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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 1/4 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 1/4 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 1/4 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 1/4 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 1/4 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
"Environmental" 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	Moderate	Light	Heavy	Heavy	Heavy	Heavy
Overall suitability for use	Poor	Poor	Very good	Good	Good	Poor	Conditional	Site dependent	Good	Conditional

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