Winter 2016 BMP Q&A

Winter 2016 BMP Q&A

Todd Thomas, BMP Forester, Texas A&M Forest Service

Q: A buddy of mine attended one of the recent logger training courses and was telling me about this fancy new computer mapping tool that the TFS has produced.  Where can we find this tool and what are the details? 

A:  The tool your buddy was referring to is called “Plan My Land Operation.”  Plan my land operation is an application that can be found at www.texasforestinfo.com.  At this website, there are several useful tools that I encourage you to try out.  Other applications that can be found there include an interactive forest products directory, to a timber decision simulator, as well as several other interactive web based applications. 

Plan My Land Operation was designed to help loggers, foresters, and landowners to gather information to plan out their forest operations more efficiently.  The first step in conducting your operations in a BMP savvy manner is to plan.  On this application, the user can view aerial imagery that is linked to bing maps, historical aerial imagery dating back the last 10 years or so, USGS topographic maps, and maps that display only the hydrology of the area.

The first step is to find the location of the property.  This can be done by zooming in with your mouse, or by entering the latitude/longitude of the site.  Once this is done, you may use your mouse to draw out the boundaries of the property.  If you have the boundaries saved you may load them to save you time if they are of the following file types: mmp, shp, kml, or gpx.  Once you have your boundaries drawn, you may save them and load them later if you need to revisit the application.  Acreage is automatically calculated once you get the boundaries drawn out. 

The next tool listed on this application is the “Sensitive Areas” tool.  This tool automatically draws out any streams on the site, applies an SMZ to these streams (defaults to 50 feet, but you can tailor it to your needs), shows any steep slopes (slopes greater than 8%, but can be changed to your liking), and any wet areas where rutting may be a concern.  The application will even produce a written report on these sensitive areas for your reference.  After this comes the “Soils” tool.  This overlays NRCS soil maps onto the landscape allowing you to view not only soil type, but erodibility, site index, etc.   If this wasn’t enough, the tool below soils is called “Operational Considerations.”  This contains layers that show suitability for roads and landings, harvest equipment operability, soil rutting hazard, and others that give the user a view of landscape conditions that could hinder operations. 

Possibly my favorite two tools are next on the menu.  These are the “Culvert Size” and “Elevation Profile” tools.  The culvert size tool allows the user to select a location on a stream and the area that drains down to that point on the stream is automatically drawn out on the map.  Next a report is produced that gives the user recommendations on what size culvert would be appropriate for the location selected.  The “Elevation Profile” tool gives the user the ability to draw out a potential road or trail on the map, and a graph charting the elevation of that path as it snakes along is produced.  This gives you the ability to choose a location for a road or trail with the least amount of slope.  This tool is also handy for any of you hikers out there.  The last four tools on the application allow the user to measure area and distance, add labels, add linear features, and add points of interest.  Once you are satisfied with the map you have produced, the last button on the menu gives you the option to save the map in pdf form for future reference or print it out. 

That, in a nutshell, are just some of the options brought to the table by the “Plan My Land Operation” tool.  I encourage you to visit the website and play with this particular application and the many others provided on the website.  Don’t worry, this web tool is way more user friendly than I have made it sound.   It was designed to be as user friendly as possible and is constantly being improved and added on to.  If you have any questions about this or any BMP issues call my office in Lufkin, the number is (936)639-8180.  You can also email me at tthomas@tfs.tamu.edu.  

Texas Forestry BMPs - Locating Waterbars

Management Practices to Decrease Runoff in Urban Environments

By: Kristen Wickert, Water Resources Staff Forester, Texas A&M Forest Service - Houston

Figure 1: The Preserve on North Loop, Houston

Many posts throughout this blog emphasize the importance of the forest-water relationship in the rural forests of Texas. However, that does not mean that the forest-water relationship does not exist in the urban environment. Managing urban forests can be just as complex as managing rural forests. Specialized factors such as: increased population, impervious surfaces, and more elaborate pollution contributors, make managing urban forests a difficult task.

