The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide

8/3/2019 The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide

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The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide

Planning Environmentally Low-Impact Recreational Access on

Riparian Lands

Friends of the Rappahannock

Fredericksburg, Virginia

2007


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River Access Guide Contributors

Jennifer Allen, Friends of the Rappahannock, Project Manager/WriterJohn Tippett, Friends of the Rappahannock

Dave King, Fredericksburg Public WorksErik Nelson, Fredericksburg Office of Planning and Community Development

Hal Wiggins, U.S. Army Corps of EngineersJessica DeWitt, Friends of the Rappahannock, Intern

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network for the grantfunding the development of this guide. We also are grateful to Kyle Schatz and Carol Brooks forcreating much of the artwork in this guide.


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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Low-Impact Recreational River Access: Guiding Principles

3. Smart Access Planning: Practices

4. Corridors for Wildlife: Practices

5. Preserving our Natural Heritage: Practices

6. Healthy Waters: Practices6.1. General Soil and Erosion Control6.2. Riparian Buffers6.3. Wetland Protection

7. Go Native: Practices

8. Scenic Integrity: Practices

9. Respect Historical Resources: Practices

10.Recreational Infrastructure: Design Examples, Specifications and Recommended Resourcesfor Further Information

10.1. Environmentally-Suitable Materials10.2. Erosion and Sediment Control Measures during Construction10.3. Trails and Associated Features

Trail Corridor WidthsTrailbedSurface Water Control on TrailsTrails in Wet AreasRiver OverlooksVehicle/ATV ExclusionBenches

10.4. Primitive Campsites

10.5. Non-Motorized Boat LandingsSite SelectionPermitsDesign AspectsBoat Landing Construction Methods and Materials

10.6. Access Roads, Parking Areas, and Signs


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10.References

11.AppendicesAppendix 1: Observable field indicators of wetland hydrologyAppendix 2: Native woody plants for stream restoration

Appendix 3: Virginia plant nurseries and suppliers of native plantsAppendix 4: Suppliers of geotextile and environmentally-friendlybuilding materials

Appendix 5: Sample bench and kiosk designs


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1. The Rappahannock River Watershed

The Rappahannock River flows swiftlydown from its headwaters in the BlueRidge Mountains, winds through the

rural Virginia Piedmont, and gentlythrough our tidewater landscapes to theChesapeake Bay. Throughout thiswatershed, the river is valued for its:o Unassuming beauty and offerings of

outdoor recreation and spiritualityo Plentitude of clean water for

agricultural irrigation, livestockwatering, and fisheries and shellfishindustries

o Strength to power various industries

such as mills and electricity, ando Historical role as a navigable

waterway for consumable goods, a natural feature utilized during the Civil and RevolutionaryWars, and a sustaining resource for Native American tribes.

The river freely provides these ecological, scenic, historical and socio-economic services, greatlybenefiting Virginias citizens currently and throughout historical times. To continue providingthese services, mankind must serve as good stewards of the lands and waters within theRappahannock River watershed. What does it mean to be a good steward? In the context ofconserving our natural resources, being a good steward means to live lightly on the land and torestore impaired natural resources.

This river access guide has been created to help citizens plan for future river recreational accessthat floats lightly on the water. Desired recreational uses include, but are not limited to,canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting.

The goal of this guide is toprovide assistance on balancingtwo common, yet oftenconflicting natural resourcemanagement objectives:providing public recreationalaccess and protecting theecological, scenic, and historicvalues of this significant regionalresource. Our philosophyregarding public recreational useof the Rappahannock River isManagement throughInfrastructure public

The Rappahannock River Watershed

K. Schatz


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recreational use can be proactively managed to protect this natural resource by appropriatelyplanning, designing and managing river access points.

In The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide, we provide guidance in the form of alist ofGuiding Principles on planning and constructing low-impact, environmentally-sensitive

infrastructure common to river recreational access points, such as river trails, boat landings, andprimitive campsites. In separate sections, each Guiding Principle is accompanied by a series ofBest Practices, or recommendations, on how to implement these Guiding Principles. Sincecertain topics, such as trail or boat launch design can be technically involved, we have providedan additional section on the nuts and bolts of more complex topics.

This guide provides information about several river recreational access topics, none of which canbe fully explored in this guide. As such, we have structured the guide as the starting point whenplanning a new river access point each section of this guide also includes a Resource Boxlisting references that will provide more technical expertise for a particular topic.

The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide is appropriate for river access points abovethe fall line (the zone between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic regions) thisgeographic scope essentially is the lands and waters upstream of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Inparticular, this guide will be useful for planning future river access points on FredericksburgsWatershed Property. Much of this watershed property (4,232 acres preserving 65.7 miles ofriparian buffer along the Rappahannock and its tributaries) is protected from future landdevelopment under a permanent conservation easement, though certain uses such as low-impactoutdoor recreational activities are permitted. The purpose of this easement is to (City ofFredericksburg 2006):

(1) Protect the natural environment and habitats, including the viewscape to andfrom the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers;

(2) Protect the water quality of the Rivers and to provide adequate public watersupplies;

(3) Protect the historic and archeological resources(4) Prevent residential and commercial development; and(5) Allow reasonable use and enjoyment of the Property by the general public.

This guide will be useful in encouraging compliance to the goals of this easement.

Although the geographic intent of this guide is limited, many of the Guiding Principles andPractices can be used in the lower Rappahannock River basin and in other watersheds.


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2. Low Impact Recreational River Access: Guiding Principles

The Guiding Principles for planning and constructing environmentally-sensitive recreational river access are as follows:

Smart Access Planning River access points are planned from a regional perspective,focused on not only providing non-duplicative recreational opportunities but also onconserving natural and historic resources.

Corridors for Wildlife Riparian forested corridors are protected to provide habitatconnectivity for wildlife dispersal, migration, and potentially breeding habitat use.

Preserve our Natural Heritage The conservation areas of rare, threatened and endangeredplants and animals is actively avoided to preserve these species and their habitats forgenerations to come.

Healthy Waters Water quality is protected for recreational uses, aquatic life, wildlife, theproduction of edible and marketable fish and shellfish, and the drinking water supply.

Go Native Non-native, invasive plants and animals are not intentionally introduced to newsites, and unintentional introductions are quickly controlled.

Scenic Integrity The natural visual quality and the sense of place is preserved.

Respect History Historic features are respected as part of the landscape and are notdisturbed.

K. Schatz

C. Brooks


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3. Smart Access Planning: Practices

Smart Access Planning is a planning approach based on a regional perspective rather than asingle landowner or county basis. Why plan with a regional focus? A regionally-based plan canbalance the desire for additional public river access points while also protecting the ecological,

historic and scenic values of the river and its surrounding landscapes.

Practice: Promote regional planning to avoid non-duplicative access. An example of

duplicative access is adjacent counties or landowners installing boat launches on either side oftheir boundaries.

Practice: Develop regional river accessplans from a Green Infrastructurephilosophy rather than from a gray (orbuilt) infrastructure perspective.

Green infrastructures are our naturallandscapes and riverscapes aninterconnected network of natural lands

and water that supports native species,maintains ecological processes, sustainsair and water resources and contributesto the health, quality of life, andrecreational opportunities for people.

The placement of canoe landings is best planned from a regional perspective. The graphic on the left represents a lackof regional planning; the other graphic represents a regional approach providing river access while also protecting otherriver values.


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Practice: Develop a plan for the long-term maintenance and management of the proposedrecreational infrastructure.

Public river access sites need a plan for continual maintenance. Before building newinfrastructure, first work on committing the resources (funding and manpower) necessary to keep

the future infrastructure clean and maintained. This also applies to volunteer efforts to buildimprovements such as trails. Plans for future river access sites should not be approved by thejurisdictional authority unless a long-term management plan has been developed and appropriateresources have been committed for maintenance activities.

Erosion beginning on a new trail,designed with no water erosion controlmeasures. Erosion on trail began withthe first rainfall after the trailconstruction was completed.

On the same trail as above,the overlook alreadyexperienced moderate erosionthree months afterconstruction.


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Smart Access Planning Resource Box

Internet Resources

GreenInfrastructure.net a joint project between The Conservation Fund and U.S. ForestService providing information on planning from a green infrastructure philosophywww.greeninfrastructure.net/

Recreational Planning for Greenways www.state.va.us/dcr/prr/greenway.htm Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment: a GIS tool

for integrating the needs and strategies of different conservation interests in Virginia; May beuseful for regional planning -- www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/vclna.htm

Publications

Rappahannock River Watershed Plan. 1994. Prepared by the Planning & CommunityDevelopment Office, City of Fredericksburg, Virginia.


