly sieze the attention of the operator.
A heavily eroded hillclimb with a check dam at the top. About 20 check dams were installed on these old trails. Diversion ditches were constructed to restore natural drainage patterns and the upper ends of the trails were ripped and seeded.
Check dams are a good way to stabilize these gullies without creating more impact and exposing more soil to erosion.
Another check dam at the top of a gully.
The middle portions of the hillclimbs were flat enough to allow equipment to rip the trails to allow water percolation. Here a trail has been ripped, seeded, and debris brought in to deter use and disguise the old trail. Check dams and cross ditches were installed at strategic locations.
A lot of water has been diverted into this draw from the hillclimbs above. Here a rock apron was constructed at the base of Trail 3 to stablize the slope if there was ever enough water to have an overland flow.
Six loads of rock materials were delivered from Western Canada Limestone. Four loads of 4-8" minus; one load of 3" minus which was used as fill; and one load of 2-4" minus which was used for trail hardening.
The carrier and the loader transport the material. The carrier hauls more material and is more manoeuverable than the loader.
Ryan dumps 4" minus rock on Trail 12 where it passes through a draw that will be wet in the Spring.
The rock was later spread by the Sweco dozer and by hand.
Ryan hauls rock toTrail 2 where it passes through a draw that will be wet in the Spring. This is a single-track trail.
Mike Billany seeds and fertilizes a rehabbed trail.
Another trail that has been ripped and blocked. Since there are so many trails that were closed, stake flags were used to mark the areas that have been seeded.
