ROAD ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE FOR 1998-2000 FOR THE JOCASSEE GORGES PROPERTY.

PREPARED BY SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES - DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES, JOCASSEE GORGES MANAGEMENT TEAM

PAUL A. SANDIFER, PH. D., DIRECTOR

W. BROCK CONRAD, JR. DEPUTY DIRECTOR

JULY 28, 1998

1998-2000 ROAD ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN

A. VEHICLE ACCESS

This plan is intended as a more detailed supplement to the "Resource Management Plan for the Jocassee Gorges Property, Oconee and Pickens Counties" (Rankin 1998). The reader is referred to this document for more information on management of the Jocassee Gorges.

Access to the Jocassee Gorges property via a paved road system is extremely limited. Highway 178 and Cleo Chapman Road (county road 143) are the only paved roads that access the property. Paved roads at three adjoining state parks provide access to the boundaries of Jocassee Gorges.

Approximately 138 miles of "dirt" roads exist on the property. Roads on the property fall into two major categories: 1) roads open seasonally for public access, forest management, fire control, etc. and 2) roads closed to public vehicle access but used for official access, forest access, fire control, and public access for mountain biking and hiking, etc. The property contains approximately 70 miles of seasonally gated roads and 68 miles of permanently gated forest access roads. Seasonal public access roads take the form of "jeep trails," and four-wheel drive vehicles are needed for safe travel. The property is flanked by several state parks that offer improved access to the Jocassee Gorges area. Table Rock State Park adjoins the property on the eastern boundary. Devil's Fork State Park and Keowee-Toxaway State Park lie on the western boundary of Jocassee Gorges. These parks provide improved access to the Jocassee Gorges area. Table Rock State Park is a major access point to the foothills trail, while Devil's Fork State Park provides boating access to the "heart" of the Jocassee Gorges Project.

Public vehicular access to the Jocassee Gorges property will follow a schedule similar to that used in the past (Table 1). Roads initially open to public access include Camp Adger, Horsepasture (from Hwy 178 only), and Cane Creek Road (to the vicinity of Cane Creek), and portions of Standing Rock Road. All roads will continue to be open seasonally beginning September 15 through January 2 and during the month of April as they have in the past, provided adequate funding is available for maintenance. Access to the Musterground property of Jocassee Gorges will continue to be available through the Bad Creek Facility. This gate will also be open September 15 through January 2 and during the month of April. The lower Tater Hill road (off Hwy 130) should also continue to be opened seasonally. Closed roads on the property will be marked with signs.

This schedule will allow for visitor access during the peak foliage seasons, and accommodates traditional recreational user groups such as hunters, anglers and hikers. Special consideration is also being given to providing year-round access on the main Horsepasture Road from Laurel Valley Lodge to Laurel Fork Gap. This will allow better access to the property by visitors.

Additional access may be considered as funding for road maintenance and repair is secured. However, ecological concerns warrant allowing seasonal vehicular access only at this time. The area is highly erodible and road repair and maintenance is expensive. Annual rainfall on the property is the highest in the east. Year-round access would require much more maintenance activity such as grading and adding gravel. Sedimentation studies imply that frequent road maintenance in the mountains increases sediment sources to the watersheds. Additionally, black bear research studies in the area indicated that vehicle traffic on open roads inside the Horsepasture had a significant negative impact on movements of bears. Black bears avoid open forest access roads. Bears seldom utilize available habitat within 500 meters of logging roads when public access is allowed. Bear avoidance of open roads has been documented throughout the southern Appalachians.

Access through the historic, lower entrance to the Horsepasture Road at Cane Creek was not included in the state's purchase of the property. An alternative access for Jocassee Gorges is planned by renovating the historic Old Horsepasture Road. This road will enter the main Horsepasture Road in the vicinity of the Gant Fields. This access will not be available until renovation is complete and the road meets acceptable standards. Until then, the only vehicle access into the major section of the Horsepasture is through Laurel Valley. From the Laurel Valley entrance to Cane Creek is approximately 16 miles.