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4. Corridors for Wildlife: Practices

Corridors are linear strips that differ from the surrounding landscapeand connect larger habitat patches (Forman 1995). Forested riparianareas, vegetated areas along river/stream banks, form a natural

corridor along waterways that is important to many wildlife and fishpopulations and to conserving regional biological diversity.Riparian corridor linkage is key for connecting natural areas andfeatures, connecting habitats for wildlife movement, and connectingpeople to a magical and wild river experience. The function ofriparian forest ecosystems in the landscape is dictated by their role asboth a transition zone between the aquatic and terrestrialenvironments as well as a corridor through the landscape.

Intact riparian corridors provide biodiversityprotection by serving as dispersal routes betweennatural landscapes for migratory birds, herptiles,fish, and butterflies and by providing habitat formany common and unique plants and animals.Without these dispersal corridors, wildlifepopulations may decline and isolated populationseven may experience loss of genetic diversity.These riparian corridors also mitigate flood impacts,control erosion and sedimentation rates, and filterout many pollutants before they reach waterways,thus protecting clean water.

Additionally, natural corridors offer many recreational opportunities in our increasinglysuburban and urban environments. Many cities and towns choose to protect their greenbelts asa valued community resource and include riparian corridors as part of their cultural identity andnatural heritage.

Practice: Preserve the connectivity and width of existing riparian corridors, characterized bynatural linear patches of forests, shrublands, wetlands, and natural grasslands.

Practice: Prevent the loss of corridor connectivity by prohibiting clearing of natural habitat,minimally within a 30-m buffer on both sides of waterways to protect water quality, butpreferentially within a 100-m buffer zone to provide a wildlife corridor.

Practice: When necessary to build recreational infrastructure within a 30-m riparian buffer (e.g.,a canoe landing), minimize the width of open area along the waterway to 20 feet.

Tiger Swallowtail (C. Brooks)

Painted Turtles (C. Brooks)


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Practice: Ideally, build new infrastructure within existing recreational access sites rather thandeveloping unfragmented natural habitat within the riparian corridor. Developing natural habitatcauses forest fragmentation, destroying habitat for many wildlife species and breaking corridorconnectivity.

A 30-m riparian buffer is recommended as the minimum standard to protect water quality.Ideally, conserve a 100-m forested buffer along rivers and streams to support key ecologicalfunctions such as providing a wildlife corridor (K. Schatz).

Forest fragmentationcaused by sprawl isevident in this image ofStafford County,Virginia (digitalorthophotographicquarter-quadrangleimagery).


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Wildlife Corridor Resource Box

Internet Resources

American Wildlands description of a corridor - www.wildlands.org/corridor/what_are_corr.html

CorridorDesigner: free GIS tools to design and evaluate wildlife corridors (Spring 2007 software

release date) - http://corridordesign.org/

Book and Publications

Forman, R.T.T. 1995. Land mosaics: The ecology of landscapes and regions. CambridgeUniversity Press, Cambridge, UK.


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Did you know?

The Rappahannock River provides

some of the best nesting habitatfor Bald Eagles in North America USFWS prohibits landdevelopment or clearing within a750-ft radius from an eaglesnesting.

5. Preserve our Natural Heritage: Practices

What is our Natural Heritage? OurNatural Heritageis the biodiversity of the natural environmentsurrounding us, such as the plants, animals, and

ecological communities that characterize the landsand waters of Virginia. Humans are also part of thenatural part of our environment but our modernimpacts, such as land development for shoppingmalls, are not. Potentially, the way we live on theland can cause habitat loss, and this habitat loss isoften the leading cause for population declines ofmany types of plants, animals and ecologicalcommunities. Many species or ecological communitieshave become rare in recent times, and thus there aremany organizations and government agencies

worldwide that work to protect them from futureextinction. For instance, the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService (USFWS) is the federal agency responsible forlisting fish, wildlife and plants as endangered orthreatened in the United States, and then implementingstrategies to conserve and restore their populations inthe wild. In Virginia, the Natural Heritage Program, adivision of the Department of Conservation andRecreation, works to save native plants and animal life across the Commonwealth.

When planning for new river recreational access points, minimally consult with regional officesof USFWS and the Virginia Natural Heritage Program to evaluate whether potential river accesssites may harbor rare, threatened, or endangered life or the habitat upon which they depend. Ifpotential sites do harbor rarities, avoid these sites completely.

Practice: Prevent or minimize impact to species listed as threatened or endangered byfederal/state authorities by requesting guidance from USFWS, VDACS-Office of Plant and PestServices, and other government agencies.

Practice: Prevent or minimize impact to sensitive habitats of rare plants, animals, and ecologicalcommunities by requesting guidance from the Virginia Natural Heritage Program and other stateagencies.

Bald Eagle (K. Schatz)

Green Floater, a freshwater mussel atrisk in the Rappahannock Riverwatershed (North Carolina WildlifeResource Commission)


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Natural Heritage Resource Box

Agency Resources

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Field Office, 6669 Short Lane, Gloucester, Virginia23061; 804-693-6694; authority for federally-listed threatened and endangered species -www.fws.gov/northeast/facts/VAFO06.pdf

Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, Chesapeake Bay Region, 217 Governor Street, Richmond,Virginia 23219; 804-225-2303; expertise on global and state rare species and natural communities- www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Plant and Pest Services,Endangered Plant & Insect Program, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219; 804.786.3515;authority for state-listed threatened and endangered plants and insects -www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant&pest/endangered.shtml

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Region V, 1320 Belman Road,Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401; 540-899-4169; state-listed threatened and endangered wildlife

and fish - www.dgif.virginia.gov/

Book and Publications

Stein, B.A., L.S. Kutner, and J.S. Adams. 2000. Precious Heritage: the status of biodiversity inthe United States. The Nature Conservancy and Association for Biodiversity Information. OxfordUniversity Press, New York.

Terwillinger, K. 1991. Virginias Endangered Species. Virginia Department of Game and InlandFisheries. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.


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Did you know?The State Water Council Board is mandated

to protect water quality for recreational uses,aquatic life, wildlife, and the production ofedible and marketable fish and shellfish. Byprotecting these designated uses, other usessuch as water supply, irrigation and

navigation are usually protected (VDEQ-SWCB 2006).

6. Healthy Waters: PracticesSimply stated, healthy waters can be definedas waters that are swimmable and fishable.Clean, unpolluted water is not only necessary

for our drinking water supply, but alsosupports the biological health of fish,shellfish, and other aquatic life. Healthywaters depends on both good water qualityand water quantity. In this guide we focus onaspects of protecting water quality since thisis the ecological attribute of river systems thatis more likely to be affected by recreationalriver access features.

6.1.

General Erosion and Sediment ControlPractices

Practice: Protect existing riparian buffers fromhabitat destruction and degradation by placingmost recreational infrastructure features upland ofthis zone. For further guidance on protectingriparian buffers, see Section 6.2.

Practice: Design an infrastructure site planfocused on minimizing the development footprintand thus impervious surfaces.

Development footprintis the total area disturbed by the cutting of trees, the grading, landscapingor other permanent altering of land, and the erection, construction, or installation of any building,structure, equipment, improvement or facility. An impervious surface is an area whereinfiltration of water into the underlying soil is prevented, such as a parking lot. As the amount ofimpervious surface increases in an area, the volume of surface water runoff into streams

increases, causingsoil erosion andexcessivesediment loadingin waterways.

Streambank erosion in Massaponax CreekWatershed.

Sediment pollution is evident nextto an eroded bank and a nearbyroad.


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Practice: Limit footprint of a developed recreational site to no more than three acres, notincluding acres disturbed for unpaved hiking trails and primitive campsites. For theFredericksburg Watershed Property (river easement lands), its easement language stipulates thatthe recreational site cannot exceed this 3-acre threshold.

Practice: Use Low ImpactDevelopment (LID) site designstrategies to reduce impacts to waterquality. LID is focused on replicatingthe pre-construction natural surfacewater runoff rate by reducing theamount of impervious surface. SeeResource Box for more information.

Practice: Use Erosion and Sediment Control Measures such as silt fences, filter strips andtemporary vegetation cover, to prevent sediment from entering wetlands or open water. Seesection 10.2 for more information.

Practice: Restore eroding stream/riverbanks adjacent to the river access point. Otherwise, theseeroding banks will continue to worsen, threatening the health of the river, potentially thestructural-integrity of infrastructure such as boat landings, and may pose as a human safety-risk.

