ROXBURY — Officials with the Maine Off-Road Vehicle Division will co-sponsor a trail maintenance workshop with the Roxbury Riders ATV Club and Wagner Forest Management on Sunday, June 29, in Roxbury.

The workshop on sediment and erosion control on ATV trails will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. Participants are to meet at the Roxbury ATV Park and Ride on Route 120 west on Roxbury Notch Road.

“With the start of the summer ATV season and all trail construction and maintenance projects beginning to start up, we are working with co-host club, the Roxbury ATV Riders, to provide this training opportunity,” a recent Maine Off-Road Vehicles news release stated.

“Training is essential. When we can provide the right location/project for a hands-on opportunity, we must take advantage of it,” it said. It’s “an opportunity we are co-sponsoring as a training session for landowner relations and primarily trail (best management practices), since the majority of landowners in your area are very concerned about all trails being managed in compliance with standard BMP maintenance practices now.”

An increasing number of Maine trails are used by more than one recreation group, some of which require special or different considerations.

“There have been and still are some practices going on that are elevating the concern of some land managers, so we are co-sponsoring this training that will include proper documentation of maintenance before/after work; proper timing for work; proper ditching and soil stabilization; discussions on culverts, including round, box, and open bottom; and especially the new Department of Environmental Protection requirements for working within wetland/resource-protection areas, etc.,” the release said.

The workshop is a walking tour on moderately steep ground. Participants are advised to wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

Access to the walking portion is via ATV on the Mine Notch Trail or by an alternative access route by vehicle from Old County Road by Roxbury Pond. The workshop will begin at the Roxbury ATV Riders’ Park and Ride on the Roxbury Notch Road.

The agenda is as follows:

* 8 a.m. — Registration, coffee and doughnuts.

* 8:45 a.m. — Introductions and a workshop overview.

* 9 a.m. — Drive to the Mine Notch Trail by ATV.

* 9:30 a.m. — Walk along the Old County Road section of the ATV trail and discuss erosion and sediment issues, permits, timing of work, filter strips, disturbed soil near water bodies, stream crossing structures and review stream sizing procedure.

* 11 a.m. — Questions and return to the park and ride.

Best management practices certification is through the Voluntary Contractor Certification Program with Bill Laflamme at 215-9237. Laflamme is the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Landowner Relations warden.

For more information, contact Michael Worthley, trail master and president of the Roxbury Riders, at 545-2715 or Brian Milligan, Maine Off-Road Vehicles staff member, at 592-3406.

Details also are provided on the Roxbury Riders Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Roxbury-ATV-Riders-Club/164867634305.

Copy the Story Link