RECLAMATION OF SKID ROADS WITH FIBER MATS AND NATIVE VEGETATION: EFFECTS ON EROSION

research study was established to test the effectiveness of fiber mats and native seed mixtures in reducing soil erosion from newly-constructed skid roads in the Elk River Watershed in central West Virginia. Twelve road sections of equal grade were paired with a randomly-selected section receiving a fiber mat and native grass seed while the other road section was not treated. Silt fences with sediment traps were constructed at the downslope ends of each road section. Sediments were collected from silt traps three times during the summer of 2005. Road sections with no fiber mulch or seeding averaged 174.1 g/m 2 and those with fiber mulch and seeding average 34.9 g/m2. Vegetation averaged 17.5 cm in height on fiber mulch treated road sections; no vegetation was observed sections without fiber mulch during the study period. Further research is needed to develop a cost/benefit analysis of employing the road reclamation approach used in this pilot project.