Example of a LID site (Graphic credit:Low Impact Development Center, Inc.)

An eroding bank along the Rappahannock Riverrestored by Friends of the Rappahannock. Thetop photograph shows the site pre-restoration, andthe bottom illustrates a successful restoration

effort.


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Healthy Waters, Erosion/Sediment Control, and Low Impact Development Resource Box

Agency and NGO Resources

The Low Impact Development Center, 4600 Powder Mill Rd, Suite 200, Beltsville, MD 20705www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/

Friends of the Rappahannock: staff expertise on Low Impact Develpment, 3219 Fall Hill Avenue,

Fredericksburg, VA 22401; 540-373-3448 Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District, 4805 Carr Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408;

(540) 899-9492, ext 3

Soil and Water Conservation Division, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation,York-Rappahannock Watershed Office, P. O. Box 1425, Tappahannock, Va. 22560; (804) 443-6752; www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/index.shtml

Internet ResourcesHealthy Waters and Erosion/Sediment Control

A Virginians Year Round Guide to Yard Care, VDCR, Soil & Water Conservation www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/documents/yardcare.pdf

Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District: information about water and protecting

water quality - http://tccswcd.vaswcd.org/WaterWorld.htm Friends of the Rappahannock: how to help protect water quality -

www.riverfriends.org/Programs/Advocacy/KeeptheRiverHealthy/tabid/73/Default.aspx

Low Impact Development

LID Center, Introduction to Low Impact Development www.lid-stormwater.net/intro/background.htm

Friends of the Rappahannock: publications on low impact development -www.riverfriends.org/Publications/LowImpactDevelopment/tabid/86/Default.aspx

American Planning Association:Low Impact Development: An Alternative Approach to SiteDesign - http://www.pathnet.org/si.asp?id=1592

Whole Building Design Guide: Low Impact Development Technologies

www.wbdg.org/design/lidtech.php United States Environmental Protection Agency, Field Evaluation for Permeable Pavers:

www.epa.gov/owow/nps/pavements.pdf

Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District: LID info - http://tccswcd.vaswcd.org/lid.htm

Publications

VDCR-Soil and Water Conservation. 1992. Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/e&s-ftp.shtml (This handbook provides technical details on implementing many Erosion and SedimentControl Measures.)


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6.2. Riparian Buffer PracticesRiparian buffers are naturally vegetatedlands stretching along rivers andstreams, such as a riparian forest. These

riparian buffers provide severalecological services:o Filter stormwater runoff -

pollutants and sediments areremoved before the runoff fromadjacent lands reaches thewaterway

o Reduce flooding of developedareas flood waters spread intothe riparian buffer forests, losingenergy

o

Reduce erosion problems the vegetative roots hold soils on streambanks against theerosive force of moving watero Shade streams streams lacking shade-giving vegetation on its banks suffer higher water

temperatures, detrimentally impacting aquatic life; shaded, cooler waters also can absorbhigher levels of oxygen and thus, critical to supporting aquatic life, and

o Provide corridors for wildlife wildlife often use natural corridors, such as forestedriparian buffers as dispersal or migratory routes.

These ecological services vary by thewidth of the riparian buffer, withgenerally wider buffers along astream or river having greaterecological benefits for the aquaticsystem and for the adjoininglandscape. Minimally, riparianbuffers should at least be 30 m (100feet) wide to provide water qualitybenefits, but to provide wildlifehabitat functions, buffers should beat least 100 m (300 feet) wide (Cohen 1997; Wenger 1999; ELI 2003).

Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act of 1988, and section 3C of the conservationeasement for the Fredericksburg Watershed Property (City of Fredericksburg 2006), mandatesthe protection of a 100-foot buffer landward of the mean high water mark of the River and its

tributaries from developmentto the greatest extent practicable.

Practice: Prohibit building recreational infrastructure within a 30-meter (100-foot) criticalriparian buffer zone, as measured from the mean high water mark of a river or stream. The onlystructures that may be permitted within this 30-m buffer are unpaved hiking trails and non-motorized boat landings designed to minimize erosion and destruction of natural vegetation.

Forested riparian buffer on Massaponax Creek near the confluencewith the Rappahannock River.

Potential ecological benefits of riparian buffers of different widths(ELI 2003).

Buffer Width Potential Benefit or Purpose

25 m Nutrient & pollutant removal30-50 m Temperature & microclimate

regulation, sediment removal; Detritalinput and bank stabilization

100 m + Wildlife habitat functions, such asdispersal corridors


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Practice: To the extent practicable, minimize placement of recreational infrastructure within a100-meter (300-foot) wide riparian buffer along rivers and tributaries to provide both waterquality and wildlife habitat protection.

Riparian Buffer Resource Box

Agency Contacts

Soil and Water Conservation Division, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation,York-Rappahannock Watershed Office, P. O. Box 1425, Tappahannock, Va. 22560; (804) 443-6752; www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/index.shtml

Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District, 4805 Carr Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408;(540) 899-9492, ext 3; http://tccswcd.vaswcd.org/

Internet Resources

US Army Corps of Engineers Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program -Comprehensive examination of the importance of buffer zones:

el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/sr24.pdf Virginia Department of Forestry, Riparian Forest Buffers: www.dof.virginia.gov/rfb/index.shtml

Publications

Welsch, D.J. 1991. Riparian forest buffers: function and design for protection and enhancementof water resources. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State &Private Forestry, Forest Resources Management.

Wenger, S. 1999. A Review of the Scientific Literature on Riparian Buffer Width, Extent andVegetation. University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 59 pages.

A conceptual riparian buffer (K. Schatz).


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Did you know?Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33U.S.C. 1344) authorizes the Secretary of theArmy, acting through the Chief of Engineers,to issue permits for the discharge of dredgedor fill material into the waters of the UnitedStates including wetlands. This gives theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authorityto regulate many impacts to wetlands through

a permit review process.

6.3. Wetland Protection PracticesThe goal of any development project shouldbe to not only minimize environmentalimpacts, but to completely avoid sensitive

areas such as wetlands.

What is a wetland? The term wetlandsmeans those areas that are inundated orsaturated by surface or ground water at afrequency and duration sufficient to support,and that under normal circumstances dosupport, a prevalence of vegetation typicallyadapted for life in saturated soil conditions.Wetlands generally include swamps,marshes, bogs, and similar areas (USACE

1987).

Wetlands provide many human health andecological functions, including waterpurification, discharge/recharge of minimumbaseflows for streams and rivers, protectingshorelines from wave action and stormdamage, buffering nearby lands from theeffects of flood events, and wildlife andfisheries nursery habitat. All planning forriver access projects should include the

delineation of wetlands and streams and

avoidance of these sensitive areas to protect

not only the wetland but also these public and

ecological functions.

Practice: Identify wetland habitats and design the location of infrastructure to avoid wetlands.For example, route a trail around the boundaries of a wetland habitat. Wetland delineationsshould be conducted using the Corps 1987 Wetland Delineation manual (USACE 1987). To aidin identifying wetlands,always consult federal and state authorities during the project planningstage and to obtain permits (see Resource Box below). Appendix 1 lists field indicators that willhelp untrained observers identify potential wetlands.

Practice: Provide a 10-m minimal natural buffer between an unpaved hiking trail and a wetlandboundary and a 30-m minimal natural buffer between an access road/parking lot and the wetland.

Practice: For infrastructure that may affect wetlands such as foot trails, build elevatedboardwalks over wetlands.

AnEquisetum (horsetail) marsh found within a riparian forest(Hal Wiggins, USACE).


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A wetland violation, an unpermitted roadconstruction activity, on a wetland adjacentto Ni River, Virginia. This site was awetland violation. (Photo: Hal Wiggins,USACE)


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Wetlands Protection Resource Box

Agency Contacts for Project Review and Permits

Federal Wetland PermitsU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1420 Central Park Boulevard, Suite 210, Fredericksburg, Virginia22401; (540) 548-2517; [email protected]

State Wetland PermitsVirginia Department of Environmental Quality, Northern Regional Office, Water Division, OWRM13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge, Virginia 22193; (703) 583-3828;[email protected]

Emergency Pollution ResponseVirginia Department of Environmental Quality, Northern Regional OfficeDepartment of Emergency Management 1-800-468-8892; Pollution Response: (703) 583-3864;DEQ Main Office Number (703) 583-3800

Federal and State Wetland Regulation Information

Federal

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulates the discharge ofdredged or fill material into waters of the United States including wetlands.www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/sec404.htm

Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act: Regulates dredging and the placement or constructionof piers, wharfs or other obstructions into navigable waters.www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/rhsec10.htm

State

Wetlands Permitting Program: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulates fillmaterial in state waters (authorized by the Code of Virginia). www.deq.virginia.gov/wetlands/

Internet Resources

EPA webpage about wetlands: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/

Restoring Virginias Wetlands, a Citizens Toolkit: www.deq.state.va.us/wetlands/volrestor.html

USACE information about recognizing wetlands: www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/rw-bro.htm

Publications

Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands, 3rd ed. Wiley.

