TRANSPORTATION 

 SYSTEM 



The analysis area for the transportation system 

 is the area displayed as the project area on the 

 maps in Chapter II. The Proposed Beaver 

 Lake Harvest Activities Map displays the 

 existing road locations. The analysis on the 

 transportation system considers safety-related 

 uses of roads, access, costs and maintainability 

 of the system, uses of the roads, and discus- 

 sions on the location and standards of roads. 



BACKGROUND OF THE 

 EXISTING ROAD SYSTEM 



The initial roads into the Beaver Lake area 

 were constructed in the 1920s and 30s. The 

 roads, located to access timber stands, were 

 constructed to minimum standards for log 

 hauling. Early State policy set limits on the 

 amount of money that could be spent on 

 constructing roads; this had a direct bearing 

 on road standards. Some older road segments 

 that had steep road grades with severe erosion 

 and maintenance problems were relocated 

 with State timbers sales in the 1970s. With the 

 improvements n\ade to the South Beaver Lake 

 Road in 1995-96, other uses of the road were 

 beginning to be recognized by DNRC (ie., use 

 by recreationists and access to private hold- 

 ings). 



SAFETY 



Some of the factors that affect safe travel on 

 these roads: 



• Most of the existing roads have poor 



f visibility and stopping distances. These 



1 factors are created from both the vertical 



I and horizontal alignment of the roads. The 



I hills are difficult to see over; the sharp or 



I blind curves, especially with the brush 



i encroachment, are difficult to see around. 



• The roads have few turnouts, which are 

 too short, too narrow, and brushed-in, and 

 do not allow for vehicles to safely meet 

 and pass. 



• Winter driving, whether the roads are 

 plowed or not, is difficult due to narrow 

 roads, ruts in the snow, and poor traction 

 on steep segments of the road. 



• The road base is made up primarily of 

 native material, which is generally not 

 suitable for a finished road surface. Large 

 boulders protrude and chuckholes have 

 developed, forcing cars to drive around 

 these obstacles. 



ACCESS 



The State has basic access to all State owner- 

 ship in the Beaver Lake Project area via the 

 Beaver Lake (county) Road. There are private 

 lands adjacent to the State ownership that do 

 not have legal access to a public road. Cur- 

 rently, the State has not granted any perma- 

 nent rights-of-way to access private holdings 

 adjacent to the Beaver Lake Project area. 



Considerable controversy and opinions in the 

 public and private sector surround the ques- 

 tion of legal access to the private lands adja- 

 cent to the State ownership in Sections 28 and 

 29. DNRC's current opinion is addressed in a 

 memorandum in response to a petition to 

 'Open a County Road', dated October 26, 1995 

 {see Appendix B). 



COSTS 



Because the roads were constructed to mini- * ■ 

 mum standards up through the 1970s, natural 

 weathering and unrestricted public use have 

 reduced the value and usability of the roads to 

 a minimum. Current costs include minimal 

 maintenance and emergency spot repairs. 

 Because of the current condition of the roads 

 and the native materials used when the roads 

 were constructed, all maintenance and repairs 

 are short lived. 



HISTORIC USES \ 



Currently, there is no effective management of 

 roads on State ownership. Most roads and 

 many old skid trails are accessible to motor- 

 ized vehicles year-round. Vehicle uses include 



m-38r 



--v'Ji^^ttivif^ Jrf<'- . 



•vv.v.i,ij ?*n*(. ■ 



Stillwater State Forest • Beaver Lake Timber Sale Project 



