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Managing Degraded Off-Highway Vehicle Trails in Wet, Unstable, and Sensitive Environments

Appendix A—Subjective Evaluation of Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Treatment Options for Alaska

Evaluation factors Polynet/
Pyramat
Wood
matrix
1 ¼
and 2-
inch
GeoBlock
SolGrid PVC mat Rubber
matting
Woven
corduroy
Onsite
material-
puncheon
Gravel/
geo-
textile
GeoWeb
Ability to stabilize trail degradation Fair Good Very good Good Very good Poor Excellent Very good Good Good
Ability to promote trail regeneration Fair Good Very good Very good Good Poor Poor Fair Very poor Very poor
Suitablity for vegetation regrowth Fair Good Very good Very good Fair Fair Poor Poor Very poor Very poor
General quality of traffic surface:
For OHV use Fair Fair Good Good Excellent Excellent Good Good Good Good
For foot traffic Poor Poor Fair Fair Excellent Excellent Fair Good Good Good
For heavy track vehicles Poor Good Fair Fair Good Good Fair Very poor Good Good
For horses along trail Poor Very poor Poor Poor Good Good Poor Very poor Good Good
For large wildlife crossing Fair Very poor Fair Fair Good Good Fair Very poor Good Good

Evaluation factors Polynet/
Pyramat
Wood
matrix
1 ¼
and 2-
inch
GeoBlock
SolGrid PVC mat Rubber
matting
Woven
corduroy
Onsite
material-
puncheon
Gravel/
geo-
textile
GeoWeb
Slipperiness of surface when wet Fair Good Good Good Good Good Fair Fair Good Good
Ability to provide level surface Poor Good Good Fair Fair Fair Good Good Good Good
Ability to conform to terrain Fair Poor Fair Very good Excellent Excellent Good Good Good Good
Suitability for installation on slopes Fair Good Fair Excellent Excellent Good Fair Fair Fair-Poor Poor
Ability to facilitate trail curves Poor Poor Good Good Very good Good Very poor Good Fair Poor
Abiliy to install over center hump Good Good Fair Good Good Good Fair Good Good Good

Evaluation factors Polynet/
Pyramat
Wood
matrix
1 ¼
and 2-
inch
GeoBlock
SolGrid PVC mat Rubber
matting
Woven
corduroy
Onsite
material-
puncheon
Gravel/
geo-
textile
GeoWeb
Ease of installation Poor Very poor Good Excellent Fair Very good Poor Good Fair Poor
Ease of installation over existing vegetation Poor Good Good Good Fair Fair Good Good Fair Poor
Ease of transport to installation site Excellent Poor Good Good Fair Fair Poor Excellent Fair-Poor Fair-Poor
Weight of material/surface area Low Heavy Low Low Low Low Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy
Susceptibility to displacement High Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Very low
Natural Appearance Poor Fair Fair Fair Fair Fair Good Good Fair Fair
General esthetics of installation Poor Fair Good Good Good Good Good Good Fair Fair

Evaluation factors Polynet/
Pyramat
Wood
matrix
1 ¼
and 2-
inch
GeoBlock
SolGrid PVC mat Rubber
matting
Woven
corduroy
Onsite
material-
puncheon
Gravel/
geo-
textile
GeoWeb
Visual "contrast" on installation Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate High High Moderate High High High
Visual "contrast" after revegetation Good Good Good Good Fair Fair High High High High
Public perception Poor Poor Fair Fair Good Good Good Good Good Good
Negative effect on permafrost None None None None None None None None None None
Suitability for underwater application Poor Poor Good Poor Fair Poor Poor Fair Fair Poor
Longevity of product Fair Poor Good Good Good Good Fair Fair Good Good
Strength of material Poor Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Good Good Fair Good

Evaluation factors Polynet/
Pyramat
Wood
matrix
1 ¼
and 2-
inch
GeoBlock
SolGrid PVC
mat
Rubber
matting
Woven
corduroy
Onsite
material-
puncheon
Gravel/
geo-
textile
GeoWeb
Transfer of lateral load Poor Excellent Very
good
Poor Fair Poor Good Excellent Good Good
Maintenance requirements High High Low Low Low Medium Medium Medium Medium Low
"Environm-ental" cost
of material
Low Low Low Low Low Low High Low Low Low
Installation labor time High High Low Very low High Low Medium Low High High
Cost of material Low Low Medium-
High
Medium High Low Low Low Medium-
High
Medium-
High
Suitable for use: L-M-H impacted areas Light Heavy Heavy Moderate Mode-
rate
Light Heavy Heavy Heavy Heavy
Overall suitability
for use
Poor Poor

Very
good

Good Good Poor Condit-
ional
Site dependent Good Condit-
ional