Tiner, R. 1999. Wetland Indicators: A Guide to Wetland Identification, Delineation,Classification and Mapping. CRC.

Tiner, R. and A. Rorer. 1993. A Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants of the SoutheasternUnited States. University of Massachusetts Press.


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7. Go Native: Promote Natives, Not Invasives

"On a global basis...the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, firsthabitat destruction and, second, invasion by exotic species."

- E.O. Wilson

Invasive species are any plant, animal, insect, or other organism that is notnative to an area, and whose introduction causes economic orenvironmental harm or harm to human health. For example, West NileVirus, carried by mosquitoes, is an invasive virus first identified in theUnited States in 1999 and it is a human health concern.

Ecologically, invasive organisms can cause near extirpation of native plants and animals, such asthe loss of American chestnut trees in the early 1900s due to the Chestnut blight fungus, andalteration of natural communities, as the snakehead fish is impacting fish communities now in

the Potomac River (VISC mgmt plan). The economic cost of researching, eradicating andcontrolling invasive species in Virginia fornatural areas, health concerns, and foragricultural, forestal, and fishery industriesis $1 billion annually (Pimental et al.2000).

Generally, the best strategies to combatinvasive species are the ones focused onprevention, i.e., preventing them fromspreading to new areas in the first place.

Practice: All river recreational access projects should include a brief plan for controlling andmonitoring invasive plants and/or animals because land disturbance activities often create primeconditions for intruders to easily invade.

Practice: Clean all construction equipment and vehicles before beginning work at a new site --remove all dirt, mud and plant material from equipment.

Practice: Clean boots before entering and leaving a site to get rid of hitchhiking weed seeds andpathogens.

Practice: Before ground-breaking activities, survey for invasive plants in the vicinity of the siteand control infestations. The most common control methods for invasive plants are hand-pulling, cutting/mowing, and herbicide use. The best method to use often is dependent on aplants biology or the conditions specific to a site, and the latter method (herbicide), involvestechnical knowledge for effective and safe implementation. For invasive plant control near or inwetlands and waterways, only herbicides that are approved by the EPA for aquatic use can beused. For example, the common and generally effective herbicide called Roundup cannot be

Redbud, a native tree on theRappahannock (C. Brooks)

Northern snakehead fish, an invasive fish from Asia(photo: VDGIF).


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used in wet environments because it can cause mortality of aquaticanimal life; alternatively, Rodeo is an EPA-approved aquatic useherbicide that can be used in wetlands and near waterways whenRoundup cannot. A wealth of information about invasive plants andcontrol methods can be found in the links in this sections Resource

Box.

Practice: Minimize soil disturbance to the extent practical becausesoil disturbance creates opportunities for invasions.

Practice: Provide temporary cover on exposed soils to help preventinvasive plant establishment and to minimize soil erosion. AppendixX lists native plant recommended by VDCR for this purpose.

Practice: After construction, annually survey the site for 2-3 years forinvasive plants and immediately control new infestations.

Practice: If habitat restoration is necessary, plant native trees andshrubs. You can also allow natural regeneration of native plants, butit still will be necessary to control any invasive plants that colonizein the area. See Appendix 2 for a list of recommended native woodyplants to use for riparian restoration and Appendix 3 for a list of Virginia nurseries selling nativeplants.

Practice: Clean boats and equipment thoroughly before transporting them to a different body ofwater:

Removing any visible mud, plants, fish or animals (such as freshwater mussels) that may

be attached to the boat. Eliminate water from equipment before transporting

Clean and dry anything that came in contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment,clothing, etc.)

Zebra mussel, a non-native invasivefreshwater mussel, can attach to just aboutany substrate, including other organisms suchas this crayfish (Virginia Department of

Game and Inland Fisheries).

Common reed (Phragmitesaustralis), an invader ofwetlands such as marshes(K. Schatz).


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Practice: Do not dump water from another water source into the waterway near the constructionsite otherwise, you may unknowingly introduce non-native and potentially invasive aquaticorganisms into this waterway.

Go Native Resource Box

Internet Resources

Native Plant Information:

Native Riparian Plants in Virginia www.state.va.us/dcr/dnh/natvripa.htm

Virginia Native Plant Society both native and invasive plant information www.vnps.org

Invasive Plant Identification:

The Nature Conservancy Global Invasive Species Initiative Species Photos and documentstncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs.html

Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/genusindex.htm

Invasive.org good source for invasive information and images www.invasive.org

Virginia Invasive Species Council www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/vaisc/

Invasive Plant Control Methods:

Weed Control Methods Handbook: Tools and Techniques for Use in Natural Areas. The GlobalInvasive Species Initiative, The Nature Conservancy. tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/handbook.html

Control information for 97 invasive plant species in the Eastern U.S. www.invasive.org/eastern/

Invasive Aquatic Species Information:

Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Protect Your Waters: A site for recreational users on stopping thespread of aquatic nuisance species -- www.protectyourwaters.net

Aquatic Nuisance Species Taskforce - www.anstaskforce.gov/soc.php

National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System Chesapeake Bay Database

invasions.si.edu/nemesis/chesapeake.html

Publications

Miller, J.H. 2004. Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: a field guide for identificationand control. USDA, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. General Technical Report SRS-62.


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8. Scenic Integrity: Keep the Natural Environment Natural

Eighty-six miles of the Rappahannock River, from the headwatersnear Chester Gap to just below Fredericksburg, have been designatedas a Virginia State Scenic River. The Rappahannock is a highly

desirable destination for paddlers and river lovers from Virginia andneighboring states because of its beautiful scenery and long stretchesof wilderness waters. There are few places on the urbanizing coastof the Mid-Atlantic Region where people can float down a pristine,wild river with few scenic intrusions by manmade structures theRappahannock is one of these few.

As such, the goal for any future river recreational access points is nobuilding, structure, equipment, improvement or facility shall be visible at any time of year from

the River, which is consistent with section 3B(5) of the conservation easement land for theFredericksburg Watershed Property (City of Fredericksburg 2006).

Practice: When designing recreational infrastructure, plan for the leaf-off season to bestminimize visual impacts year-round from the vantage point of a river-user.

Practice: Conduct a visual analysis to verify that theviewshed is protected.

For example, use a large balloon during the leaf-off seasonto assess whether infrastructure, such as a sign, can be seenfrom the river. Three to four paddlers on the water, located atdifferent vantage points, can communicate via radio to theperson holding the balloon and can indicate where theplacement of the infrastructure, such as an interpretive sign, isnot visible. The person on land then flags the right location.Each paddler also can take pictures, from their unique line ofsight, of where the balloon can be seen and not seen to helprelocate the appropriate location for the infrastructure duringconstruction phase. The balloon in the picture was used toprotect the scenic integrity of the river from potential visualimpacts from a nearby golf course development.

Practice: Avoid or limit the need for access roads, parking lots and utilities such as electricity atriver access points to reduce noise and light pollution Keep the Natural EnvironmentNatural

Practice: Any interpretive or directional signage should be minimal and unobtrusive. To theextent practical, do not include any unnecessary signs. Let people discover natural and historicfeatures for themselves so they may be enchanted by their own river encounters.

Great Blue Heron (C. Brooks)


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Practice: Use off-sets, curving and set-backs of recreational features from the river to hide thesefeatures from the viewpoint of a river-user.

Scenic Preservation Resources

Agency and NGO Resources

Friends of the Rappahannock: Visit theRappahannock River Orientation Centerto view riversceneries, to walk to the river, and to learn about river conservation, history and recreational

opportunities; 3219 Fall Hill Avenue, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401; 757-373-3448 Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Recreational Planning, Scenic Rivers

Program, 203 Governor Street, Suite 326, Richmond, VA 23219; 804-786-5046 -www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreational_planning/srmain.shtml

Publications

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. 2002. Virginia Outdoors Plan. VDCR,Division of Planning and Recreational Resources. 440 pages.

Palmer, T. 1993. Wild and Scenic Rivers of America. Island Press. 338 pages.