The entire Laurel Fork and Jackie's Ridge roads, or portions thereof, will be closed because of the condition of the road and bridges and environmental concerns. Several options are currently being reviewed to address the situation with the Laurel Fork Road, including road relocation, road repair, and closure of the road without repair or relocation.

B. ROAD MAINTENANCE

A prioritization of road maintenance and improvements will be developed each year. Acceptable standards for road conditions will be established and met. Soil scientists and engineers with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and SCFC will be consulted in this process. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining public and forest access roads in a state that meet and exceed state Best Management Practices. Installation of sediment traps, broad based dips, French drains, berms, weeps, etc. will be needed to minimize erosion from many main access roads. Road surfacing used will be carefully considered to minimize siltation (e.g. crusher run around live streams and ephemeral areas). Maintenance of watershed integrity and high water quality is a management priority. Also, managers must maintain the ability to close roads during extremely wet weather conditions when roads are in need of maintenance. Because of high amounts of rainfall in the Horsepasture, it may be necessary to "day light" (i.e. cut or trim trees along the road) some roads. Day lighting roads will be a practice considered for application on a site-specific basis where appropriate. Initially, road maintenance will be conducted through cooperative agreements and by SCDNR staff. As management funding for equipment and personnel becomes available, it will be beneficial to hire personnel to conduct routine road maintenance.

Closed roads will be maintained in a stabilized state consistent with standards for light duty or forest access roads. Assurance that state BMP's are met and exceeded will be stressed. SCFC BMP forester, SCDNR management team biologists, NRCS soil scientist(s), and Duke Power Company personnel will lay out all detailed road work ahead of equipment operators. These individuals will be on-site to assure proper implementation.

Road Inventory and Repair Process

There are numerous dirt roads on the property ranging from major access roads to closed-out roads from previous forestry work. Annual inventories of these roads will be completed, and special emphasis will be given to noting any roads that have become destabilized and that are contributing notable quantities of siltation to streams. The roads needing stabilization work will be prioritized, and future work will be scheduled to provide and maintain stabilization through implementation of Best Management Practices. A team involving SCDNR, NRCS, DPC, SCFC and other appropriate entities will coordinate this effort. This cooperative approach, involving these cooperators, will be an ongoing process through the year 2006 or until all roads have been inventoried and repairs, if needed, implemented.

1998-2000 Road Maintenance and Upgrade Schedule

Road maintenance and upgrade priorities for FY1998-1999 will focus on the main seasonally-open public access road. A complete inventory of 18 miles of seasonal access road in the Horsepasture area has been conducted by SCDNR biologists, NRCS soil scientists and SCFC staff and BMP foresters, and Duke Power Company and Crescent Resources, Inc. Resource professionals identified four distinct road segments within the 18-miles based on current condition of the road, resource protection needs (i.e. erosion control, etc.), and maintenance as a public access road. These four road segments are illustrated in Figure 1. A brief summary outlining the general maintenance work to be completed on each segment is as follows:

Cane Creek Road

Old Section to Cane Creek Bridge

(4.3 miles) Phase I

• The broad-based (Coweeta), rolling dips in this area need some attention. Some need to be renovated and others need to be added. These locations will be marked with surveying flags. In most cases, v-shaped outlets will not be used. A flat bottom outlet is best to prevent erosion. Outlets should maintain a 2-9% grade. In some situations, a brush barrier or silt fencing at the end of the outlet will be required. These needs will be determined during construction.
  
• At one location, check dams were needed where the water off an old abandoned logging road was causing a problem. Check dams are usually constructed using riprap. An alternative would be logs staked to the ground.
  
• This section of road needs gravel for all-weather term access. A minimum of four (4) inches of oversize stone will be applied. Light applications of crusher run may be applied on top of the stone on steep areas away from streams. Crusher run will be avoided near stream crossings and ephemeral areas. SCDNR will purchase the gravel.
  
