By: Shane Harrington, BMP Forester (Ret.), Texas Forest
Service
Q: In recent months the outbreak of
wildfires and the threat of wildfires occurring has been high. I want to protect my timber from a possible
wildfire by installing firelanes around my tract. Are there any BMPs that I should follow
during this project to prevent any impacts on water quality from occurring?
A: Installing firelanes around your timber
is a great way to protect your investment by reducing the threat of a possible
wildfire. Firelanes work by creating a
barrier and removing the available fuel source between adjoining stands or
tracts. By removing the fuel source
along these barriers aids in preventing a wildfire one stand or tract to another. However, it is important to remember that
there are potential impacts to water quality that can occur if caution is not
taken.
Guidelines for properly constructing and maintaining
firelanes can be found in the Texas Forest Service’s BMP Bluebook. These recommendations are designed to prevent
any unnecessary erosion form occurring thus minimizing the potential for
impacts on water quality.
Firelanes should be
constructed along the perimeter of the tract and follow the boundaries of
Streamside Management Zones. Locating these
barriers outside of SMZs will limit the amount of sedimentation that may
result. This will also protect the
litter and organic matter of the SMZ so it can continue to serve as a
filter.
To allow for proper
drainage and erosion control, waterbars and wing ditches should be installed in
a timely manner. Recommendations for
installing these devices can be found on pages 34 and 38 of the BMP
Bluebook. These recommendations include
how to properly build waterbars, proper spacing for waterbars, and specifications
on properly installing wing ditches. When
installing wing ditches, make sure that the runoff water is not being
discharged directly into streams.
Regular maintenance on
firelanes is necessary to avoid potential erosion problems. This includes periodic inspections,
especially after heavy rains, to make sure that they are still functioning
properly and are not washed out. Mowing,
rather than blading, is the preferred type of maintenance because it minimizes the
amount of exposed mineral soil. Care
should be taken when blading is the only option.
Implementing these
control structures can be very costly when using heavy machinery. For economical as well as environmental
reasons, it is important to only build firelanes as wide and deep as necessary. Woody debris and other flammable material
should be kept away from firelanes.
These objects can ignite, creating a pathway for the fire to spread into
SMZs or adjoining lands. If you have a
question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.
* This article was published in the July 2006 issue of the Texas Logger
