Wild Virginia: Shenandoah Mountain Road Decommissioning Project

Wild Virginia wishes to build upon the success of The State of Our Water, its recent study and report on public drinking water resources in the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). To improve water quality and aquatic habitat in the national forest and areas downstream, Wild Virginia is undertaking a road decommissioning project. Decommissioning of roads is one of the best available tools for restoring the health of forests and watersheds. Roads create a number of ecological problems and are a significant source of sedimentation, particularly when they are not adequately maintained. In the mountain regions of Virginia, excess sediment is a grave threat to water quality and aquatic species, including the native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).

Through field inspections and analysis of existing data, Wild Virginia will assess forest roads in the Shenandoah Mountain region of the GWNF and identify those that, if decommissioned, would provide the greatest watershed and ecological benefits. The State of our Water identifies and discusses the location of public drinking watersheds, native brook trout streams, and “impaired waters” (as identified by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in 2006). GIS data from the GWNF can provide detailed information about roads, such as their maintenance level, closure status, surface type, and ownership. Other GWNF data, such as roadless areas, wilderness areas, and special biological areas, will also be critical in the analysis. Regional datasets of topography and elevation will allow potential erosion issues to be quantified.

Using the data described above, in concert with field surveys and discussions with other natural resource professionals, knowledgeable individuals, and Forest Service staff, Wild Virginia will develop a prioritized list of roads to be considered for decommissioning. Wild Virginia will share the results of the project with the Forest Service, other agencies, conservation organizations, and all interested parties, in order to positively impact on-the-ground restoration in the GWNF.

To learn more about how to support the Shenandoah Mountain Road Decommissioning Project please call the CACF office.