This is why the Texas A&M Forest Service is studying the effects of vegetation cover in urban environments on water quality and quantity. Our urban foresters in the Houston office performed a survey of an office complex that is known in the area for incorporating vegetation and larger developed trees in their building plan. This complex is called The Preserve. Built in 1971, The Preserve is located directly in the highly developed concrete jungle of Houston, on the 610 North Loop. Buildings were constructed around already established trees and replanting occurred in the open spaces between. Most of the trees are now well established and are larger than six inches in diameter.

Using a public domain software created by the Northern Research Station of the USDA, called i-tree Eco, the Texas A&M Forest Service was able to input sampled data from The Preserve property and generate economic values of the many benefits of the urban forest. A summary report of the benefits provided by the vegetation include: pollution removal, carbon storage, oxygen production, runoff reduction, building energy savings, avoided carbon emissions, and structural values.

Since this is a water resources blog, we will focus on the reduced runoff from having an urban forest incorporated in a building plan. There are three main factors that contribute to runoff reduction from vegetation: Canopy interception of rainfall, water infiltration promotion to the soil by the root system, and duff accumulation. The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground and does not infiltrate into the soil becomes surface runoff, which costs tax money to clean in waste water treatment plants.

The i-tree Eco software calculates annual reduced surface runoff based on rainfall interception by vegetation, specifically focusing on the difference between annual runoff with or without vegetation. Although tree leaves, branches, and bark may intercept precipitation and thus mitigate surface runoff, only the precipitation intercepted by leaves is accounted for in the i-tree Eco analysis. The software bases the value of reduced runoff on the U.S. Forest Service's Community Tree Guide Series.

An excerpt from the report describes the amount of runoff reduced due to the projected 1,350 trees in the 12 acres of The Preserve at an estimated 47,200 cubic feet a year with an associated value of $3.14 thousand.” In actuality, this number is higher due to the fact that only leaf interception is considered, root infiltration is not considered, and the duff accumulation is absent from the report.

Figure 2: Protective duff covering the soil

The Preserve is a special office complex, because it is managed mainly without the use of lawn mowers once or twice a week; unlike most office complexes in urban environments. This enables the office complex grounds to actually mimic a functioning forest floor by accumulating duff. Duff is leaf litter and course woody debris that accumulates on the ground to form a protective shield against rain events and temperature changes. The duff layer of pine needles, leaves, and small course woody debris slows the infiltration rate of water into the soil, while still catching and holding the water, increasing absorption, and keeping moisture in the soil longer. This reduces the amount of water that passes over the saturated bare soils.  Therefore, avoiding runoff into the streets that could cause erosion and flooding.

The lessons we learn from our Forest-Water Best Management Practices have more applications than meets the eye. These valuable lessons are transferable to the urban environment in scales from small to large. The Texas A&M Forest Service is working hard to better the lives of rural and urban Texans by sharing this knowledge.

If you are interested in learning about more ways in which you can do your part in urban areas, please feel free to email me at kwickert@tfs.tamu.edu or to call me at 832-530-6468

Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop – Carters Creek Watershed

 

 

 

November 21, 2013

College Station Wastewater Treatment Meeting Facility
2200 North Forest Parkway
College Station, Texas 77845 (map)

Trainings will focus on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones and the benefits and direct economic impacts from healthy riparian zones. The riparian education programs will cover an introduction to riparian principles, watershed processes, basic hydrology, erosion/deposition principles, and riparian vegetation, as well as potential causes of degradation and possible resulting impairment(s), and available local resources including technical assistance and tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation.

These one-day trainings in watersheds across the state will include both indoor classroom presentations and outdoor stream walks.

The goal is for participants to better understand and relate to riparian and watershed processes, the benefits that healthy riparian areas provide, and the tools that can be employed to prevent and/or resolve degradation and improve water quality. At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Continuing Education Units Available

• Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators License - 3 CEUs
• Texas Water Resources Institute - 1 CEU
• Texas Nutrient Management Planning Specialists - 6 hours
• Texas Forestry Association – up to 6 hours
• Society of American Foresters – up to 4. 5 hours
• Texas Board of Architectural Examiners “Acceptable for HSW credit”
• The program may also be used for CEUs for Professional Engineers.

Please complete the form below to RSVP for the Texas Riparian and Stream Ecosystem Workshop, November 21, 2013 at the College Station Wastewater Treatment Facility.

