Geomorphic Impacts of Off-Highway Vehicle Trails in the Ouachita National Forest

This is request for a joint venture agreement between the University of Kentucky and the USDA Forest Service (Southern Research Station, Hot Springs, AR). Earlier studies under FS Agreement No. 09-CS-11132422-229 have established accelerated erosion and sediment production from a network of off-road vehicle trails and examined impacts on streams. A key question emerging from this work is the fate (transport, storage, and sinks) of fine sediment. The goal of this project is to document the fate of fine sediment eroded from the trail system between the eroding source areas and streams. This involves measuring sediment storage on hillslopes and in low-order valleys. The work is motivated by both general questions related to fluvial sediment budgets, and specific questions regarding the fate of eroded sediments in the study area.