An example of a canoe landingwhere the access path to theparking lot is curved and theparking lot is set-back into thewoods to block its view from theriver (K. Schatz).


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9. Respect Historical Features

The Rappahannock River is rich withhistorical history, dating back thousands ofyears. Historical remnants still can be found

from Native American sites, early Americanindustrial enterprises, the Civil War period,and canals and locks (City of Fredericksburg1997). Preserving these historical resources attheir original location allows interestedenthusiasts and scholars to continue todiscover these traces of human occupationon their own. We recommend that riverrecreationists respect that historic resourcesare part of the landscape leave these featuresundisturbed for future explorers.

If the construction of a river access feature might disturb or impact a historical resource, theproject may require a permit from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) and/orthe county/city planning department. For any project on Fredericksburgs Watershed Property,the project must be reviewed and permitted by the City of Fredericksburgs Office of Planningand Community Development in consultation with DHR. Private owners of historic propertiesare not required to submit projects to DHR for review unless they receive state/federal funds,permits/licenses for the property improvements, or are applying to the historic rehabilitation taxcredit program administered by DHR.

Practice: Do not disturb, alter, remove, or dig at any historic resources on publicly owned landsor certain private lands, specified above, without permission from DHR and local city/countyplanning department.

Practice: Leave historic resources for others to discover do no harm.

Practice: Do not restore historical resources unless a permit is granted by the local city/countyplanning department and/or DHR.

An artists rendition of a Rappahannock RiverBatteaux boat used in the historical canal system ofthe early to mid-1800s (C. Brooks).

A lock on the historical canalsystem along theRappahannock River stillstands today.


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Historical Preservation Resources

Agency Resources

Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Capital Office Serving central Virginia2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23221; (804) 367-2323

Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Tidewater Office serving Northern Neck14415 Old Courthouse Way, 2nd Floor, Newport News, VA 23608; (757) 886-2807

Fredericksburg Office of Planning and Community Development, 715 Princess Anne Street,Room 209, P.O. Box 7447, Fredericksburg, VA 22404, (540) 372-1179

Internet Resources

Virginia Department of Historic Resources: information on seeking a project review and permit,state/federal regulations, and how to research historical information for a property -www.dhr.virginia.gov/

Publications

City of Fredericksburg. 1997. Historic Resources along the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers.

Office of Planning and Community Development and the Graphics Department, City ofFredericksburg, Virginia.

Rappahannock Water Trail Guide (Friends of the Rappahannock): Self-guided paddlingguidebook highlighting conservation and historical sites; Order at 540-373-3448 orwww.riverfriends.org

Trout III, W.E. 1992. The Rappahannock Scenic River Atlas: Historic sites on theRappahannock and its branches, the Quantico Canal, and the Dragon Swamp Navigation.Virginia Canals and Navigations Society.


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10. Recreational Infrastructure: Design Recommendations and Examples

This section, along with the Appendices, provides additional information on designing andconstructing common recreational infrastructure features on a river, such as trails, boat landingsand campsites.

10.1. Environmentally-Suitable MaterialsPractice: Use environmentally-friendly building materials to prevent toxic pollution to soils andwater.

Historically, CCA (chromated copper arsenate) treated wood has been the material of choice formany outdoor applications. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that CCAtreated wood is a human health hazard if it comes in contact with the skin, and CCA woodshould not be used in freshwater environments. Here are a few alternatives:

Plastic lumber engineered from recyclables

EnviroSafe treated lumber

Naturally-rot resistant wood such as untreated cedar, redwood, and hemlock (Forstructures below the average annual high-water mark, such as the supports for a boatlaunch, cedar or hemlock timbers will last a lifetime.)

Appendix 4 lists a few suppliers for finding these products. Also, visit your locallumber/building supplier and request these environmentally-friendly materials if not in stock,they should be able to order the supplies for you.

Practice: Use permeable materials for trails, campsites,boat landings, access roads, and parking areas (dirt,

gravel, stonedust, permeable paver).

Install permeable pavers inlieu of asphalt or concrete.


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10.2. Erosion and Sediment Control Measures during ConstructionWe recommend that all river recreational access construction projects include sediment anderosion control measures to avoid or minimize soil loss and erosion, leading to sedimentpollution in nearby waterways.

This section provides an overview of a few straight-forward methods that can be used for mostland disturbance activities:

Silt FencesSilt fences are effective when temporary sediment retention is necessary until permanentvegetation can be established. Guidelines for proper installation and use:

o If wooden stakes are used for fence construction, oak must have a 2 diameter andpine a 4 diameter.

o Purchase the filter fabric in a continuous roll at a building supply store and cut to full

length of the barrier (to avoid the use of joints). When joints are unavoidable, splicefilter cloth together at a support post with a 6 overlap and seal.

o When wire support is used, a standard-strength filter cloth can be used. If wiresupport is not used, extra-strength cloth must be used.

o Dig a narrow trench (about 4-6 deep) along the boundaries of the construction sitewhere silt fencing will be installed. Minimally, silt fences must be installed along thedownslope side of a site (the direction that water will flow) and should be installedalong boundaries with a waterway, wetland or a road.

o Attach the fabric to the support post side that is facing the construction activity.Otherwise, if the fabric is attached to the outward-facing side of the post, water eventsmay push the fabric off the posts.

o Staple or wire the fabric to the fence with and a minimum of 4 of fabric extendingdown into the trench.

o Sediment deposits need to be removed when they reach one-half the height of the siltfencing for the fencing to remain effective. Also, inspect the fencing after heavyrains.

o Remove silt fences after they have served their purpose, but not before the upslopearea has been permanently stabilized (for example, with vegetative cover). Theremaining sediment where the fence was located should be removed.


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Filter StripsFilter strips are another ideal sediment and erosion control method, functioning in a similar roleas a riparian forest buffer along a river. These are areas of undisturbed soil, vegetation, andforest litter situated between an area of exposed soil, such as a trail, and a waterway or wetland.A filter strip of natural land cover catches surface water runoff, allowing sediment to filter outbefore reaching these sensitive wet environments. Maintaining filter strips at the base of a slopeis the preferred method of erosion control to retain sediment on site. NH-Bureau of Trails (2004)recommends the following width guidelines for filter strips:

o 0-10% slope: 50-foot strip widtho 11-20% slope: 70-foot strip widtho Filter strips become less effective as the slope increases over 20%

Cover PlantsFor sites needing further soil stabilization until permanent vegetative cover becomes established,temporary cover plants should be planted. Seed the exposed soil with winter annual rye (Secalecereale) or a native plant seed mix. Do not seed the exposed soil with invasive plants, such astall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). See section 7 for more information on invasive species.Table 1 lists native plants that are recommended for soil erosion control in place of invasiveplants that were commonly used for this function in the past.

Good silt fence example. Poor, ineffective silt fence exam le.


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Table 1. Native plants for soil erosion control (adapted from DCR-Soil and Water Conservation, Nativevs. Alien Plant Species for Erosion & Sediment Control Factsheet).

Invasive Plants Alternative Virginia Native Plants

Common reed Phragmites australis Great bulrush Scirpus lacustris

Chinese lespedeza Lespedsa cuneata

Birdsfoot trefoilLotus corniculatusOrchard grassDactylis glomerataRedtopAgrostis stolonifera Weeping lovegrassEragrostis curvula

Roundheaded bushcloverLespedeza capitata

Patridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculataButterflyweedAsclepias tuberosa Joe-pye weedEupatorium dubiumBlack-eyed SusanRudbeckia fulgidaBig blue stemAndropogon gerardii Indian grass Sorghastrum nutansSide oats gramaBouteloua curtipendula

Crown vetch Coronilla varia Roundheaded bushcloverLespedeza capitataPatridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculateBig blue stemAndropogon gerardii Little blue stem Schizachyrium scoparium

Indian grass Sorghastrum nutansSwitchgrass Panicum virgatum

Tall fescue Festuca arundinacea Big blue stemAndropogon gerardii Little blue stem Schizachyrium scopariumIndian grass Sorghastrum nutansSwitchgrass Panicum virgatumBroomsedgeAndropogon virginicus DeertongueDichanthelium clandestinum Side oats gramaBouteloua curtipendula Canadian wildryeElymus canadensisBottlebrush grassElymus hystrix

Virginia wildryeElymus virginicus

Soil and Erosion Control Measures Resource Box

Agency Contact

Soil and Water Conservation Division, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, York-Rappahannock Watershed Office, P. O. Box 1425, Tappahannock, Va. 22560; (804) 443-6752;www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/index.shtml

Publications

VDCR-Soil and Water Conservation. 1992. Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil_&_water/e&s-ftp.shtml (This handbook provides technical details on implementing many Erosion and SedimentControl Measures.)


