Maintaining Dirt and Gravel Roads in Your Woodlands

Maintaining Dirt and Gravel Roads in Your Woodlands

Mike Klimkos, former Dirt and Gravel Road Program Coordinator with the State Conservation Commission will be the featured speaker at the Thursday, January 14 meeting of the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association.  He will be speaking about the importance of proper design and maintenance of roads for private forest landowners.  The meeting will be held at 7:00 P.M. at the Cumberland County Extension Office which is located at 310 Allen Road in Carlisle.  You do not have to be a member and there is no cost to attend.

Runoff from dirt roads is a major source of sediment in streams. It contributes to flooding, increases streambank erosion and decreases water quality. There are practices for new or existing roads that private forest landowners can use to minimize erosion potential.  The benefits of road stabilization include less road maintenance, less wear and tear on vehicles, better access, improved water quality and reduced flood damage.  To learn more about the resources available to assist landowners with designing an maintaining forests roads, plan to attend this meeting.

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is an organization of forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania.  For more information about the meeting or the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, contact Fred Peabody at 717/776-3565 (email: fredp5@earthlink.net) or Mike Waldron, 717-677-7317 (email:  mdwald57@yahoo.com).