Rural Roads Workshop

This full-day workshop will focus on practical approaches to improving and maintaining rural dirt roads. Participants will learn about best management practices for upgrading or maintaining rural roads, how to identify erosion and drainage issues caused by roads, and potential treatment options. These practices can help improve road performance during wet conditions, reduce ongoing maintenance needs, and limit potential sediment delivery impacts to nearby waterways. The Rural Roads Workshop will include a morning presentation and an afternoon field tour of a completed project on a Cal Poly rangeland road and a site prior to treatment, using progressive methodologies from PWA’s Handbook for Forest, Ranch, and Rural Roads: A Guide for Planning, Designing, Constructing, Reconstructing, Upgrading, Maintaining and Closing Wildland Roads. (https://www.pacificwatershed.com/roadshandbook).

Directions:

GPS should get you to the event if you search Cal Poly Beef Center. But if you have any issues, you can follow these directions and see the attached map. 

1. From San Luis Obispo, head north on Highway 1 for approx. 6 miles
2. Turn right (north) on to Education Dr., when you see the SLO County Office of Education (just past El Chorro Regional Park and across the highway from Cuesta College)
3. Follow the road to the left past the Education building and continue as it curves right and becomes Watson Dr.
4. Follow the road to the T-intersection and turn right onto Pennington Creek Rd.
5. Continue about 1.5mi down Pennington Creek Rd. until you reach the Beef Center. We will meet inside the large metal building. 

Info: Presentations and discussion on road-related erosion and sediment delivery, including road impacts and erosion processes, episodic and chronic erosion sources, and techniques for addressing hydrologically connected roads through road shaping and drainage improvements.

Info: Please bring a lunch and water bottle or pre-purchase lunch during registration. No nearby food options are available.

Info: Travel from Cal Poly Beef Center to Cal Poly’s Serrano Ranch Barn.

Field evaluation of road drainage treatments, including identification of road drainage problems and successful treatment approaches, maintenance of existing drainage structures, and discussion of installed road drainage improvements and maintenance practices. Preparation:
The field workshop component will require leaving your vehicle and walking a short but steep distance on an unpaved road. Be aware there are no bathroom facilities once we leave The Beef Center. Please wear shoes/boots and clothing that is appropriate for the field and sun/rain exposure.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Beef Cattle Evaluation Center, Beef Cattle Evaluation Center, San Luis Obispo, United States

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