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10.3. Trails and Associated FeaturesHiking trails are highly desirablerecreational features along waterways.

Seemingly simple, trails require someskill for appropriate trail design andconstruction. There are numerousexcellent resources for trail standards,and we strongly recommend thatreaders consult the trail publications inthe Resource Box at the end of thissection. In this guide, it is not possibleto include all of the technical detailsassociated with trail design,construction and management. Hence

below, we focus on basic trailguidelines from these publications,especially aspects critical to controlling surface water runoff.

Practice: Take time to plan the route of the trail, the trail width, and desired trail features tominimize impacts to sensitive areas and scenic vistas.

Trail Corridor WidthsThe dimensions of the corridor are determined by the needs of the target user, trail difficultylevel, or by guidelines designed by the landowner. On Fredericksburgs Water Property (theriver conservation easement lands), unpaved trails are allowed with a maximum treadway width

of three feet and a maximum 2-foot wide additional shoulder on either side of the treadway (City

Easement 2006). For other areas, Table 2 includes recommended standards for trail construction.

Component Standard

Vertical Clearance 8 feet

Trail Width 2-5 feet

Horizontal Clearance (beyond trail width) 2 feet

Grade Max 8-10%

TrailbedThe existing trail surface should not be unnecessarily disturbed, especially on flat areas (less than10%). On level ground, the trail base should be formed by building up a slight crown of at least3 inches to provide proper surface water drainage. On hillside trails, the trailbed is excavated

Table 2: Hiking trail corridor clearing guidelines (VDCR andVirginia Trails Association 2000).

USFS 2000


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into the side of the hill to provide a slightly outsloped travel path on mineral soil. Hillsideexcavation should not be necessary on slopes less than 10%.

On steep slopes,full-benchconstruction is usually needed where

the trail crew cuts into the bank to thelevel of the trail center line. As theslope of the hillside decreases,partial-bench and balanced-benchmethods are used. These lattermethods require the use of fillmaterial on the outer edge(downslope) of the trailbed, termedthe cut and fill method. Even thoughit requires more excavation, full-bench trailbeds are more often

preferred by trail professionalsbecause they are more durable andrequire less maintenance (fillmaterials on partial-bench trails mayerode).

Full-, partial-, and balanced-benchconstruction (USFS 2000).

Cut and Fill method for sidehill trail building (USFS 2000).


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The outslope of the trailbed should be constructed with a barely discernable downward grade onthe outside or downhill side to facilitate water drainage. Outsloping lets water run naturally offthe trail. The amount of outsloping is small, usually only a few percent. An easy method tocheck the outslope is to walk the trail. If your ankles want to roll downhill, there is too muchoutslope. A partially-filled water bottle makes a great level.

Surface Water Control on TrailsDiverting surface water off the trail should be a top priority. Running water erodes tread andmay contribute sediment into nearby streams. You can learn a lot about where problems may

occur by sloshing over a wet trail in a downpour and watching what the water is doing and howyour drains and structures are holding up.

The best drainage structures are those designed during the original trail construction to be self-maintaining with minimal maintenance demands.

Outsloping, discussed above, is the first line of defense against erosion on a trail. Outsloping ismost effective when used in combination with grade dips. Grade dips are permanent and usuallymaintenance-free. The basic idea is to use a reversal in grade (a relatively short rise on the trail

then a return to the original trail descent slope) toforce water off the trail. A terrain grade dip uses

the existing terrain to plan for grade reversals and isa natural part of the landscape.

A similar concept to a terrain dip is the rollinggrade dip, which consists of a short reversal ofgrade in the tread (figure to the left). The maindifference from the terrain dip is that the rolling dipis constructed and not a natural part of the terrain.

If your ankles start to roll, there is too much outslope (USFS 2000).

USFS


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Water running down the trail cannot climb over the short rise and will run off the outsloped treadat the bottom of the dip.

The waterbaris the most common drainagestructure after outsloping, but we recommend

only using waterbars when grade dips cannotbe used. You can build a grade dip quicker thana waterbar and it will work better. Mostwaterbars are ineffective at water controlbecause they are not installed at the right angleor are too short. The waterbar needs to beanchored 12 inches into the cutslope and extend12 inches into the fillslope. It also should beplaced at a 45-60angle along the trail,otherwise it will be too short and will clog withsediment, becoming ineffective.

Trails in Wet AreasThe best choice for dealing with wet areas, such as wetlands, streams, seeps and springs, is to

route the trail around these features. In lieu of this, following are a few strategies for wet areasthat minimize environmental impact.

Stepping stones are large flat-topped rocks setinto a stream that allows for dry passage.Stepping stones are the option of least

environmental impact for stream crossings that

accomplish the objective of providing dry

passage. The ideal location for these stones is inshallow streams with light to moderate flows.They also are a standard solution for low wet andboggy areas, and work well when well placed.

Puncheons are wooden walkways, typicallyconstructed of wood, to cross bogs, mudflats, marshy areas, or fragile, wet terrain.Puncheon consists of a deck or flooringmade of lumber or native logs placed onstringers to elevate the trail across wet areas.The simplest type of puncheon is a topped-log puncheon.

USFS 2000

NH-Bureau ofTrails 2004

NH-Bureau of Trails 2004


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Wooden boardwalks elevated above the wet surface also are a useful solution for wet areacrossings through areas of fragile habitat and in areas susceptible to flooding. Boardwalks arefixed planked structures built on pilings often located in marshy areas.

Bridges are designed to cross open water, wetlands or ravines where more simple structurescannot be used, especially for areas susceptible to flooding. On hiking trails, well-anchored footlogs can be used as a rustic bridge to cross streams.The construction of bridges should only be considered

after other options in trail location and wet area

structures have been examined. In addition to theoften taxing-work of transporting bridge materials tothe trail site, bridge construction usually requiressignificant erosion control measures due to theproximity of wetlands or water.

See the Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook(USFS 2000) for more information onmore complex wet area crossing methods, such as using geosynthetic materials, culverts andFrench drains.

River OverlooksPractice: Avoid disturbing the soil and vegetation of the river bank. Construct the overlook onthe upland side of the river bank.

Practice: Do not use fill (moved soil) on a land surface with a slope greater than 5% to level thesurface for an overlook. The fill will erode or settle, lead to sediment and erosion problems.

Practice: When constructing an overlook, conduct a vegetative survey prior to clearing to insurethat no endangered, threatened or rare plant species will be impacted.

Practice: Any clearing also must be within guidelines for any federal, state, or local regulations,such as legislation or ordinances protecting riparian areas.

Vehicle/ATV ExclusionPractice: Place barriers at trail access locations to prohibit use by vehicles, ATVs and dirtbikes.Careful placement of gates, perpendicular poles, fences and boulders can help block trails fromthese uses. Along the Rappahannock River, the use of ATVs is a primary source of wetlanddegradation, trail destruction, and stream erosion problems.

NH-Bureau of Trails 2004


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BenchesPractice: Place benches sparingly in small cleared sites along a trail and insure they are notvisible from the river (benches with no back support are ideal for minimizing visibility).

A sample bench design can be found in Appendix 5.

Trail Resource Box

ATV damage along a river trail, causing excessive erosion of the trail and uneven terrain for hikers.

Internet Resources

The Virginia Greenways and Trails Toolbox - www.dcr.virginia.gov/prr/docs/toolbox.pdf Best Management Practices for Erosion during Trail Maintenance and Construction, New

Hampshire Bureau of Trails - www.nhtrails.org/Trailspages/BMPmanual2004.pdf Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Department of

Transportation, Federal Highway Administrationwww.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/00232839/index.htm

Publications

Birchard, W., R. Proudman, and M. Dawson. 2000. Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance.Appalachian Trail Conference.

National Park Service. 1992. NPS Trails Management Notebook. U.S. Department of the Interior,NPS-Denver Service Center. NPS-2023


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10.4. Primitive CampsitesPractice: Design hike/canoe-in primitive campsites to minimize environmental and scenicimpacts by:

Place the campsite at least 10 m ( approx. 30 ft) away from the river bank

Choose a location adjacent to a gently-sloped river bank to minimize foot-traffic impactsto river bank (erosion is more problematic on steep slopes)

Limit campsite size to a maximum of 50 m2 (approx. 540 ft2)

Limit width of foot trail from river bank to campsite to a maximum of 1.5 m (5 ft)

Curve the foot trail from the river bank to the campsite, so there is not a direct line ofsight from the river to the campsite, to protect the scenic view

Remove only the vegetation needed to construct the footprint for the campsite and thefoot trail

Practice: A no open campfire policy should be adopted to prevent human-caused forest firesand to leave no trace of a campers presence.

