Best Management Practices for Forestry

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Best Management Practices for Forestry
Lab 7 Forestry BMPs

• are voluntary guidelines to help maintain and
  protect the physical, chemical, and biological
  integrity of waters of the state.

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BMPs are Designed to reduce and/or prevent NPS
Pollution.
Sediment (loose soil particles) Organic materials
(tree tops and limbs) Temperature (caused by the
removal of shade) Trash Pesticides and Nutrients
(herbicides fertilizers)
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Responsibility
all those involved in the authorization,
planning and implementation of forestry
operations.

• Landowners
• Forest resource managers
• Timber purchasers
• Loggers
• Vendors

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1. Streamside Management Zones

• SMZs are used to
• Reduce channel and floodplain erosion
• Control deposition of pollutants into surface
  waters
• Maintain biological integrity of aquatic
  ecosystems
• Retain the capability of the forest floor to
  filter out pollutants from upland runoff

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Other names for Streamside Management Zones
(SMZs)
1. Streamside Management Zones

• Buffer Zones
• Wildlife Corridors
• Riparian Zones
• Leave Strips

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1. Streamside Management Zones
Things to Consider

• Width should vary (min. 35 feet)
• Protect from destabilization
• Maintain shade and organic recruitment
• Maintain forest floor
• Control logging debris, mech. operations,
  pesticides, fertilizers, trash

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SMZ Illustration
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Harvesting in a SMZ should be done so as to
protect the forest floor understory vegetation
from damage.
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2. Stream Crossings

• Avoid crossing streams if possible
• Use the fewest number as possible
• Locate and construct with least damage
• Install at right angles to stream
• Remove temporary crossings
• Stabilize and maintain permanent crossings

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Log Crossings
2. Stream Crossings
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Culverts
2. Stream Crossings
Make fill over a culvert the high spot in the
crossing.
Use adequate size
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Bridges create the least disruption to stream flow
2. Stream Crossings
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3. Forest Roads

• Proper planning and location is key
• Avoid problem areas
• Minimize soil exposure
• Stabilize exposed soil
• Close temporary roads
• Maintain permanent roads
• DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE

Ex Crowned road
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Water bars should be installed based upon grade
3. Forest Roads

• 5 slope 135
• 10 slope 80
• 20 slope 45

Surface flow
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4. Timber Harvesting
Things to Consider

• Develop a harvesting plan
• Location of landings
• Felling direction
• Proper skid trails
• Harvesting system
• Trash disposal

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Selecting the right harvesting system is critical
4. Timber Harvesting
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Selecting the type of harvesting
4. Timber Harvesting
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Lab 7 Forestry BMPs Activities

• Foresters begin by estimating amount of timber
• Activity 1
• To do this measure tree height and dbh (diameter
  at breast height)
• Next logging plot must be assessed for presence
  of streams and downslope impacts.
• Activity 2
• Plot logging area using GMPs

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