• A small parking area should be located near the Cane Creek Bridge.
  
• Road edges will be vegetated to prevent silt movement.
  
• This road section was identified as the highest priority (phase 1) for maintenance due to erosion problems.
  
• Duke Power Company will coordinate the hydro seeding and seed purchases on phase I. Duke plans to involve resource conservation groups in a cost-share basis to purchase seed, mulch, etc.
  
• Tentative schedule for maintenance is late August - Early September 1998
  
  

Cane Creek Bridge to Main Horsepasture (Old Horsepasture Road)

(3.3 miles) Phase II

• Several problem spots exist where concentrated flow was causing ephemeral erosion. These areas need to be graded again. Each case will be handled individually with regard to outlets. Alternatives will be riprap drop chutes, culverts, or high velocity fabric.
  
• Bank erosion exists on one area where a large tree has broken loose at the top. Trees will be cut back from the top of slope for thirty (30) feet. Shrub plants that will not get tall will be planted. The slide area will be sloped on a 2:1 slope. The area will be vegetated with a hydro-seeder and stabilized at the bottom of the slope with logs or riprap.
  
• Several broad-based dips need to be shaped again. At present, they are too steep and narrow for easy access. As a general rule, broad-based dips will be broad enough to set a bulldozer in.
  
• One area has some wet weather springs. Geotextile fabric under the gravel or the installation of French drains will be utilized to aid in maintenance.
  
• This road segment has been identified as the second highest (phase 2) priority.
  
• Tentative schedule for work to begin is September 1998 or Spring 1999 pending availability of gravel for surfacing, weather, and progress made on phase 1.
  
  

Horsepasture Road

(8-9 miles) Phase III

• Additional broad-based dips need to be constructed at designated locations. Outletting at the head of drains should be avoided. Outletting at the head of drains quickly concentrates water in steep grades and results in erosion.
  
• A few locations need a small sediment/retention basin to hold and release water at a slower rate. These will be determined during construction.
  
• Some existing culverts are not functioning. These should be removed if water is piping under them. Otherwise, they could be left unless they inhibit travel.
  
• At least two areas have steep grades and significant rock outcropping. Soil to construct dips will not be available unless hauled in. The void could be filled with surge stone to form a uniform grade. This area will need to be monitored on a regular basis.
  
• This road segment has been identified as the third highest priority for maintenance.
  
• The need for a parking area at the "Gap Gate" was identified.
  
• Tentative schedule for maintenance is Spring 1999.
  
  

Cane Creek Road -- New portion of road

Roy Jones to old section of Cane Creek Road

(1.5 miles) Phase IV

• The first section of road is in acceptable condition. A few areas were observed where water out-letting from land above the road was causing a minor erosion problem. A few hay bales placed above these washes should help heal these areas.
  
• Some areas for parking and pullouts need to be located. We observed several possible sites along ridge tops where erosion could be held to a minimum.
  
• The vegetation on this section of road is primarily Weeping Love grass. This grass will dominate over other grasses. At present, a dense stand of Love grass has been established. One problem in the future with this grass is the characteristic of stooling or weeping over other vegetation and the end result is clumps of Love grass. Erosion can start between the clumps. For this reason, the seeding rate on Love grass will be cut to no more than two (2) pounds per acre when using a mixture.
  
• This section of road has some minor areas where rock surfacing is thin and needs additional rock.
  
• This section of road was identified as the fourth highest (phase 4) priority of the four road sections due to its acceptable condition.
  

Due to steep grades, infertile, acidic, and erodible soils, and high rainfall in the mountain area, it is crucial to quickly seed disturbed areas. Late spring and late summer to early fall offer the only appropriate time frames when proven seed mixtures can be applied with good success. All road work that will require seeding must be coordinated at these times to allow seed to be applied soon after soil disturbance. As a general rule, equipment work on roads will not take place unless arrangements have been made to rock and seed soon after the work has been completed. This rule may not apply on established roads (that already have stabilized shoulders and rock surfacing) that are being scraped. The following outlines a general vegetation and gravel plan for FY1998-1999 road repairs. This planting guide may be adjusted over time as results, experience and consultations with resource professionals determine advantageous.

