BMP Trivia Question

Streams are classified into 3 categories; perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral. Knowing the difference between these three categories can mean the difference in leaving an SMZ or not. Which of the following characteristics are fairly unique to intermittent streams?

A. Soils with gray colors down to a depth of 24 inches with a loamy to clay texture.
B. A channel that is almost always sinuous.
C. Evidence of leaf litter and/or small debris jams in the flow area.
D. Water pools absent during dry conditions but present during wet conditions. E. Considered “waters of the United States."

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September BMP Q&A

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

Q:   I ‘m getting ready to move onto a fairly large tract for a timber harvest.  This particular tract doesn’t have much in the way of an established road system, so I will be constructing most of the roads for the harvest.  The landowner wants me to make part of the road system a permanent road which he will be able to use for access to his tract in the future.  I anticipate that I will need to have at least 1 and maybe 2 material borrow sites to complete this permanent road as the landowner has requested.  What I would like to know if there any guidelines for road material sites that pertain to best management practices?

A:   This is a very good question.  We have written several articles in the past about road BMPs, but have not mentioned a whole lot about what should be done if there is a need to “borrow” materials from the site.  Deposits of surfacing, fill, and site stabilization materials located on the tract are an extremely important resource for forest management activities.  Excavation of these deposits represents a potential for nonpoint source pollution.  Proper planning, layout, maintenance, and reclamation are critical to ensure maximum utilization of materials while minimizing soil movement and impacts to water quality.

Carefully assess the tracts natural drainage patterns, soil types, slopes, and any adjacent streamside management zones (SMZ) to determine the best location, size, and shape of the needed material site.  Deposits covering large areas should be divided and worked in stages, maintaining a minimum size working area and accomplishing partial or complete reclamation of the disturbed area before moving on.  Avoid leaving large areas disturbed for extended periods, active or not.  Road material sites should not be located within an SMZ.  They should be located a minimum of 50 feet from the SMZ edge, but if they must be closer than 50 feet make sure to plan for control measures that will protect water quality.

While material sites are active; use settling basins, waterbars and/or terraces to slow runoff and disperse surface flow.  When extended periods of inactivity are expected, use temporary erosion control measures such as silt fences or straw bales to control surface runoff.  When possible, do site work during dry weather to eliminate excessive runoff and accelerated erosion of freshly disturbed areas.

Upon completion of pit operations and depletion of the deposit; redeposit and shape the overburden in a uniform layer over the pit area.  Make sure the pit has adequate drainage to prevent soil movement and stream sedimentation.  Finally, reclaim the site to aid the future use of the area and implement control measures to minimize surface runoff for each case.  Consider the area's slope, soil erosiveness, and capability to naturally revegetate and then fertilize and reseed all disturbed areas as needed.

For more information on forest road material site 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 2010 issue of the Texas Logger

The Texas Water Source - August 2010

August Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• Guidelines to Protect Soil and Water
• New Updates to Texas BMPs
• Agency Spotlight: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• TPWD and Water Quality
• Texas Surface Water Quality Standards
• BMP Fact Sheets On-line

August BMP Q&A

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

Q:   I have a tract of timber which was clearcut last fall.  The logger who harvested the tract did a bang up job on installing necessary BMPs where they were needed.  My consulting forester has recommended that I conduct a site preparation burn later this summer to prepare the site for planting.  The tract has a stream on it that usually runs for about 3 months in a typical year.  Are there any special BMPs in regards to prescribed burning that should be implemented to ensure the water quality of the stream is not adversely affected?

A:   Glad to hear that you were happy with the job your logger did in implementing BMPs where they were needed.  Prescribed burning can be a beneficial management tool when used properly with trained personnel. Site preparation burns are often the hottest type burn and can remove a substantial amount of the surface organic material. This type of burn would have the greatest potential for increased surface runoff or soil erosion, particularly on steeper slopes.  Use the following guidelines to help reduce the risks to water quality and soil erosion on your tract.