Practice: Camp sites should not be accessible to vehicles except for administrative access.Install a gate to block access roads from unauthorized vehicular traffic.

Note how this primitivecampsite is nestledwithin the forest, with acurved, unobtrusiveaccess trail from the riverto hide the campsitefrom the view of a riveruser. Also, the accesstrail originates from agentle bank slope tominimize erosion. (Art:K. Schatz)


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10.5. Non-Motorized Boat LandingsThis section is applicable for landings of canoes, kayaks, and other types of non-motorized boatsfor river/stream sites in the Central and Upper Rappahannock basins (upstream ofFredericksburg). Much of the below information is adapted from Virginia Department of Gameand Inland Fisheries (2007) and NPS-RTCAP (2004). The information below is focused mainly

on practices to minimize environmental impacts; consult the aforementioned references and theResource Box for additional guidance.

For the Fredericksburg Watershed Property, the City of Fredericksburg (2006) stipulates insection 3C(2)a of the conservation easement: new or relocated non-motorized boat landingsmust be designed to minimize their impact on the Rivers, and non-motorized boat landings are

limited to no more than 500 ft2.

When building a boat landing, various factors need to be considered: site selection, permits,design, and construction methods and materials.

Site SelectionPractice: When selecting a site for a boat launch, first determine whether public landings arealready present nearby in the region of interest (see Section 3). If so, the new landing may not beneeded.

Practice: The site should have sufficient space for the boat landing and also a modest parkingarea, but not exceed 500 ft2.

Practice: Choose a site for the launch at a naturally gentle slope on the river or stream bank.

This will minimize erosion and makeconstruction of the launch a loteasier. It also will help provide anaccessible launch to paddlers(significant height differencebetween the river level and the banklevel can make climbing in/out ofboats difficult). Natural features,such as gently sloped riverbanks,rock outcrops, and sandy or rockybeach provide the simplest and mostcost-effective sites for a launch,requiring little or no construction.

Practice: Select a site where thelaunch is easy to find for take-out butwhere it will not distract other riverusers from the scenic enjoyment ofthe river, such as on a tributarystream where it joins the river.

Launches located at the mouth of a tributary typically areprotected from the stronger river currents allowing for betterpaddler stability during put-in/take-out and also minimizes thescenic intrusion for other paddlers on the river (K. Schatz).


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Practice:Avoidenvironmentally-sensitive areas such as habitat for endangered/threatened/rarespecies and wetlands (see sections 5 and 6.3).

Additional recommendations for where to locate a launch are areas that have (NPS-RTCAP

2004): Minimal exposure to strong currents and winds, such as river eddies, at the mouth of a

tributary, on the inside of a meander bend, or below a meander on the opposite side froma rivers cutting side;

A moderate level of deposition that forms a natural beach suitable for launching;

No physical barriers, such as impassable sections, dams, or weirs;

Water levels enabling year-round use; and

Good water quality.

Permits

The next step after choosing an appropriate site location is to prepare a basic sketch and applyfor the necessary permits. Virginia Marine Resources Commission, U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, the State Water Control Board (Virginia Department of Environmental Quality), andthe local county/city wetland board may require permits (see Resource Box for permit contactinformation).

Design AspectsPractice: Develop a sound plan on the design of the boat landing, the parking area, and anyaccess trails or roads that are necessary.

Practice: Maintain or preserve streambank vegetation. Minimize the clearing width of treesalong the riverbank for a non-motorized boat landing to no more than 20 feet wide.

Practice: Choose a launch design that minimizes impacts to the River, such as erosion, andblends into the natural environment.

Riverbank features, such as a gently-sloped bank, a sandy beach or a rocky outcrop are naturallaunches that can be utilized. Where natural features are not available, wooden boat slides areoften an ideal design, protecting banks from erosion and providing safe passage for boaters.Also, an eroding bank chosen as a launch site can be restored with rock outcrops installed in aseries of steps, allowing for a natural-looking river access at varying water levels. Consult

NPS-RTCAP (2004) starting on p. 11 for a table listing the types of launches to use for variousconditions and for several launch designs, including low-impact designs for environmentally-sensitive areas.

Practice: Avoid making any channel modifications, such as reshaping a stream bottom withconstruction equipment channel modifications require a permit because they often impact in-stream habitats for aquatic life.


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NPS-RTCAP (2004) provides the following additional recommendations for designing anaccessible canoe/kayak launch:

Height above water: between 9-24 ft from highest expected water level

Width: at least 5 ft wide, preferably 6-12 ft

Length: at least 25 ft to allow paddlers dry access for entire length of a boat

Slope: do not exceed 8% whenever possible (a slope exceeding 15% makes the transitionfrom land to water difficult)

Support: Handrails or other support structures, including step-down designs or ropes,help paddlers keep their balance during put-in and take-out

Location: Ideally in areas without heavy flow, erosion, exposure to elements, heavy boattraffic or fragile riparian habitat

Boat Landing Construction Methods and MaterialsPractice: Remember to use soil and erosion control methods during the construction phase (seesection 10.2).

Practice: Use environmentally-suitable materials for constructing the landing.

Avoid constructing boat launches out of concrete. Pre-fabricated or poured concrete will destroystream habitat on which it is placed. Use alternatives such as gravel or timbers. Section 10.1provides information on environmentally-suitable materials. Also, all bolts and nails should behot dipped galvanized. In saltwater locations, a better choice is stainless steel because evengalvanized hardware will rust over time.

Poor example of a boat landing on the Rappahannock River, causing negative water quality impacts

(sediment from erosion) and affecting the scenic nature along the river. This landing appears to have beencarved out by a bulldozer, and probably is experiencing continuous erosion. Note the muddy water color ofthe river.


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Non-Motorized Boat Launch Resources

Agency Contacts for Permits and Guidance

Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia23607, 757-247-2200

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1420 Central Park Boulevard, Suite 210, Fredericksburg, Virginia22401; (540) 548-2517; [email protected]

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 629 East Main Street, Richmond, Va. 23219,(804) 698-4000 website providing guidance on what permits may be needed for a project:http://gisweb.deq.virginia.gov/permitexpert/

Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, Region V, 1320 Belman Road, Fredericksburg,VA 22401; (540) 899-4169

Internet Resources

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries information on building boat ramps:www.dgif.state.va.us/boating/building-boat-ramps.asp

Publications

NPS-RTCAP. 2004. Logical Lasting Launches: design guidance for canoe and kayak launches.USDI, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.


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10.6. Access Roads, Parking Areas, and SignsPractice: Limit maximum width of access roads to 10 feet wide andsize of parking areas to 500 ft2

Practice: Use offsets, curving and/or setbacks for designingroad/parking areas to preserve scenic vista from a river-userviewpoint.

Practice: Limit the size of all signs except for informational kiosks to not greater than 9 ft2.

Signs and kiosks need to be designed at an easy height for reading, durability to weathering overtime, and to withstand vandalism. A sound design for a long-lasting kiosk and its constructionmaterials list are available in Appendix 5.


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References

City of Fredericksburg. 2006. Deed of Easement for Fredericksburg Watershed Property.http://www.fredericksburgva.gov/notices/river_easement.pdf(February 22, 2007).

Cohen, R. 1997. Fact Sheet #3: Functions of Riparian Areas for Wildlife Habitat.Massachusetts Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law Enforcement,Riverways Program.

Environmental Law Institute (ELI). 2003. Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners.Environmental Law Institute, Washington, D.C. 64 pages.

Forman, R.T.T. 1995. Land Mosaics: The ecology of landscapes and regions. CambridgeUniversity Press, Great Britain. 632 pages.

National Park Service-Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program (NPS-RTCA). 2004.

Logical Lasting Launches: Design guidance for canoe and kayak launches. NationalPark Service. 117 pages.

Pimental, D., L. Lach, R. Zuniga, and D. Morrison. 2000. Environmental and economic costs ofnonindigenous species in the United States. BioScience 50:53-65.

State of New Hampshire, Department of Resources and Economic Development, Division ofParks and Recreation. 1994. Best Management Practices for Erosion Control DuringTrail Maintenance and Construction. Bureau of Trails. Concord, New Hampshire.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1987. Wetlands Delineation Manual. USACE, EnvironmentalLaboratory. Technical Report Y-87-1. Vicksburg, Mississippi.

