October Issue of the BMP Informer Now AvailableFriday, October 1, 2004
October BMP Q&A
By: Shane
Harrington, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service
Generally
there is a since of urgency when it comes to harvesting timber in a salvage
operation because damaged trees are more susceptible to insects and disease,
lowering their economic value. It is
still important to implement BMPs during these situations. BMPs are effective in preventing or reducing erosion, allowing your
land to be managed in a sustainable manner.
Following are a few recommendations to consider while conducting a
salvage operation.
Q: I am a logger in Southeast
Texas and for the past few weeks I have been watching the hurricanes slam the
East Coast. The possibility of a
hurricane causing damage to timber here in East Texas is not too
far-fetched. Even more damage can be
caused here by wildfires, wind, and Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks that could
happen at anytime. Do I still need to
follow BMP guidelines during salvage operations when I am trying to get the
timber out as quickly as possible?
A:
Great
question. Timber can sustain a lot of
damage from events such as hurricanes, wildfires, and Southern Pine Beetle
outbreaks. Hopefully we will not have
any widespread timber damage here in East Texas. However, if you find yourself conducting a
salvage operation after such an event BMPs should be implemented just as if it
were a normal harvest operation.
Prior
to the salvage operation, the ground should be inspected to ensure that it is
stable enough to support heavy machinery.
Often times after an event such as a hurricane, tropical storm, or even
an East Texas thunderstorm, the soil is saturated and operating heavy machinery
on these soils can cause rutting.
Rutting creates channels for water flow, which can lead to widespread
soil movement. This reduces site
productivity, decreases tree growth and financial returns, and impacts water
quality. Firelanes installed to control
wildfires should be cleaned up and stabilized with the proper water control
structures to prevent additional erosion.
Streamside
Management Zones (SMZs) should be visibly marked and all operations within the
SMZ should be kept to a minimum. It may
be necessary to flag the SMZ for greater visibility, because it is sometimes
difficult for machine operators to see the original painted line with the
additional debris on the ground. All
roads, skid trails, decks, and firelanes should be located outside the
SMZ. Removal of any felled timber within
the SMZ should be done by dispersed skidding or by cable retrieval. This is done to prevent damaging the
filtering capabilities of the SMZ and to keep the forest floor virtually
undisturbed. Remember, even in salvage
operations, 50 square feet of basal area should be left in the SMZ. Try to leave trees that have not been too
severely damaged.
Personal
safety should also be stressed when conducting a salvage operation. Treetops and limbs may be left dangling above
the ground and could cause serious injury to ground personnel. It is also important to be aware of machine
operators, especially when visibility is impaired from excessive debris.
For
other recommendations regarding BMPs and salvage operations please refer to the
Texas Forest Service BMP Bluebook. If
you do not have a copy of the Bluebook you can obtain a copy from your local Texas
Forest Service office or online at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water. If you have any questions or comments
regarding BMPs please call me at (936) 639-8180.
* This article was published in the October 2004 issue of the Texas Logger
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
BMP Trivia Question
Sunday, August 1, 2004
August BMP Q&A
By: Shane Harrington, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service
First
of all lets look at why trees should be felled away from a stream. The reason we recommend doing this is to
minimize the chance or amount of logging debris that can enter a stream during
a harvest operation within a Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). The problem with debris entering a stream is
that if enough of it is deposited, a dam can form. When a stream becomes blocked the water has
nowhere to go, so it begins to back up on itself. This can cause flooding of the surrounding
land and eventually the stream will create a new channel around the dam. Now not only do you have logging debris in
the stream but also a large amount of dirt from the newly formed channel. The
sedimentation that has occurred not only impacts aquatic wildlife, but also raises
treatment costs to make the water suitable for human consumption. The Bluebook recommends that trees that can
only be felled across a stream or into a stream should not be harvested.
Q: Recently a landowner asked
me why I left trees along the stream bank and why the trees I cut were
directionally felled away from the stream.
I really did not have a good answer for him because this is the way that
I was always taught. A friend of mine
told me that I should send this question in to get an answer as to why we do
this. Can you give me a good answer for
these questions so next time, I will be able to give the landowner a better
answer?
A: This is a very good
question and thanks to your friend for recommending that you send this in. Many people may be like you and only do this
because that is what they grew up doing or was taught.
First
of all lets look at why trees should be felled away from a stream. The reason we recommend doing this is to
minimize the chance or amount of logging debris that can enter a stream during
a harvest operation within a Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). The problem with debris entering a stream is
that if enough of it is deposited, a dam can form. When a stream becomes blocked the water has
nowhere to go, so it begins to back up on itself. This can cause flooding of the surrounding
land and eventually the stream will create a new channel around the dam. Now not only do you have logging debris in
the stream but also a large amount of dirt from the newly formed channel. The
sedimentation that has occurred not only impacts aquatic wildlife, but also raises
treatment costs to make the water suitable for human consumption. The Bluebook recommends that trees that can
only be felled across a stream or into a stream should not be harvested.
