What is Trail Stewardship?
Trail stewardship means the care and maintenance of trails. Much of the trail maintenance that ECTA performs is in projects such as installing beaver deceivers and culverts, building boardwalks, and trail resurfacing. Of equal importance is the regular care needed to keep trails clear and passable. For this, we rely on our team of trail stewards and the many trail users who walk, bike or run on the 450 miles of trails in the six towns we serve. Our team of stewards keep an eye on trails in specific areas, report about trail issues and when able, help to keep them clear. But for anyone on foot (or who easily can be), performing routine trail care while you’re out using the trails is easy, and extremely helpful in keeping them passable.
What can you do?
- Pick up branches and smaller limbs that block trails or pose a tripping hazard. Throw them off to the side of the trail.
- Bring a plastic bag and pick up trash on the trail or in parking areas. disuse or recycle appropriately.
- Report blocked, overgrown or flooded trails, or downed trees to ECTA office via phone or email. Take a photo and mark the location using phone GPS if possible.
- When conditions are soft, especially in spring, take care not to leave deep tracks or prints. When dry they make it difficult to walk, run or ride!
What else can you do to help?
- Provide ECTA with descriptions of overall trail conditions.
- Volunteer to help on scheduled trail work days.
- Suggest ideas to ECTA for improving existing trails.
- Be courteous and helpful to other trail users.
- If you’re not already, become a member of ECTA!
Thank you!
ECTA Staff and Board of Directors