U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2000. Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook. Technologyand Development Program, USFS, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Publication No.4E42A25-Trail Notebook. Missoula, Montana.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, State Water Control Board (VDEQ-SWCB).2006. Virginia Water Quality Standards. 9 VAC 25-260. 181 pages.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). 2007. Building Boat Ramps.http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/building-boat-ramps.asp (January 17, 2007).

Virginia Invasive Species Council (VISC). 2005. Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan.Prepared by the Virginia Invasive Species Council and Virginia Natural HeritageProgram, Richmond, Virginia. 82 pages.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) and Virginia Trails Association.2000. The Virginia Greenways and Trails Toolbox. Virginia Department ofConservation and Recreation. Richmond, Virginia.


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Wenger, S. 1999. A Review of the Scientific Literature on Riparian Buffer Width, Extent and

Vegetation. University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 59 pages.


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Appendix 1. Observable field indicators of wetland hydrology: These indicators may help youidentify an area as a potential wetland (adapted from Section 3 of USACE 1987 Manual).

The hydrology indicators described below are considered to be "primary indicators" of wetlandhydrology. The following field hydrologic indicators can be assessed quickly and provide

evidence that inundation and/or soil saturation has occurred:

Visual observation of inundation. The most obvious hydrologic indicator is simply observing theareal extent of inundation. However, because seasonal conditions and recent weather conditionscan contribute to surface water being present on a nonwetland site, both factors should beconsidered when applying this indicator.

Visual observation of soil saturation. Examination of this indicator requires digging a soil pit toa depth of 16 inches and observing the level at which water stands in the hole after sufficienttime has been allowed for water to drain into the hole. The required time will vary depending onsoil texture (water may not rapidly fill the hole in clay soils). In some cases, the upper level at

which water is flowing into the pit can be observed by examining the wall of the hole. This levelrepresents the depth to the water table. For soil saturation to impact vegetation, it must occurwithin a major portion of the root zone (usually within 12 inches of the surface) of the prevalentvegetation. The major portion of the root zone is that portion of the soil profile in which morethan one half of the plant roots occur.

Watermarks. Watermarks are most commonon woody vegetation. They occur as stainson bark or other fixed objects (e.g., bridgepillars, buildings, fences, etc.). Whenseveral watermarks are present, the highestreflects the maximum extent of recentinundation.

Drift lines. This indicator is most likely to be foundadjacent to streams or other sources of water flow inwetlands, but also often occurs in tidal marshes.Evidence consists of deposition of debris in a line onthe surface or debris entangled in abovegroundvegetation or other fixed objects. Debris usuallyconsists of branches, stems, leaves, sediment, litter,and other waterborne materials deposited parallel tothe direction of water flow. Drift lines provide anindication of the minimum portion of the areainundated during a flooding event.


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Sediment deposits. Plants and other verticalobjects often have thin layers, coatings, ordepositions of mineral or organic matter on themafter inundation. This evidence may remain for a

considerable period before it is removed byprecipitation or subsequent inundation. Sedimentdeposition on vegetation and other objectsprovides an indication of the minimum inundationlevel.

Drainage patterns within wetlands. This indicator, which occurs primarily in wetlandsadjacent to streams, consists of surface evidence of drainage flow into or through an area. Insome wetlands, this evidence may exist as a drainage pattern eroded into the soil, vegetativematter (debris) piled against thick vegetation or woody stems oriented perpendicular to thedirection of water flow, or the absence of leaf litter. Scouring is often evident around roots ofpersistent vegetation. Debris may be deposited in or along the drainage pattern. Drainage patterns also occur in upland areas after periods of considerable precipitation; therefore,

topographic position must also be considered when applying this indicator.


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Appendix 2. Recommended native woody plants for streambank and riparian buffer plantings inthe Central Rappahannock River Basin.

Shrub SpeciesSouthern Arrow-wood Viburnum dentatumSpicebushLindera benzoinSilky Dogwood Cornus amomumhighbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosumCommon AlderAlnus serrulata (only use in saturated soils)Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis (only use in saturated soils)

Small TreesPaw pawAsimina trilobaCanada ServiceberryAmelanchier canadensissmooth sumacRhus glabrablack willow Salix nigra

Large TreesGreen Ash Fraxinus pensylvanicablack gum Nyssa sylvaticasycamore Platanus occidentalisswamp white oakQuercus bicolor


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Appendix 3. Virginia plant nurseries and suppliers that sell native plants.

Bobtown Nursery16212 Country Club Rd.Melfa, VA 23410

(800) 201-4714; (757) [email protected]: perennials, wetland plants

Botanique387 Pitcher Plant LaneStanardsville, VA 22973

[email protected] and retail; Carnivorous plants

Edible Landscaping

361 Spirit Ridge LaneAfton, VA 22920(434) 361-9134Free catalog; Woody Plants

Florahome Gardens & NurseryP.O. Box 8, 5395 Studley Rd.Studley, VA 23162(804) 746-1894By appointment; Trees, shrubs, perennials

Hyla Brook Farm

270 Valentine Mill RoadLouisa VA 23093(540) 967-6160fax: (540) [email protected] $3 or free with purchase;Ferns, Grasses, Herbaceous plants, WoodyPlants

Lancaster Farms, Inc.

5800 Knotts Neck RoadSuffolk, VA 23435(800) 336-2200(757) 484-4421fax: (757) 686-8637 [email protected]: trees, shrubs, perennials

Lazy S's Farm Nursery2360 Spotswood TrailBarboursville, VA 22923(540) [email protected]; mail order on website;trees, shrubs, perennials wetland plants

Meadowview Biological Research Station

8390 Fredericksburg TurnpikeWoodford, VA 22580(804) [email protected] on-line; Carnivorous plants

Mid-Atlantic WildflowersStar Route, Box 226Gloucester Point, VA 23062(804) 642-3532

Mostly Edibles

3415 Groveton StreetAlexandria, Virginia 22306(703) 765-6619; [email protected] by appointment only;perennials, fruiting shrubs and trees

Nature By Design

300 Calvert AvenueAlexandria, VA 22301(703) 683-GROW (4769)[email protected]

Sassafrass Farm

7029 Bray Rd.Hayes, VA 23072(804) [email protected]


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www.nature-by-design.comWoody plants, ferns, herbaceous plants,carnivorous plants, orchids

Call for hoursFerns, Grasses, Herbaceous plants

Swell Nursery

505 Baldwin RdRichmond, VA 23229(804) 288-7873Retail, by appointmentperennials

The Salt and The Earth

P.O. Box 560Deltaville, VA 23043(804) 776-6985; (804) [email protected] for availabilityGrasses, Herbaceous plants

Toad Hall Gardens

17242 The Back RoadStrasburg, Virginia 22657(540) 465-5948

native perennialsvisit by appointment only

Virginia Natives

P.O. Box DHume, VA 22639(540) 364-1665

$2.00 catalogHerbaceous & Woody Plants

Virginia Wilde Farms

Rt. 2, Box 1512Hanover, VA 23069phone/fax: (804) 643-0021Wholesale/ retail: perennials

Virginia State Tree NurseryAugust Forestry CenterP.O. Box 160Crimora, VA 24431(703) 363-7000Wholesale: trees

Waterways Nursery

13015 Milltown RdLovettsville, VA 22080phone/fax: (540) 822-5994Retail: Aquatics, perennials

Windy Hill Plant Farm40413 John Mosby HighwayAldie, VA 20105(703) [email protected] and retailtrees, shrubs, perennials


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Appendix 4. Suppliers of geotextile and environmentally-friendly building materials.

Greenspec - A catalog of nearly 1,600 green building products is available for $34.95.http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/

Geotextile Suppliers

Geotechnical Supply, Inc., Boom Environmental Supplies, 617-965-0007, 1-800-770-BOOM, 1 Coffin Ave., New Bedford, MA 02746http://www.boomenviro.com/geotextiles.htm?ref=google&kw=geotextile

ACF EnvironmentalRichmond Warehouse, 2831 Cardwell Road, Richmond, VA 23234, 800-448-3636Chantilly Warehouse, P.O. Box 220427, Chantilly, VA 20151, 703-631-9411Staunton Warehouse, 600 Hays Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401, 540-886-5707

Construction & Maintenance Materials, Inc; 888 275 0101, 1131 4th Street, South EastRoanoke, VA 24013

Eastern Supply, Inc; (800) 522-3292, PO Box 1445, Winchester, VA 22604

Certified Green Wood Suppliers*

* Certified by Forestry Stew

Documents

The Rappahannock River Recreational Access Guide