There will be a catered lunch available for $10 cash at the door, but please feel free to bring your own lunch as we will have a lunchtime presentation before heading to the stream site. Please go online and RSVP and select if you would like the catered lunch or if you will bring your own.

For more information or questions please contact Nikki Dictson at 979-458-5915 or             

n-dictson@tamu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2013, BMP Q&A

By: Todd Thomas, Water Resources Forester, Texas A&M Forest Service

Q: In the quiz last month you asked a question where we would need to know the slope in order to have appropriately spaced windrows.  My question is how are we supposed to know the slope in the field off hand without a tool such as a clinometer? 

A: I am glad you asked this question and I am always glad to highlight areas of the blue book.  However this time I will not be referencing the text of the book, but a feature that many of you may have noticed, but never paid much attention to.  This feature is the slope calculator. 

The slope calculator can be found on the inside of the back cover of the blue book.  There are instructions on how to use it, but since you asked, I will go ahead and explain.  In addition to your blue book, you will need a piece of string, approximately 12-inches long and something to use as a weight, such as a small nut or washer.  First, tie one end of the string to the middle ring of the spiral binding or punch a hole through the cover of the book at the apex of the slope calculator.  Go ahead, it is okay.  There is a small circle there for your reference.  Next, tie your small weight to the loose end of the string. 

Now that your slope calculator has been constructed, here is how you will use it.  The spiral binding should be on top, use this as your sight.  With the binding parallel to the ground, sight the book up or down the slope (depending on which way you are facing), the string will hang vertically and the slope can be read directly along the line where the string lies.  The number on the line with the string is your percent slope.

Now that you are aware of the slope calculator, there are no excuses for not having your blue book with you.  Not only is the book full of BMP information, it is also a tool that you can use in your day to day functions.  In addition to windrow spacing, this tool can be used for determining road gradients so you know where to locate your water control structures such as waterbars, wing ditches, culverts, and dips; in conjunction with the culvert size chart to determine culvert sizing; as well as how wide to make SMZs when near steep slopes, or any other time you need to know the percent slope in a pinch. 

In conclusion, keep those blue books handy, you never know when one might come into use.  If you need a blue book you can get one from your nearest TFS office.  Please keep your questions coming.  You can email them to me at tthomas@tfs.tamu.edu or phone them in by calling (936)639-8180.  

*This article was published in the February 2013 issue of the Texas Logger

March BMP Q&A

By: Chuck Coup, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q:  I understand that taking time to plan out a forestry activity is an extremely important step in protecting water quality. In order to keep up with the times I am interested in using new technology to help in planning my forestry operations. Can you make some suggestions?

A:  I sure can. Many of you may be familiar with traditional forest planning tools such as aerial photos, paper topographic maps, and soil survey books. All of these resources are very useful and readily available to forest landowners, managers, and loggers today. However, with the rise of today’s technological society these tools are also now readily available on the internet, free of charge. Now, some of you may cringe or break out in a cold sweat at the thought of sitting down to a computer or going online. Not a problem! As I mentioned, soil surveys, topo maps, and aerial photos are all still available from local agencies, and the Texas Forest Service would be more than happy to help you locate these resources. Professional foresters also have access to these tools and use them regularly.

If, however, you are tech savvy, or know someone who is, or if you are just feeling adventurous here are some online forest planning resources that you may find helpful.

Topographic maps

Topographic maps help you get an overall view of the forest and a feel for the layout of the land. They display elevation through a series of contour lines and show the location of roads, towns, pipelines, lakes, wetlands, streams, structures, and land cover across the landscape. They are useful for laying out road systems, estimating the costs of implementing best management practices, and avoiding wet area’s and steep slopes.

Free topo maps are available to download from the United States Geological Survey(USGS) Store. The interactive map locator allows you to navigate to any place in the Country and download all available maps (7.5, 15 and 30 minute topographic map series) for that location. TheNational Map Seemless Server, also maintained by the USGS, is another good source for free topographic maps (and much more). Click on “Seamless Viewer” on the left hand side of the screen.

Aerial Photos

Aerial photographs give you a bird’s eye view of the forest. While many of the features visible on aerial photos are also shown on topo maps, aerial photos tend to be newer and therefore reveal more current features of the landscape. Knowledge of current road systems may help in identifying backside access to a tract or avoid the expense of crossing a large stream. Aerial photos can also show existing land uses and the arrangement of forest timber types.

