TCC3 in Pontiac Lake, Michigan

We rolled into Pontiac, MI well after dark and were greeted by Tim Collins. Tim is the trails coordinator for the Pontiac chapter of the Michigan Mountain Bike association and has been working hard at implementing a new trails master plan. The trail care crew's visit coincided with the plan moving from paper to dirt in the form of new trail construction.

Friday started with a presentation to a room full of mountain bikers, equestrians, and DNR staff. The DNR turnout was very impressive and no less than six state parks were represented. There was excellent discussion about multiple use, sustainability, and trail closure and revegetation.

The Pontiac Lake recreation area has been developing a trails master plan for the last two years with input from the MMBA and other trail users. In order to resolve potential user conflicts the DNR decided on a segregated trail system with both equestrians and mountain bikes losing trail mileage. In order to retain a stacked loop system for bikes and to eliminate problem intersections miles of new trail will need to be constructed during the coming years. This will also provide opportunities to replace badly eroded sections of trail with sustainable tread.

Roger Dyjak of the DNR has been instrumental in both developing the trails plan and then moving it from the table to the forest. Tim and Roger organized the DNR presentation and following two full days of trail work.

Friday afternoon we checked out the section of trail to be closed and the new alignment with the DNR. We explained the process of building the new tread and closing the old to the park staff and Mike Dashe the park superintendent ok'd the work to be done. Both the DNR and the local cyclists wanted the trail to be consistent with the rest of the loop. That meant a smooth 3' wide tread and a fast flowing design.

Saturday and Sunday over 20 volunteers each day helped build 600'+ of sweet trail. 300' of badly eroded trail was stabilized with check dams and topsoil before being heavily camouflaged. The folks who helped out should be heartily congratulated for these were full eight-hour-plus days. Especially since seven of them came out for both days! Talk about devotion to the trails.

The new trail construction and old eroded trail stabilization and closure sets an example for the DNR that volunteer groups can work with the park staff to help enhance recreation areas. This success is the first step towards an even more fun Pontiac Lake loop and should help set a precedent with the Michigan DNR and mountain bike management.

Next stop Wisconsin

Flagging new trail	Full bench cut on new trail
New trail with open flow	Installing check dams on a closed trail as part of a restoration project.