The color doesn't mean it was clay. I have red sand in my backyard. I understand it is not a beach, sorry if my comparison caused confusion. The way the stuff was getting turned by the tires is what I recognize as sand, so I guess both our assumptions can be cleared up by the original poster.

I guess my point is that a definition of low impact for your area cannot be the same universally.

I have seen 1st hand much worse performed by state and county "environmental" officials.

Fur clog in the sausage grinder