By: Shane Harrington,
BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas
Forest Service
Q: I would like to know if there is any place that I can
visit in person to see “on the ground” applications of BMPs? I hear the term BMPs used a lot these days
but I am interested in actually seeing how they are used.
A: That is a really good question. Many people hear the term BMPs and may have
an idea of what they are but have never really seen them applied or applied
correctly.
Crushed
concrete was used to stabilize this road providing access during wet months.
The Texas Forest Service established BMP demonstration areas
during the mid 1990’s on the W. Goodrich Jones State Forest located in Conroe and the Kirby
State Forest
located between Kountze and Woodville. The purpose of these BMP demonstration
areas was to give loggers, landowners, and general public a chance to see
properly implemented BMPs. Original
demonstrations included a streamside management zone (SMZ), various types of
stream crossings, and water control structures (i.e. wing ditches, open top box
culverts, etc.).
During 2005 the Texas Forest Service decided to remodel and
update the BMP demonstration area on the Jones
State Forest
in Conroe. Many of the original BMPs that were installed
in the 90’s had deteriorated and were no longer visible. Many of the original BMP demonstrations were renovated
and new BMP demonstrations were added.
Renovation work consisted of remarking the SMZ, clearing brush away from
culvert crossings making the culverts visible again, and replacing the existing
signs with new ones which explain what BMP is being used and its purpose.
A highway entrance using large rocks and timber mats was
added showing how mud can be removed from tires before entering the
highway. Tracking mud onto the highway
can cause the roadway to become slick making it hazardous for other
motorists. Also a flat rail car was
placed across a stream demonstrating how it can be used as a bridge. Sometimes a stream is too large for a culvert
or other type of crossing and a bridge must be used and while there are several
options a flat rail car can provide a sturdy and safe crossing
alternative. Another new demonstration
is road stabilization using crushed concrete which will allow a road to be used
during wetter months. Also grass was
planted along other roadways showing how seeding roads can prevent or minimize
any erosion that may occur.
The guidelines and recommendations for using BMPs can be
found in the Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Handbook. You can get a copy of the handbook by
contacting your local Texas Forest Service office or view it online at
http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water. For more information regarding the BMP
demonstration area or BMPs in general please call me at (936) 639-8180
* This article was published in the May 2006 issue of the Texas Logger
The BMP handbook contains plenty of useful information including a helpful Culvert Sizing Chart. Using that chart, what size culvert would you need to drain a 50 acre tract that has medium soils and a slope greater than 15%?
