December BMP Q&A

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

Q:   I was signed up for the BMP Forest Roads workshop in Jefferson back in October, but it was cancelled.  I was wondering if you have any information about BMPs for forest roads.

A:   First off, I’m sorry we had to cancel the BMP Forest Roads workshop in Jefferson.  We did not get enough people to sign up for that course.  We may try to schedule another workshop next spring or summer, but we need your support to make these workshops in NE Texas work. Secondly, in the August issue I wrote about several tools which should be used when available to help aid you in the planning process.  Most of these tools are available at little or no cost to you.  In the September issue, I listed several factors to consider when planning your forest road layout.  Last month I addressed the construction phase for new forest roads. This month I will be wrapping up the forest roads article series with a few pointers on road maintenance/repair.

Proper maintenance/repair of permanent forest road access systems is vitally important to all logging and land management activities.  Road systems should be kept in serviceable/usable condition to minimize erosion by controlling rainfall runoff.  Keeping road systems in serviceable/usable condition has several benefits including decreasing down time caused by impassable roads and reducing impacts to water quality.

When possible, restrict traffic on roads during wet weather conditions.  If roads must be used in wet conditions, consider using materials such as wooden mats, gravel, and geo-textile fabrics to protect the road surface from damage.  Haul only during dry weather in normally wet areas, erodible soils, or on roads with a gradient of more than 10%.  Close or restrict traffic flow following maintenance/repair activities on sensitive permanent or temporary roads to allow them time to stabilize, re-vegetate, and heal over before using again.

Inspect road systems at regular intervals to detect and correct any maintenance/repair issues.  Check to make sure that road surfaces are crowned or outsloped to dissipate surface runoff.  Ensure that all ditches and culverts are free from siltation, logging debris, brush, and other obstructions to allow unrestricted passage of water.  Keep road surfaces free of obstructions, ruts, and logging debris which may restrict water flow from the road surface.  Re-work road surfaces to remove ruts when the average rut depth exceeds 6 inches over a distance of more than 50 feet, or when erosion damage may occur from hauling operations.  Care should be taken to avoid creating a “below grade” road when re-working the road surface.

When all forestry activities have been completed re-work the road surface if necessary. Ensure all drainage systems are open, and seed all areas of bare soil on and along the road system which are subject to excessive erosion.  Close or retire any roads which are not currently in use, and periodically inspect them to ensure their integrity.

These are just a few of the guidelines that should be considered while maintaining/repairing forest road systems.  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 December 2009 issue of the Texas Logger

The Texas Water Source - November 2009

November Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Harvest Expectations and BMPs
• Local Forest Landowner Association
• Agency Spotlight: Natural Resources Conservation Service - Helping People Help the Land
• NRCS Technical Assistance
• Texas Statewide Assessment
• Your Local NRCS Office

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

BMP Trivia Question

Existing forest roads that were constructed in the past are often called "Legacy Roads." Because the science and understanding of Best Management Practices was not as evolved then as it is now, these roads can be very problematic to use, maintain, or upgrade. Can you think of three factors that might be considered "red flags" when deciding whether or not to use a Legacy Road?

(Note: Legacy road considerations are discussed in the Texas Forest Service's "Road BMPs" Workshop - visit the Texas Forestry Association website for a schedule of course offerings)

Click on "comments" below and post your answers.

The Texas Water Source - September 2009

September Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• BMP Educational Efforts in Texas
• Is Your Logger a “Pro?”
• Agency Spotlight: Overview of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Complaints to TCEQ
• Giant Salvinia on Caddo Lake
• Your Local BMP Forester

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