Vegetation Plan

(April 30 - June 30)

On areas adjacent to roads requiring vegetation for stabilization the following components and amounts will be utilized as a guide: during the April 30 - June 30 time frame.

Component Amount

Fertilizer (10-10-10 or equal) 500 pounds/ac

Lime 1 tn/ac

Kobe Lespedeza 20 pounds/ac

Sericea Lespedeza (scarified seed) 20 pounds/ac

Bahia grass 15 pounds/ac

Love grass 2 pounds/ac

Brown top millet 12 pounds/ac

Mulch 1 tn/ac or 50 bales of straw

Switch grass 10 lbs/ac hand seeded, 20 lbs/ac hydro-seeded

Partridge pea 10 lbs/ac hand seeded, 20 lbs/ac

hydro-seeded

• Some areas will have to be hydro seeded. These include steep banks. A wood fiber mulch can be incorporated in the mix and blown in the hydro seeder.
  
• When using a hydro seeder, liquid lime and fertilizer can be used.
  
• The use of any component will depend on commercial availability and funding.
  
• Land preparation for switch grass and partridge pea--conventional till to at least 3" depth, lime and fertilize, seed, culti-pac, mulch.
  
  

Vegetation Plan

September 1 - October 15

On areas adjacent to roads requiring vegetation for stabilization the following components and

amounts will be utilized during the September 1-October 15 time frame.

Component Amount

Fertilizer (10-10-10 or equal) 500 pounds/ac

Lime 1 tn/ac

Fescue seed 40 pounds/ac

Rye Grass 15 pounds/ac

Sericea Lespedeza (unscarified) 50 pounds/ac

Mulch 1 tn/ac

Kobe Lespedeza (in the hull) 20 pounds/ac

Clover (Ladino) 10 pounds/ac

Switchgrass 10 pounds/ac (20 lbs. hydro-seeded)

Virginia or Canadian rye grass 15-20 lbs/ac

• Selected areas along gentle slopes would be suitable for adding clover to mixture. On these areas fescue should be cut back to twenty (20) pounds per acre.
  
• The use of any component will depend on commercial availability and funding.
  
• Seeding should be completed by the end of September if possible to establish a stand before leaf fall.
  

Gravel Calculation and Application

A fifteen (15+) ft. wide road should give room for some vehicles to meet and pass. Pull offs and parking areas may be required. To estimate gravel needs, multiply length x width x depth, divide answer by 27, and multiply by 1.5. This gives tonnage. *Note - this is for access road segments that have not been rocked in the past (e.g. phases I and II). Roads that have been rocked (e.g. phase III) may not require as much gravel.

5280 lin ft/mile x 15 lin. ft. wide x 4" deep = 26,374 cu. ft.

26,374 cu.ft/27 cu.ft. = 978 cu. yds.

978 cu.yds. x 1.5 tons gravel/cu.yd. = 1,465 tons per mile

1,465 tons x $13/tn (average cost of gravel) = $17,582 per mile

An initial purchase of 7,800 tons of rock (approximately $100,000) will be made in July-August 1998. This amount of rock will be sufficient to cover phase I.

An additional 7,800 tons of rock will be purchased in July-August of 1998 or at a later date in 1999. This rock will be sufficient to cover phase II with some rock left over for parking areas and some thin spots on portions of phase III.

Additional rock may be needed to complete phase III. This will be further assessed after the completion of phases I and II.

Additional maintenance costs will be associated with the purchase of materials such as: rip rap, silt fencing, hay, straw, excelsior matting, gate materials, locks, signs, kiosks, seed, fertilizer, lime, mulch, equipment maintenance, etc.

