Trail Skills College Course Curriculum
To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum.
Water Management/Drainage Features
Skill Definition
Construct drainage features that decrease erosion and increase sheet flow, including grade reversals, rolling grade dips, berms, ditches, and sheet drains
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate understanding of basic natural and stormwater induced drainage effects on trails
- Construct all types of drainage features with supervision
Full Performance Level
- Understand the application of different drainage features for managing water volumes and velocities
- Identify locations and the appropriate drainage feature
- Construct the full suite of drainage features independently and/or with a team across multiple types of terrain, soils and ground conditions
Expert Level Performance
- Implement a comprehensive drainage plan for a trail and/or trail system across numerous types of terrain, soils and ground conditions including difficult and challenging types
Resources for Water Management/Drainage Features
Documents and
Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
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Documents and Media for Water Management/Drainage Features
North Country Trail Handbook
The North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) extends for thousands of miles across seven states. Its layout, design, construction, and maintenance require the participation of a myriad of individuals and groups.
Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds
This guidebook provides practical guidelines for developing recreation environments that are sensitive to the needs of riders and their stock.
Trail Fundamentals:The relationship between trails and water
This educational video from PTBA (Professional TrailBuilders Association) explores one of the most crucial elements in sustainable trail planning and design: managing water and drainage. Using visual examples, including topographic map overlays and…
Evaluating Erosion
One important factor that we examine when we assess the condition of a trail is the effect that erosion is having upon the trail surface. This video covers three of the most obvious signs of trail erosion: loose rocks, cuts and areas of deposition.…
Surface Water Control Techniques for Trail Maintenance
Surface Water Control Techniques for Trail Maintenance - USDA Forest Service 1992 - 0823-2D01-MTDC - Missoula Technology Development Center. Learn routine maintenance to prevent water erosion on trails.
Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Water Management/Drainage Features
Choosing the Right Aggregate: Matching Material to Trail Use and Terrain
Help attendees evaluate site conditions and user needs to select the most appropriate material—reinforcing your team’s technical expertise and the value of well-engineered materials. Trail uses include both pedestrian and vehicular pathways in rural…
Installation Excellence for Trail Aggregate: Tips, Tricks, and Common Pitfalls
Deliver actionable insights on installation best practices that reduce long-term maintenance and boost user satisfaction. Trail uses include both pedestrian and vehicular pathways in rural and urban settings.
Vegetation Design for Trailbuilders: Controlling Erosion and Creating Habitat with Minimal Horticulture Experience and Resources
With the increasing public demand for native plants and a push to find alternatives, learn from one landscape architect’s experience developing prairies in a variety of environments.
Sustainable Equestrian Trails From Grant Funding to Project Success
This webinar aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of managing a sustainable horse farm. This is part two of a two-part series related to sustainability.
Barn to Trail: Managing Sustainability on Equine Properties
Hosted in partnership with the Equine Land Conservation Resource, this webinar aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of managing a sustainable horse farm. This is part one of a two-part series related to sustainability.
Water Management on Legacy Trails
This webinar will discuss the challenges of legacy trails, examine with photos and commentary commonly built trail features, and applying the SET test to them. It will also discuss the renovation of existing features and the construction of new…
Further Education
Training Programs for Water Management/Drainage Features
Foundations of Sustainable Trails e-Course Series
This five-part series of online micro-learning courses is intended to provide those new to the trails workforce with a baseline understanding of terminology and concepts that give them a solid foundation to support future trails education and…
Advancing Trails Webinar Series
American Trails brings agencies, trail builders, planners, architects, advocates, and volunteers the latest in state-of-the-art information on all aspects of trails and greenways. Our webinars focus on a variety of trail topics, usually applicable…
Chinook Associates Trail Consulting
Chinook Associates offers stewardship skills workshops covering recreational trail planning, design, construction, maintenance, and visitor management. Courses are available either in-person, with fully customizable content combining classroom…
Trail Technician 1 Exam
The Trail Technician multiple-choice exam evaluates foundational knowledge in trail development, aligned with the progression from entry-level to full Trail Competency standards.
Trail Fundamentals Video Series
The Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) has launched the development of the Trail Fundamentals Video Series—a free, entry-level educational resource designed to support sustainable trail development and trail trainings worldwide.
IMBA Trail Care Schools
Trail Care Schools equip volunteers and organizations with the skills necessary to maintain modern mountain bike trails in partnership with the local land management. This course will begin with sustainable trail design principles, such as drainage…
Skill Library
Trail Construction
Trail Sustainability Principles
Safety/Site Management
Construction Specifications
Corridor Clearing/Site Preparation
Corridor Clearing: Pruning/ Side-Cutting/ Brushing
Corridor Clearing: Felling/tree removal; Chainsaw/ Crosscut
Corridor Clearing: Material and Debris Management
Hand-Built Trail Construction
Mechanized Trail Construction
Trail Finishwork
Water Management/Drainage Features
Water Crossing Structures
Retaining Walls
Tread Hardening and Surfacing
Decommissioning Trails
Custom Trainings
There are 93 trainers on TrailSkills
with Water Management/Drainage Features experience
Nicholas Burns
Taos, NM
URG Conservation Program Coordinator
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps - New Mexico
Jeremy Poore
Old Fort, NC
Coordinator - Trail Construction and Maintenance
McDowell Tech Community College
Hire Workers
There are 451 workers on TrailSkills
with Water Management/Drainage Features experience
Mitch Bishop
Reno, NV
Trails and Restoration Specialist - Nevada Conservation Corps
Great Basin Institute
Walter Opuszynski
Barre, VT
Forest Recreation Specialist
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation
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Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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