Post-Fire Erosion Control Measures

On January 13, 2012, the Lost Pines Recovery Team in Bastrop County provided a free educational workshop for landowners affected by the recent wildfires. The topics covered a wide range of subjects, providing information useful to to any landowner impacted by the recent wildfires in Texas (not just those in Bastrop County). The Texas Forest Service Water Resources Program presented information on erosion control measures that landowners can take following wildfire to reduce the risks of soil and water degradation.

The presentations are available online as a standard PDF document, or as a video of the presentations. To access them click on the images below:

To view the PDF documents you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. The software is available as a free download from the Adobe website. To view the video presentations you will need to have Apple QuickTime. The software is also available as a free download from the Apple website.


Additional information on post-fire erosion control can be found on the Bastrop County disaster recovery/relief website (http://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/bcdisaster/index.php/soilsaerosion).

The Texas Water Source - November 2010

November Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Updated BMP Product and Vendor Guide
• Local Forest Landowner Association
• Agency Spotlight: Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas Watershed Steward Program
• Orange Co. TMDL Project Update
• Your Local Extension Offices

BMP Informer - May 2008

May Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Forestry Services Vendor Database
• Famous Trees of Texas
• Improving My Land - Streamside Management Zones
• Interactive Website on Forests & Trees
• Determining Stream Types
• Texas Forest Service District Offices Serving You

January BMP Q&A

By: Shane Harrington, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q:    I have heard you mention various products such as logging mats, culverts, and geo-textile fabrics in past articles.  I wanted to know where these types of products can be purchased and what do they typically cost.

A:    A variety of products are used in the management of forestlands and some of these products can be difficult to find.  The Texas Forest Service BMP Project Office maintains a product/vendor guide which lists a variety of products and the vendors who sell or manufacture them.  Prices are also listed with these products but the vendor should be contacted to ensure prices have not changed.

Products such as logging mats or drag line mats can be found in the BMP Product/Vendor Guide.  Logging mats are used when access across a stream or wet area is only needed for a short time during the harvest or planting of a tract.  These temporary crossings are relatively inexpensive, can be used multiple times, and when installed correctly greatly minimize or prevent any negative impacts to water quality.  Most logging mats when cared for properly can last anywhere from five to seven years and can be transported easily from operation to operation.  Logging mats are typically made of several hardwood cants that are bolted together and provide a secure and stable crossing for equipment.  Depending on the size logging mat purchased to price can range anywhere from $300 to $1200 each.   

Another common product that can be found in the BMP Product/Vendor Guide is culverts.  Culverts are used when permanent access is needed across a stream or the stream is too large for logging mats.  When installing culverts care should be taken to ensure that the proper size culvert is used and that it is installed correctly.  Soil type and topography greatly influence the size of culvert that is needed to adequately handle expected water flow through a stream.  A topographic map and soil survey can be used to determine the amount of water being drained from a watershed and the soil type of the area drained.  Culverts not properly installed can negatively impact water quality and can be very costly to repair.  There are several types of culverts and they come in various sizes ranging from 18 inches in diameter and larger and range widely in price depending on the size

Geo-textile products such as Geoweb are listed as well.  Geoweb is used for shallow stream crossings or low water crossings.  These crossings are permanent crossings on streams that have relatively flat approaches and shallow stream channels.  The purpose of using a product such as Geoweb is to provide a stable low water crossing and to prevent rutting up the stream channel for passing vehicles.  The stream must have a stable bottom for this type of crossing to be effective.  When purchasing Geoweb it is important to purchase enough material so that it stretches several feet out past the edge of the stream channel.  This is to ensure that the approaches do not become washed out and rutted which can increase the amount of erosion and sediment entering the stream.  Geoweb, when installed correctly, can provide a stable low water crossing that can last for many years.  Several companies sell Geoweb or products that are similar and they come in various sizes and range in price from $150 to $500 per unit.

For more information concerning these products or other products please consult the BMP Product/Vendor Guide which can be viewed by visiting the Texas Forest Service website at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water.  If you have any questions concerning the BMP Product/Vendor Guide or BMPs in general please contact me by calling (936) 639-8180. 

* This article was published in the January 2007 issue of the Texas Logger

BMP Informer - September 2006

September Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Jones State Forest BMP Demonstration Area
• Are You a Tree Farmer?
• Improving My Land Forest Roads and BMPs
• Where Can I Find? 
• Repairing Storm Damaged Streamside Management Zones
• Forestry Acronyms

BMP Informer - August 2005

August Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Timber Sale Contract Basics
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land Streamside Management Zones
• Want to See Examples of BMPs at Work?
• Who Can Answer My BMP Questions?
• BMP Training Workshop Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

BMP Informer - July 2004

July Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• BMPs and Burning
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land - Woods Road Maintenance
• Timber Thieves Don’t Use BMPs!
• BMP Virtual Tour on TFS Website
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

BMP Informer - April 2003

April Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Remember Your Forest After the Storm
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land - Woods Road Maintenance
• Timber Thieves Don’t Use BMPs!
• BMP Virtual Tour on TFS Website
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

August BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   A major perennial stream flows through our property and floods at least once a year. These high waters have blown out several culverts and caused severe erosion on the stream banks. Reinstalling another culvert is extremely expensive, so we have decided to retire this rarely used crossing. However, we still would like to stabilize the banks to keep them from washing into the stream. Is there an effective way to accomplish this?

A:   Stream crossings can be very expensive to install and maintain, and if they don’t function properly, can cause major impacts to water quality. These “contact points” are areas where soil can directly enter streams. Retiring old crossings that are not used and stabilizing their stream banks are excellent practices to reduce the potential severity of sedimentation problems.

Restored and seeded stream crossing

There are several effective ways that you can stabilize the stream banks of this crossing. Establishing a good vegetative cover on these erodible sites through seeding will help keep the bank intact and filter runoff water before it reaches the stream. Seed mixes should include a variety of grasses suited for the site conditions present to ensure a high survival rate. Planting in the spring or fall can greatly increase the success of this operation. Fertilizers should not be applied inside the Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) to prevent stream contamination.

Depending on the time of year and the site conditions, grasses may not always grow in these areas. Spreading hay along these banks can also provide erosion control. This method is extremely effective when it is done after seeding. As the hay decomposes, the grass seed begins to germinate and holds the soil in place. This material can be applied more efficiently and evenly distributed using hay blowers. Care should be taken to avoid hay from reaching the stream channel.

Another method that works well is installing rock along the slopes. Securing this material in place can provide great erosion protection and bank stability, however this procedure is generally more expensive than the above mentioned. It is also important to prevent rocks from entering the channel and impeding stream flow.

There are many other techniques that can be implemented to help with this problem, including geotextiles, bioengineering products, and other erosion control fabrics. More information can be found on the Texas Forest Service webpage under the BMP Product and Vendor Guide. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the August 2002 issue of the Texas Logger