GoogleMaps is a free online mapping program that allows you to view and zoom in and out of aerial photos at nearly any spot on planet Earth, with the additional benefit of labeled roads, towns, and structures. GoogleEarth is a similar program, free for download, that also allows you to measure distances, mark points and areas, and displays additional map features. Google Earth also allows you to share the map information you generate with other Google Earth users, such as a consulting forester for example. Both of these programs offer the ability to view aerial photos in 3D. These aerial photos are frequently updated.

A great way to get started with Google Earth is by taking a look at “Making GoogleEarth Work for Land Management,” a free forestry webinar available online.

Soil Surveys

Knowing and understanding the soil type for the property that you are managing can be a tremendous help in protecting water quality during forestry activities. Soil surveys classify and describe the location and expanse of different soil types and contain other useful information, such as the location of wet areas, drainage patterns, and the grade of slopes. Soil surveys also provide important information related to forestry operations, such as a location’s suitability for logging roads, landings, equipment operability and tendency for erosion and compaction. This information can assist in locating new roads, identifying problems with existing roads, and avoiding wetlands and other sensitive areas.

Soil survey information for nearly any location in the United States is available for free using the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Web Soil Survey, a free online mapping program that allows you to locate and define an area of interest and explore the soil data to determine the suitability of the soils for a particular use. You can also produce custom soil maps and reports. Free copies of the traditional soilsurvey reports for each County in Texas are also available in .pdf format online.

While an in depth explanation and detailed instructions on how to use these individual resources is beyond the scope of this article, a lot of helpful information is available online for free. Generally, each site offers specific information on how to use and navigate their respective program. We understand that these tools may not necessarily be right for everyone, but the good news is that other means of obtaining the same information still exist. However, if you are interested in exploring new resources and ways of gathering information to plan your forestry activities, I would encourage you to take a look at these sites.

To learn more about Texas’s forestry BMPs, please visit the Texas Forest Service website at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water or contact the Texas Forest Service water resources office in Lufkin (936) 639-8180 or Longview (903) 297-3910. If you have any questions about BMPs please contact Chuck Coup at the TFS office in Lufkin.

* This article was published in the March 2011 issue of the Texas Logger

The Texas Water Source - February 2011

February Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Planning Tools for Use in Forest Operations
• Agency Spotlight: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wetlands
• Aquatic Invasive Species
• Watershed Water Quality Monitoring
• Workshop Opportunities

September BMP Q&A

By: Chris Duncan, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q:   I ‘m getting ready to move onto a fairly large tract for a timber harvest.  This particular tract doesn’t have much in the way of an established road system, so I will be constructing most of the roads for the harvest.  The landowner wants me to make part of the road system a permanent road which he will be able to use for access to his tract in the future.  I anticipate that I will need to have at least 1 and maybe 2 material borrow sites to complete this permanent road as the landowner has requested.  What I would like to know if there any guidelines for road material sites that pertain to best management practices?

A:   This is a very good question.  We have written several articles in the past about road BMPs, but have not mentioned a whole lot about what should be done if there is a need to “borrow” materials from the site.  Deposits of surfacing, fill, and site stabilization materials located on the tract are an extremely important resource for forest management activities.  Excavation of these deposits represents a potential for nonpoint source pollution.  Proper planning, layout, maintenance, and reclamation are critical to ensure maximum utilization of materials while minimizing soil movement and impacts to water quality.

Carefully assess the tracts natural drainage patterns, soil types, slopes, and any adjacent streamside management zones (SMZ) to determine the best location, size, and shape of the needed material site.  Deposits covering large areas should be divided and worked in stages, maintaining a minimum size working area and accomplishing partial or complete reclamation of the disturbed area before moving on.  Avoid leaving large areas disturbed for extended periods, active or not.  Road material sites should not be located within an SMZ.  They should be located a minimum of 50 feet from the SMZ edge, but if they must be closer than 50 feet make sure to plan for control measures that will protect water quality.