Site preparation burning creates the potential for soil movement.  A significant amount of soil movement can be caused by the preparation for the burns, i.e., firebreaks. Firebreaks should have water control structures that divert runoff away from water bodies in order to minimize erosion.  Site prep burns on steep slopes or highly erodible soils should only be conducted when they are absolutely necessary and should be as "cold" as possible.  Stabilize and revegetate firelines, if needed, on grades in excess of 5% or areas subject to accelerated erosion or known sensitive areas.

Firelines should be constructed on the perimeter of the burn area and along the boundary of the Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). The purpose of protecting the SMZ from fire is to safeguard the filtering effects of the litter and organic matter.  All efforts should be made to minimize the impact from site-prep burning within an SMZ.  Firelines should follow the guidelines established for logging trails and skid trails with respect to waterbars and wing ditches, and should be only as wide and as deep as needed to permit safe site preparation burns.  Firelines which may cross a drainage should be turned parallel to the stream or have a wing ditch or other structure allowing runoff in the line to be dispersed rather than channeled directly into the stream.

Finally, make plans to maintain your firelanes after the burn has been completed.  Firelanes on highly erodible sites or other problem areas should be inspected periodically to correct erosion problems by installing dips, wing ditches, waterbars, etc. and/or by seeding.  Mowing, rather than blading, should be used to maintain firelanes in order to avoid exposing mineral soil to potential erosion.

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 August 2010 issue of the Texas Logger

BMP Trivia Question

If you had an in-sloped haul road with a 14% grade that needs some sort of cross drainage to channel excessive runoff and reduce erosion, what would likely be the best BMP to implement?

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June BMP Q&A

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

Q:   I have recently purchased a tract of land for timber investment which was clear-cut by the previous owner last February.  My forester suggested we mechanically “site prep” the land to get ready for planting early next year.  Are there any precautions we should take in relation to forestry best management practices?

A:   The major problems associated with site preparation involve soil erosion and potential sedimentation from runoff.  The primary factors contributing to erosion from runoff are percent of area with exposed soil, degree of slope, and soil type.  Remember the following points in order to protect your stream and roads during the site prep operation:

In General:

Conduct earth moving activities along the contour of the land

• The boundaries of all streamside management zones (SMZs) should be clearly defined before beginning site prep activities.
• Plan ahead to minimize disturbance from equipment within the SMZ.
• Avoid intensive preparation on steep slopes and on this or highly erodible soils.
• Ripping, shearing, windrowing, and mechanical planting should follow the contour of the land.
• Provide water outlets on bedded or furrowed areas at locations that will minimize soil movement. Discharge water onto a vegetated surface.
• All reasonable attempts should be made to stabilize and repair erosion resulting from site preparation operations.
• All reasonable attempts should be made to avoid damaging existing water control devices such as culverts, waterbars, and wing ditches. Damage to any existing water control structures should be repaired immediately.

If you are planning chemical preparation:

• Always read and follow all guidelines on the manufacturer’s label before applying silvicultural chemicals.
• Carefully plan the application to avoid direct and indirect entry of chemicals into streams and impoundments.
• Avoid applying chemicals to vegetation protecting eroded slopes, gullies, drainages, and other fragile areas subject to erosion.
• Use a spray device capable of immediate shutoff.
• Should a spill occur, shovel a dike around the spill.  Use an absorbent material to soak up the spill.  Keep all spill fluids from flowing into streams or other water bodies.  Some spills will require notifying appropriate authorities.
• Before disposal, containers should be rinsed three times and rinsate should be applied in spray form to the treatment area. All containers should be disposed of in accordance with Manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you have any questions about site preparation BMPs or BMP’s in general please feel free to call me at (903) 297-3910 or email me at cduncan@tfs.tamu.edu.

* This article was published in the June 2010 issue of the Texas Logger

The Texas Water Source - May 2010

May Issue of the Texas Water Source Now Available

• What is a Wetland?
• BMPs for Forested Wetlands
• Agency Spotlight: River Authorities in Texas
• River Authorities in Texas
• Wetlands Reserve Program 
• Contact Information