Forestry Best Management Practices

Forest roads, skid trails and landings are vulnerable to erosion and should be managed so as to prevent the loss of soil from the site into vulnerable ecosystems such as streams, wetlands and lakes.

Riparian areas provide the following for water quality:

•filter nutrients and sediment

•regulate water temperature by shading streams

•enhance bank stability, enhance wildlife habitat

• provide a buffer between timber harvesting and water supplies.

Short-term erosion control is only effective if maintained and installed properly!

•Cross streams only when necessary

•Cross streams where banks are stable and bottom is firm

•Install approaches at right angles to stream

•Use materials that are clean, non-erodible and non-toxic to aquatic life

•Minimize the use of equipment in stream

•Stabilize all approaches

•Upon job completion remove crossing, smooth out any ruts and install appropriate BMP for stabilization

Seeding, mulching and hydroseeding helps ensure continued site stabilization.

Properly placing and maintaining logging roads, skid trails and landings is the easiest and most effective way to protect water quality during timber harvesting.

These areas also help to filter sediment and nutrients from surface water run-off and help to improve water quality while also creating unique wildlife habitat.

Erosion control mats can be used to keep large areas of soil stabilized while grass and other plants become established.

Fords crossings can be installed where vehicles may have to enter a stream or cross a wet spot on a logging road.

Water bars help divert water from roads and trails and helps to slow velocities and reduce erosion