While material sites are active; use settling basins, waterbars and/or terraces to slow runoff and disperse surface flow.  When extended periods of inactivity are expected, use temporary erosion control measures such as silt fences or straw bales to control surface runoff.  When possible, do site work during dry weather to eliminate excessive runoff and accelerated erosion of freshly disturbed areas.

Upon completion of pit operations and depletion of the deposit; redeposit and shape the overburden in a uniform layer over the pit area.  Make sure the pit has adequate drainage to prevent soil movement and stream sedimentation.  Finally, reclaim the site to aid the future use of the area and implement control measures to minimize surface runoff for each case.  Consider the area's slope, soil erosiveness, and capability to naturally revegetate and then fertilize and reseed all disturbed areas as needed.

For more information on forest road material site BMPs and other BMPs visit the Texas Forest Service webpage at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/water, contact me at (903) 297-3910.

* This article was published in the September 2010 issue of the Texas Logger

The Texas Water Source - March 2010

March Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Why Have a Forest Management Plan?
• Who Can Help With a Plan?
• Agency Spotlight: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• COE’s Institute for Water Resources
• Bacteria Impairments on Big Cypress Creek
• Lake O’ the Pines Contacts

November BMP Q&A

By: Chris Duncan, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q: A few months ago you wrote a couple of articles about the planning process which is necessary prior to constructing a forest road. I found these articles to be very helpful, and I would like to know if you have any other information on forest roads.

A: In the August issue I wrote about several tools which should be used when available to help aid in you in the planning process.  Most of these tools are available at little to no cost to you.  In the September issue, I listed several factors to consider when planning your forest road layout.  This month I would like to address the construction phase for new forest roads.

Well-constructed forest roads are essential to forest management activities and are critical in reducing pollution impacts to forest streams.  Poorly constructed forest roads will always be problematic, and are often very costly to maintain or repair.  Improperly constructed forest roads are also usually the main cause of sedimentation into forest streams.  The following guidelines should be used to ensure that roads are constructed properly and to reduce the chances for costly repairs in the future.

Deposits of road building materials are an important resource for forest management activities.  Excavation of these materials represents a potential for pollution into forest streams.  When possible, balance cuts and fills so that the excavated material will be deposited in the roadway fill sections and thereby minimizing the need for borrow pits. To minimize erosion, cut and fill slopes should be designed at the normal angle of repose or less.

Example of a "below grade" road

When constructing a new road, it is important to avoid cutting down to deep and creating a below grade road.  Below grade roads occur when the road’s surface becomes lower than the sides (shoulders) of the road.  Below grade roads act as conduits for rainfall runoff, thereby increasing the chances for erosion and risks to water quality.  Below grade roads are often very problematic, and can be very costly to repair or maintain.

Another important guideline is to implement necessary BMPs during the construction phase.  Following this simple guideline will ensure that the road has maximum protection from erosion both during construction and after construction is complete.  It can be costly to come back in after construction has been completed to fix an erosion problem that may have been averted by installing the proper BMPs during construction.  Installing the proper BMPs during the construction phase will also help to minimize the adverse effects of rain during the construction.

Depending on the sites topography, soil type, streams, and other features; one or more of the following BMPs may need to be installed during the construction phase: crown and ditch, cross drain culverts, wing ditches, rolling dips or broad based dips, water bars, rock or other aggregate materials.

These are just a few of the guidelines that should be considered before any road construction begins.  I encourage you to attend one of our upcoming BMP Forest Roads Logger Training Workshops for more information.

For more information on forest road BMPs and other BMPs visit the Texas Forest Service webpage at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/water, contact me at (903) 297-3910.

* This article was published in the November issue of the Texas Logger

September BMP Q&A

By: Chris Duncan, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q:  Last month I addressed some of the tools that are available to use as planning aids for forest road design and layout.  This month I would like to address some planning factors to consider before road construction begins.  Next month I will address the construction phase for forest roads.

A:  Methods to control potential nonpoint source pollution from forestry activities starts with the careful planning of the layout of all operations.  The planning process of any forestry activity is extremely important.  A good plan should maximize efficiency, minimize traffic, preserve soil integrity, and protect water quality.  The following are some of the factors to consider during the planning process.

