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Last winter, intense rainstorms washed out many roads in the watershed, polluting the lakes and ponds we love. Although the forces of these storm events are strong, simple pre-winter/storm maintenance tasks can help your road handle the high water volume events, protecting your road and water quality. Small, easy-to-do things such as clearing ditches of sticks and other debris can be the reason your road holds up during a storm. The Gravel Road Maintenance Manual by the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is one of the best resources for camp road tips, tricks, and maintenance information. Here are a few actions you can take now:
1. Remove debris from ditches and culverts
Leaves, sticks, logs, sediment, and other debris impede the flow of water and can cause severe erosion that harms water quality and creates expensive repair costs. Anytime you’re driving or walking your road, keep an eye out for any accumulated debris within the ditches and culverts and be sure to remove any you see. November is a great time to check these areas, as all the leaves have all fallen for the year.
2. Clean waterbars, rubber razors, open-top culverts, and other installed water diversion Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Over time, sediment will accumulate behind your waterbars, broad-based dips, and rubber razors and it’s important to regularly clear them out, so they can continue functioning properly. This is also a great opportunity to check and make sure the area where the BMP is sending water (a good wooded area) has remained stable.
3. Grade and crown your road
It’s recommended that a year round road be graded four times a year - once in the spring, two times during the summer, and once during the fall. The constant impact from vehicle tires over time creates depressions in the road, causing water to concentrate and channelize, creating big erosion problems. By having your road graded and crowned during the fall, you can ensure water will drain off the surface properly.
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