Why
should trees be left along the stream bank?
The answer to this question is much like the answer to the previous
question. When trees along a stream bank
are harvested, the bank may become unstable.
When the root system of the tree dies the bank will begin to sluff off
or erode into the stream channel. Before
removing the trees from the stream bank the soil was held in place by the root
system of the trees. The excessive
amount of sedimentation will have an immediate impact on the stream. The soil moving into the stream could
potentially dam up the stream much like logging debris can with the result being
the same.
Not
only does the removal of bank trees cause the stream bank to become unstable
but it also reduces the amount of shade that once covered the stream
channel. This increases the water
temperature of the stream, making it hard for fish and other aquatic species to
live in the stream. The removal of bank
trees will also increase the flood plain of that particular stream. A stream that was unlikely to flood during
the winter months will probably now flood covering a greater area of the surrounding
lands. The Bluebook recommends that
trees found along the stream bank should be left to provide shade and to
stabilize the stream bank.
Remember
that harvesting within an SMZ is acceptable as long as 50ft2 of
basal area is left in the SMZ. If you
are not familiar with basal area the Texas Forest Service has a chart on its
website that will aid you in determining basal area or you can leave 50% crown
cover and achieve the 50ft2 of basal area. If you need a copy of the Bluebook you can
get one from your local TFS office or view it online at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water. If you have any questions or comments
regarding BMPs please call me at (936) 639-8180.
* This article was published in the August 2004 issue of the Texas Logger
Thursday, July 1, 2004
BMP Trivia Question
In Texas, the use of Best Management Practices is voluntary, except when operating in a Jurisdictional Wetland. List any five of the fifteen mandatory road BMPs that must be followed during a silvicultural operation in a wetland.1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
Click on "comments" below and post your answers.
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
June BMP Q&A
By: Shane Harrington, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest Service
Q: I own a tract of timber
that has several streams running through it and I am planning on cutting the
tract in the near future. Although I
have heard of Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) I know very little about them. Do all streams need these SMZs and if not how
do you tell which streams do?
A: This is a very good
question. To start with not all streams
need an SMZ left along the stream bank.
Streams are divided into three groups (perennial, intermittent, or
ephemeral) based on the amount of time during the year that water flows through
it. The Texas Forest Service recommends
that a 50-foot SMZ be left along side perennial and intermittent streams. Professional judgment should be used on
ephemeral streams or drains. Sometimes
it can be hard to distinguish one type of stream from the other, especially in
transition zones where one type of stream is turning into another type. To help you in determining stream type, I
have listed some common characteristics for each stream type below.
A
perennial stream will flow at least 90% of the year and have a well-defined
channel. This channel will be winding or
sinuous and show evidence of soil and debris movement. Water pools will be present, even during dry
conditions. High water marks are
sometimes noticed along the stream, as well as wetland vegetation, such as
mosses, ferns, and some woody species.
Gray soils with red specks are associated with these types of
streams. Remember that the Texas Forest
Service recommends leaving a minimum width of 50 feet on either side of
perennial streams.
An
intermittent stream will flow at least 30% of the year and this is usually
during the winter months. Intermittent
streams also have a well-defined channel that is winding or sinuous. The channel will also show evidence of soil
and debris movement from one part of the stream to another. Water pools are only present during wet
conditions and high water marks along with wetland vegetation will occur in
these areas. Intermittent streams
usually have brown soils with gray soils mixed in. Again the Texas Forest Service recommends
leaving a minimum width of 50 feet on either side of intermittent streams.
An
ephemeral stream or drain only flows during or shortly after rain events. These streams do not always have well-defined
channels because they are short lived.
Ephemeral streams are generally always straight, lack water pools, and
high water marks and wetland vegetation are not found. The soils in this area are usually
characteristic of the surrounding lands.
The Texas Forest Service recommends that professional judgment be used
in determining whether or not an SMZ should be left along ephemeral
streams. Some may choose to leave a
small SMZ or stringer along an ephemeral stream while others may choose not to
leave one.
SMZs
are very important in protecting our streams from increased temperatures,
excessive erosion, and provides habitat for various species of wildlife. SMZs can be thinned in order to remove some
of the economic value, however it is important to leave a minimum of 50 square
feet of basal area, evenly distributed.
Senate Bill 977 can help reduce the financial burden of leaving an
SMZ. If any debris from the thinning of
an SMZ should end up in the stream, it should be removed immediately to prevent
the stream flow from becoming blocked.
The
recommendations for SMZs as well as other BMPs can be found in the
Bluebook. If you need a copy of the
Bluebook you can get one from your local Texas Forest Service office or you can
view it online at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water. If you have any questions or comments about
BMPs please feel free to call me at (936) 639-8180.
* This article was published in the June 2004 issue of the Texas Logger
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