We recently received an email from a trail user who was concerned about the trimming that was taking place along the Loop Trail:

"Ron,
I appreciate your thoughtful reply to my email [about the trimming]. I'd only reiterate my love for the raspberries that are abundant by the sides of the trail and how much I count on them for pies each summer. Clearly the long term health of the trail is supported by regular trimming, and as you say, this cuts back on the use of the herbicides which are by far a less appealing alternative.
    Best wishes, [Trail User]"

We thought you might be interested in our trimming policy, as outlined by Ron Blair, Chairman of the Jefferson County Trails Council:

As far as raspberries go, they shouldn't be impacted by cutting back over winter time. New canes would come up in Spring and still bear this year. Park & Rec isn't digging anything up at the root level, only removing above-ground growth.

I want to share some deeper truths about the trail, partly for your benefit and partly so you could share this knowledge with others.

Trail width. Federal guidelines set the standard at 10' wide. I originally balked at this idea. It seemed more like a highway than a trail. However, the first time I walked on the trail and saw 2 cyclists going in one direction passing a walker coming in the opposite direction I knew why 10' is considered ideal.

Unfortunately, weeds have overtaken many stretches of our Loop Trail. We were shy and reticent about spraying and the result is that in some areas the trail width has shrunk to 4'-6' in width. This is not sustainable.

We will spray the Loop Trail twice this year with RoundUp. We have tried "natural" and organic remedies in the past. Unfortunately they only kill the growth that is above ground and not the roots. The weed returns! We need a systemic herbicide to eradicate the problem at the root level.

After conferring with Steve Nichols and the folks at Soil Tech we determined that the least toxic herbicide, most readily breaking down into inert substances within 24 hrs, is RoundUp. As Steve said, "you have to use it. Letting the trail be overgrown with weeds is not an option."

Hopefully, by cutting back each section of trail, mowing regularly, and applying Round Up twice this year we can get to the point where it only needs to be applied once per year or once every other year.

The Trail System, with all the major bridges, construction costs, easements, etc., is a $5 Million dollar investment. Like any other piece of infrastructure - library, civic center, etc., - it needs to be maintained to be enjoyed at its fullest.

You can tell from reading this email that we've thought long and hard as to the best, least invasive and intrusive, way to go about this task. It's a balancing act, that's for sure.

We would deeply appreciate it if you could pass on this information to friends and neighbors. It's tough on us when people call to complain about things we're doing to maintain the trail system at its highest level.

Best Regards, Ron

The following is in response to questions about spraying for weeds on the trail:

Questions have arisen concerning the Jefferson County Trails Council's policy regarding trail maintenance. This issue has become more of a concern as parts of the Loop Trail have aged. Here are our thoughts:

* The Loop Trail will be a $4 Million (approximately) piece of infrastructure one day.

* Like any solid structure - such as roads and bridges - it needs upkeep and maintenance.

* We chose a granular surface for the trail for many reasons: cost, naturalness, good on the legs and feet, slows down bicyclists, etc.

* The negative trade-off for a granular surface is that it is susceptible to weeds.

* The Trail System is an investment by the City of Fairfield and the County, a benefit for local users as well as out-of-town visitors and tourists. We want it to look exemplary, not overgrown with weeds! As does the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.

So what to do? Regarding spraying, here is what we found:

We have researched and tried non-toxic, organic sprays on the trail. They have not worked, except as a topical agent (killing the surface growth for 3-5 weeks). They are not an effective systemic, in other words, they do not go into the root system to kill the weed.

The most effective, least toxic systemic available is RoundUp, which is what we have used over the past few years.

We have checked with many professionals, including Steve Nichols at Soil Technologies, Inc., as I heard they have a new, non-toxic product called Phydra that is an effective weed killer. Steve says it is only topical; it doesn't kill the weed. Steve stated, without any prompting, that, "having the Loop Trail overrun with weeds is simply not acceptable." He said RoundUp is the only alternative now known.

Therefore, we hired a professional company, Bass Lawn Care, to spray the Loop Trail. They used state-of-the-art hooded spray valves to keep the RoundUp strictly on the trail, with no drifting whatsoever.

