Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo 2014 – Lone Star College – Montgomery Campus

Bring your family to an educational and fun event this spring! Learn about the land you live on in Texas, while having a great time outside on Lone Star College’s beautiful Montgomery Campus.

Five zones exist throughout the event; each with several hands on activities for adults and young ones. Topic specific demonstrations will occur throughout the day in the five exciting zones. These zones include: Trees, Community, Water, Wildlife, Heritage, and Adventure. The Texas A&M Forest Service will have booths in the Heritage, Trees, Community, and, of course, Water zones.  Please come by and meet Donna Work and myself with any BMP or water quality questions you may have. Donna and I will be explaining the importance of forests to improve water quality in Texas. Our groundwater recharge model and SMZ Model bring The Texas A&M Forest Service’s Best Management Practices Handbook to life. We will also have fun games where your family can learn about water related soils and critters that live in the water.Hope to see you there!

This is a FREE event. No registration required. This event is put on by Lone Star College Montgomery, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Montgomery County Beautification Association, and the Texas A&M Forest Service. For more information about the expo please visit expo.tamu.edu

March 22, 2014 – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Lone Star College Montgomery Campus

3200 College Park Dr, Conroe, TX 77384

If you have any questions about this event please contact me: Kristen Wickert at 713-688-1248 or by email at kwickert@tfs.tamu.edu

Field Day for land owners of small acreage tracts

Peach Creek Plantation, located inside the Sam Houston National Forest, is hosting a field day for landowners of small tracts. Thirteen experts on managing land in Texas will ride along with landowners on a hay ride around the Peach Creek property. There will be several stops along the ride where the experts will address their respective topics at corresponding locations on the property. After the tour, landowners will able to meet and greet with the experts one on one; where the experts can share more insight, materials, and handouts.

Topics covered will include:

·         Wildlife habitat

·         Nuisance animals

·         Reforestation and planting

·         Water quality and erosion

·         Pond construction

·         Implementing your forest/wildlife management plans

·         Managing for aesthetics – Native plants

·         Tax valuation

·         Timber theft prevention and contracts

Please pack a picnic lunch.  Some refreshments provided by POA.

Please register for free for this event with Penny Whisenant at pwhisenant@tfs.tamu.edu  or call 936-273-2261

The event starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday February 15^th and ends around 1:00 PM.

Peach Creek Plantation – Big Buck Pavilion

3615 N. Duck Creek Road, Cleveland, TX 77328

Event signs with directions will be present along adjacent roads.

Big Buck Pavilion Coordinates:   30°19’35.42”N     95°13’30.82”W

Crushed Concrete on the Jones State Forest

While more expensive than seeding, armoring a road surface with rock is an excellent way to prevent erosion and improve access, especially on roads that remain wet for long periods of time, experience heavy traffic, or are prone to erosion.  A popular rock to use is crushed concrete.  When structures such as roads and buildings that are made of concrete are demolished, it has become common practice to take this concrete and crush it for reuse.  After the concrete has been crushed, magnets remove any steel such as rebar that may be present.  The final product is a hard, granular aggregate that is composed of sand, gravel, and crushed stone. 

Crushed concrete is often cheaper than using natural rock aggregate since it is a byproduct of demolition.  Crushed concrete stabilizes relatively quickly once it is applied to the road creating a firm road surface.  Just as with using other rock material for roads, crushed concrete drains faster than if the road was left with its natural dirt surface, reducing the potential for rutting in the road. 

This week, 118 tons of crushed concrete was spread out on a section of road in the Jones State Forest in Conroe, Texas by TFS Resource Specialists Mike Adams and Ray Uballe.  The section of road where the crushed concrete was distributed is just one stop on the best management practices (BMP) tour down on the Jones.  The tour consists of various BMPs that have been put into application so visitors can not only learn about these BMPs, they can also see them in use. 



 Resource Specialist Ray Uballe spreads the crushed concrete following the delivery of the material

 


Resource Specialist Mike Adams smoothes the newly applied crushed concrete

  







 

  







 



New BMP Demonstration on the Jones State Forest

Texas Forest Service recently installed a new stream crossing demonstration on the W. Goodrich Jones State Forest in Conroe. The demonstration is part of the forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) demo tour that provides an opportunity for the forestry sector to see how properly installed BMPs look and function. The tour currently has 10 demonstration sites.

