Introduction Overview Role of Analysis Inventory & Monitoring Types of Monitoring Components of a Plan Setting Up a Plan Monitoring Methods What Worked? Glossary & References Contributors Links Forms & Tools

Overview            Complete draft (*.pdf) What is Road Decommissioning? Road decommissioning is defined as: “Activities that result in the stabilization and restoration of unneeded roads to a more natural state.” (36 CFR 212.1, FSM 7705 – Transportation System) The Forest Service Manual (7712.11- Exhibit 01) identifies five levels of treatments for road decommissioning which can achieve the intent of the definition. These include the following: Block entrance Revegetation and waterbarring Remove fills and culverts Establish drainageways and remove unstable road shoulders Full obliteration recontouring and restoring natural slopes These five treatment levels provide the interdisciplinary team a wide range of options to stabilize and restore unneeded roads. The route to deciding what treatment level or combination of treatments is used is based on a watershed analysis and roads analysis. In some cases restoration may be achieved by blocking the entrance. In other situations, objectives to restore hillslope hydrology may require full obliteration recontouring. Specific effects of each road and the response to a decommissioning treatment are strongly influenced by local factors which include climate, geology, topography, soil, road design and construction. Decisions concerning the level of treatment are an output of the roads analysis and watershed analysis.

Current Status In 2003 a total of 1,157 miles of roads were decommissioned. This includes 735 miles of classified roads and 422 miles of unclassified roads. Over the past 5 years, national decommissioning mileage has ranged from 1,000 miles per year to over 2,000 miles per year. With limited funding for watershed restoration and public concerns over the need for decommissioning, monitoring is essential to provide feedback on treatment effectiveness and watershed recovery. Our ability to understand the complex interrelationships of ecosystems and to redesign the functionality of impaired systems is being tested. To know what works well and where techniques need to be modified and improved is essential to a successful watershed restoration program. The interdisciplinary team must define the broad goals and objectives of watershed restoration and then measure specific resource indicators in the field. A dedicated and inquisitive interdisciplinary team questions the mechanisms of change to reveal how complex systems work. Road decommissioning is one tool when applied on the landscape can elicit a myriad of responses. The goal of monitoring is to ensure that the appropriate treatment is implemented to obtain the desired condition for that particular landscape and environment.