Regarding mowing along the trails, here is the current plan:

The Fairfield Park & Rec Dept and the Jefferson County Conservation Board (JCCB) each have maintenance responsibility for designated sections of the Loop Trail. Last winter they met to discuss sharing equipment and manpower for this maintenance. There are only 6 miles of Loop Trail completed, and their staff and resources are being stretched already. How will they be affected when 17 miles are complete?

Because of this, the JCTC is helping Park & Rec on their sections of the Loop Trail.

One issue involves mowing along the trail. The JCCB has a vertical-cutting mower that is used to cut back encroaching bushes and shrubs on both sides of the County Park trails. Plans were made to try it on the Loop Trail.

Why use this process?

Because the trails are man-made, nature will simply reclaim that land, if we don't cut back growth. By cutting back encroaching bushes and shrubs with the vertical-cutting mower, Park & Rec. can use their regular mower to cut the grass/weeds on the trail margins more frequently, thereby cutting down on weed-encroachment onto the trail proper, and therefore reducing the need to use RoundUp.

Because the weeds had taken hold so strongly in some areas of the trail, Ron Blair encouraged the JCCB to aggressively use the vertical mower, which will then allow Park & Rec to mow further into the trail margins.

In hindsight, this should have been done in the winter-time when it's easier to see everything, and the consequences of cutting would not look so dramatic. Also in hindsight, we probably didn't need to cut back so deeply.

As a footnote, a crew of JCTC volunteers went through most of the Loop Trail in Summer, 2006, with loppers and electric trimming shears, trying to push back the encroachment. They probably cut back 12-18" of growth. The very next year, 2007, the new growth is back as vigorously as before, if not stronger.

Periodically, therefore, the adjacent foliage needs to be trimmed back (maybe 3'-4', rather than 6'-8') to protect the trail system. This is not an option, it is a requirement!

Trimming back should also be done vertically, from ground level up to 8-10' high. This cannot be done regularly by volunteers. It requires professionals (liability) and professional equipment.

The concern for nature vs. maintenance:

People are concerned about nature, rightfully so. However, The reality is that all our trails are man-made. Ron Meyers has said, "If you don't want to be on a man-made trail, walk in the woods with the poison ivy, thorns, multiflora rose, etc."

Man-made trails have to be maintained, just as our roads are. The trails cost a lot to build, are loved by all users, and therefore should not be allowed to fall into disrepair. The JCCB and Park & Rec Dept staff members are sensitive, seasoned professionals who truly love what they do and try to minimize the disturbance to nature, while at the same time maintaining a high quality product.

We welcome input. Polite and respectful input is particularly useful. Also, the people who put time, care, and love into their tasks, building or maintaining trails, wish to be treated respectfully.

Maybe a different piece of machinery will ultimately be required to more gently cut back the growth. Maybe one day a non-toxic systemic will be created. Until then, dialogue is important and necessary. We hope concerned citizens understand that much thought, much care, and love goes into decision-making about long-term trail maintenance.

We have always worked in the spirit of compromise, cordiality, and in striking a balance. We only ask that others do the same.

    - Ron Blair, Chairman of the Jefferson County Trails Council

We recently received an email from a trail user who was wondering whether horses are allowed on our trails:

"I am writing with a question about the trail. Are horses allowed on the trail? I've looked thru the website but could not find any info regarding riding your horse on the trail. Any information on this issue would be greatly appreciated."

Ron Blair, Chairman of the Jefferson County Trails Council, responded:

"As far as the Loop Trail goes, horses are not allowed. The same holds true for the trails in Jefferson County Park. There's too much potential for horse vs bike or dog problems as well as the fact that the granular surface trail would get torn up whenever the ground was soft.

I do know that the Jefferson County Conservation Board has an equestrian trail at Turkey Run that was developed by riders interested in having access to trails and nature for their horses and themselves."
Best Regards, Ron


The following is quoted from the Jefferson County Conservation Board website:

"In 2004 Rob Weaver's family and friends developed (and now maintain) 6 miles of equestrian trails in the Turkey Run Wildlife Area. However, trail use is prohibited during deer and turkey hunting sessions (October through mid-January, and early April through mid-May). Limited parking space is available for trucks and horse trailers."

    See the entire Turkey Run Wildlife Area page on the Jefferson County Conservation website.

Jefferson County Trails Council
Our e-mail address is:

Our mailing address is:
Jefferson County Trails Council
P.O. Box 2375
Fairfield, IA 52556