Are there any previously constructed roads on the property?  If there are previously constructed roads available, it may be less expensive to use the existing road system.  If the existing roads are in good shape, there is a potential for lower water quality impact issues than if you were to push in a new road.  It is important to realize that using “legacy” roads may not always be the best option.  When considering whether or not you can utilize an existing road, there are several factors which may be red flags including:  poor location, not stabilized/washing, poor access to the tract, below grade road.

Another factor to consider is whether your roads will be permanent, temporary, or a combination of the two.  Generally; permanent roads are more expensive to construct,   will require more planning, and will require periodic maintenance.  Temporary roads are constructed for a specific job, and are closed or retired after that operation is complete.

What will be the intended traffic for the road?  This is an important factor, and can also help in determining if the road will be permanent or temporary.  Will the road be used as a skid trail, or will there be heavy truck traffic using it?  It may also be helpful to talk with the landowner and determine if they need access to the tract after operations are complete.  Determine if there will be hunters or ATV riders using the roads or if there will be a considerable amount of vehicles (cars) using the road.

Other factors to consider before road construction begins include but are not limited to:

• Topography - Steep topography will require more water control structures, while flat terrain may have “ponding” issues.
• Soil Type – Some soils aren’t stable enough to support equipment. Sandy soils are generally more erosive than clays
• Erosion/Sedimentation Potential- How likely is it that erosion will occur? Are there any streams nearby that may be adversely affected by erosion? 
• BMPs/Stabilization - What BMPs will I have to use to stabilize road?

These are just a few of the factors which should be considered before any road construction begins.  I encourage you to attend one of our upcoming BMP Forest Roads Logger Training Workshops for more information.

For more information on forest road BMPs and other BMPs visit the Texas Forest Service webpage at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/water, contact me at (903) 297-3910.

* This article was published in the September 2009 issue of the Texas Logger

August BMP Q&A

By: Chris Duncan, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service

Q: A few months ago you mentioned that there was a new logger training workshop focusing on forest roads. I have attended both the stream crossing workshop as well as the traditional BMP workshop several years ago. I would like to attend the new workshop when time will allow. In the meantime are there any pointers you could give my company in regards to forest roads?

A: Glad to know that you have attended both the BMP and Stream Crossing workshops. I hope that the information you learned at the workshops has benefited you on your logging operations since then. We should be having another forest roads workshop in the near future. I would be glad to give you some helpful information in the meantime. Over the next few months I will talk about the planning, construction and maintenance of forest roads.

The planning process of any forestry activity is extremely important.  This stage allows you to layout your operations in the most productive, economical, and environmentally sensitive manner possible.  The time spent on planning road design and layout will prove to be invaluable to your business.  The following tools discussed below should be used when available, and are available for your use at little or no charge.

Aerial photographs can be extremely helpful in viewing the entire landscape before any work is done.  These tools can show you the location of existing roads, streams, structures, land uses, and even timber types.  It is important to remember that aerial photographs are a snapshot in time, and are only as good as the date they were taken.  This means that some features on a photo may change in the future, however roads and streams usually remain constant.  These photos are available at the Texas Forest Service, tax assessor’s office, and the Internet.

Topographical maps are also important to use during this process.  These maps show changes in elevation through a series of contour lines.  This can be helpful when laying out the road systems, estimating BMP costs, and avoiding wet areas and steep slopes. Blue line streams are also easily designated on these maps, taking some of the guesswork out of determining if stream crossings can be avoided.  You can obtain these maps from hunting stores, state and federal agencies, and the Internet.

Soil surveys are another tool that can provide a lot of information to contractors.  These books, published by the NRCS, classify the different soil types that are found in an area.  A general description of each soil type is included, along with many charts that contain more detailed information regarding flooding frequency, duration, equipment operability, and much more.  Knowing and understanding the soil type of the property that you are working on can be a tremendous help. For information about ordering or obtaining information about reference copies (CD-ROM or paper copy), contact: tx-nrcs-soils@tx.usda.gov. You can also get soil data from the Web Soil Survey website at: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm.

Of course nothing beats actually visiting the site in person!  Use the above mentioned tools to get an idea of what you may encounter at the site, and use that information to help you plan your road layout.

For more information on forest road and other BMPs visit the Texas Forest Service webpage at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/water, contact me at (903) 297-3910.

* This article was published in the August 2009 issue of the Texas Logger