This online engineering PDH course describes environmentally sensitive maintenance practices for dirt and gravel roads. If implemented, these practices reduce erosion and sediment, maintain subsurface hydrologic connectivity, restore drainage density to more natural conditions, and eliminate diversion potential. Additionally, long term maintenance costs are reduced and maintenance cycles lengthened. This course describes a simple protocol to help road managers and maintenance practitioners assess road conditions; identify problems; determine cause; and select the appropriate environmentally sensitive practices that fit site conditions. The various conditions are illustrated through the extensive use of carefully chosen photographs.

Topics: Keys to diagnosing road problems Subsurface water Road surface drainage Roadside ditches Ditch outlets Road stream crossings Surface aggregate Road assessment and monitoring.

Intended Audience: This course is intended for civil, highway, county, and state engineers concerned with the design and maintenance of gravel roads. 

Publication Source: This course is based on the United States Department of Agriculture document 7700-Transportation Management 1177 1802--SDTCD, “Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Practices for Dirt and Gravel Roads,” written by personnel from the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads, April, 2012.