The crossing utilizes 3 portable bridgemats (4' x 16' x 8') made out of sturdy hardwood cants fastened together with threaded rods. The bridgemat crossing provides reliable access across Mill Set Gully and replaces a failing timber bridge. Bridgemat crossings are a readily-available and proven method of crossing streams and ditches in a ‘low-impact’ manner that protects water quality. They are simple to install, and can be easily removed and transported to another location after an operation is completed.

To learn more about this and other BMP demonstrations stop by the Jones State Forest, or visit our virtual BMP tour.

Jones State Forest Virtual BMP Tour

A “Virtual Tour” of the BMP demonstration areas on the W. Goodrich Jones State Forest in Montgomery County can be found on the TFS Water Resources Website (http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water). A link to the tour can be found by clicking on "Best Managment Practices" link on the homepage. The Forest Tours page provides you with on the ground examples of applying Best Management Practices.  The tour provides information on bridges, streamside management zones, wing ditches, culverts, and various types of road stabilization methods. The best part is you can check it out RIGHT NOW!

The Texas Water Source - May 2011

May Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Best Management Practices in Action
• Updates on Texas Wildfires
• Agency Spotlight: Texas Forestry Association
• American Tree Farm System
• Feral Hogs Can Affect Water Quality
• TFA Spring Tailgate Rally

BMP Informer - September 2006

September Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Jones State Forest BMP Demonstration Area
• Are You a Tree Farmer?
• Improving My Land Forest Roads and BMPs
• Where Can I Find? 
• Repairing Storm Damaged Streamside Management Zones
• Forestry Acronyms

May BMP Q&A

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

BMP Informer - August 2005

August Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Timber Sale Contract Basics
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land Streamside Management Zones
• Want to See Examples of BMPs at Work?
• Who Can Answer My BMP Questions?
• BMP Training Workshop Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

BMP Informer - July 2004

July Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• BMPs and Burning
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land - Woods Road Maintenance
• Timber Thieves Don’t Use BMPs!
• BMP Virtual Tour on TFS Website
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

BMP Informer - April 2003

April Issue of the BMP Informer Now Available

• Remember Your Forest After the Storm
• BMP Guidelines and Vendor Information
• Improving My Land - Woods Road Maintenance
• Timber Thieves Don’t Use BMPs!
• BMP Virtual Tour on TFS Website
• Looking for a Good Logging Contractor?

March BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I understand the importance of using Best Management Practices, but would like to see some actual field examples. We did this in the BMP training workshop and it was very helpful. Is there anywhere in East Texas that shows on the ground applications of BMPs that the public can view?

A:   You bet there is! The Texas Forest Service manages five state forests throughout East Texas, totaling 7,314 acres. Their primary function is to provide public education and sound forest management demonstrations. Two of these state forests, the W. Goodrich Jones and the John Henry Kirby, display the use of Best Management Practices for the protection of water quality from non-point source water pollution during forestry operations.

The W. Goodrich Jones State Forest is located in Conroe, approximately 1.5 miles west of Interstate 45 on FM 1488. This 1,733 acre forest contains examples of road BMPs and streamside management zones. Stream crossings are also shown in great detail, and include bridges, culverts, and low water crossings.

The John Henry Kirby State Forest is located on Highway 69, south of Warren in Tyler County. This 600 acre forest also has demonstrations of road construction and drainage, stream crossings, and even includes a wetlands designation.

These forests are open year round to the general public during daylight hours and provide an excellent educational opportunity to learn about protecting water quality. A wooden sign is used to mark each BMP example, describe the actual demonstration, and explain its function.

For those of you who do not have time to visit these areas, a virtual forest tour has been developed on the Internet. This tour includes topics that discuss road maintenance and stabilization, stream crossings, streamside management zones, culvert installations, and other useful BMPs. It can be accessed by visiting the Texas Forest Service’s webpage at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/water. All BMPs pictured have a description of how they work to protect water quality. You will find detailed instructions on how to properly install culverts. There are also before and after pictures of roadwork.

For more information on these state forests or to arrange an on the ground field tour for your group, contact the BMP office at (936) 639-8180. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please contact me.

* This article was published in the March 2001 issue of the Texas Logger