Impacts of Leaf Removal from Trails on Trail Condition and Erosion

Abstract

Deciduous tree leaves on recreational trails alter user experience generally making for less enjoyable and possibly more dangerous trail conditions. Web searches reveal extensive debate regarding the management of leaves on trails with some trail users adamant leaves should be removed and others equally adamant they should not. Despite this debate, there is a dearth of published guidance and empirical research for decisions regarding leaf management on recreational trails. In this study, we experimentally removed leaves from treatment trail segments at Carvins Cove near Roanoke, Virginia during late fall in 2019 and 2020. Over the following two-year period, leaf cover on trails, qualitative trail conditions, compressive soil strength, and soil moisture content were measured in winter, spring, and fall 2020 and 2021. In fall 2021, erosion of trail was also measured. All measured variables were compared between treatment segments where leaf removal had occurred and control segments where leaf removal did not occur. Differences in leaf cover of treatment and control segments of trail were detectable through spring, but were undetectable by early fall the following year. During winter, compressive soil strength was lower in leafless segments. Analyses of qualitative data revealed leafless trail segments as softer and muddier than leaf covered segments during winter likely due to increased freeze/thaw cycles on trails lacking the insulating layer of leaves. During spring, soil moisture content was lower in leafless segments likely due to the evaporative barrier provided by the leaves on control segments. During spring, compressive soil strength and qualitative condition did not vary among leafless and leaf-covered segments. No differences in trail conditions were detectable among treatment and control segments during fall. After two years, erosion did not vary among leafless and leaf-covered segments suggesting there is little impact of leaf removal on long-term sustainability of trails. As a result, we recommend decisions regarding leaf removal focus not on efforts to make trails more sustainable, but rather on efforts to maximize trail maintenance resources for desired trail user experiences.