Road repair needs for fiscal year 1998-1999 will be assessed once an inventory of second-year work is complete. An inventory of road work to be completed in FY 1999-2000 will be completed prior to June 30, 1999.

Initial road repair and upgrades on Jocassee Gorges will primarily utilize Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Funds and other license revenue funds as available. Since there is currently no established funding source for road management on Jocassee Gorges, road maintenance work on the property will be contingent upon fund availability from year to year.

Personnel:

SCDNR biologists with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Section, Jocassee Gorges management team, will provide primary coordination of road maintenance work. Jocassee Gorges management team leader, (region-I wildlife management biologist), will serve as on-site supervisor and coordinator for road work. A team involving National Resource Conservation Service, SC Forestry Commission, and Duke Power Company resource professionals will give primary guidance on layout and proper implementation of road work.

Equipment operators with SCDNR, SCFC, and Duke Power Company will provide assistance with on the ground work (e.g. grading roads, hydro-seeding, etc.).

Equipment:

The following major equipment items will be used during the 1998-2000 road maintenance: bulldozers, hydro-seeder (Duke Power Co.), dump trucks, motor graders.

References

Butfiloski, W. J., 1996. Home Range, Movements and Habitat Utilization of Female Black Bears in the Mountains of South Carolina. M.S. Thesis. Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.

North Carolina Division of Forest Resources. 1989. Forestry Best Management Practices Manual. Department of Environmental, Health and Natural Resources. 67pp.

Rankin, D.M. 1998. Resource Management Plan for Jocassee Gorges Property, Oconee and Pickens Counties, South Carolina.

South Carolina Forestry Commission. 1994. S.C.'s Best Management Practices for Forestry. S.C. Forestry Commission. Columbia, S.C. 64pp.

Stivers, J. R. 1997. Applications of Warm-season Native Grasses on the Talladega National Forest (east central Alabama). Abstract in Native Grasses of the Eastern United States Symposium at the North Carolina Arboretum, University of North Carolina.

Swift, L. W., Jr. 1984. Gravel and Grass Surfacing Reduces Soil Loss from Mountain Roads. Forest Sci., Vol. 30, No. 3. pp. 657-670.

Swift, L.W., Jr. 1984. Soil Losses from Roadbeds and Cut and Fill Slopes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. Vol. 8, No. 4. pp. 209-215.

Swift, L.W., Jr. 1985. Forest Road Design To Minimize Erosion in the Southern Appalachians. Proceedings of Forestry and Water Quality: A Mid-South Symposium, Little Rock, Arkansas, May 8-9, 1985.

Swift, L.W., Jr. 1986. Filter Strip Widths for Forest Roads in the Southern Appalachians. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 10, No. 1.

Swift, L.W., Jr. 1988. Forest Access Roads: Design, Maintenance, and Soil Loss. Ecological Studies, Vol. 66: Forest Hydrology and Ecology at Coweeta.

Stickney, P. L., Swift, L. W., Jr., and Swank, W.T. 1996. Annotated Bibliography of  Publications on Watershed Management and Ecological Studies at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, 1934-1994.

Willey, R. D., 1995. Population Dynamics and Denning Ecology of Black Bears in the Mountains of South Carolina. M.S. Thesis, Clemson University., Clemson, South Carolina.

Table 1. Road Access Schedule for Jocassee Gorges.

* Note - Portions of the Standing Rock Road (Jackies Ridge Area) will be closed pending renovation, or relocation of Laurel Fork Road.

Figure 1. Jocassee Gorges Road Maintenance Map

Submitted By:	William R. Geddings District 1 Fisheries Biologist
	Daniel M. Rankin Editor
Reviewed By:	John Frampton Chief,  Wildlife Management Section Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Div.
	Val Nash Chief, Freshwater Fisheries
	Tom Kohlsaat Chief, Wildlife Diversity
Approved By:	W. Brock Conrad, Jr. Deputy Director, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
	Paul A. Sandifer, Ph.D. Director, SC Department of Natural Resources