May BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   A network of drainage ditches and canals have been set up throughout the low lying areas of Southeast Texas to function in flood control. Normally, when I am harvesting a tract of timber that borders one of these structures, I protect this waterway with a Streamside Management Zone (SMZ). Recently, I have been asked by the Drainage District on any future harvests to cut up to the banks. This practice assists the district in maintaining these devices. Does this go against the state recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs)? Is there anything I should be aware of when carrying out their request?

A:   I am glad you asked this question. The flat topography that is typical of this area is also sometimes associated with soils that have poor drainage, causing water to pond. Drainage ditches and canals are important tools that can reduce the potential threat from flooding in Southeast Texas. Without these structures, millions of dollars in financial losses could be expected from frequent rain events. Can you imagine the impact Tropical Storm Allison would have had if these devices were not installed?

The Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Bluebook states that “SMZs for man-made drainage ditches should be established if appropriate”. You are to be commended for doing this on your previous harvests. These areas are a little different from springs, creeks, rivers, and other waterbodies in the fact that they are not naturally occurring and their primary use is for flood control. The main objective of BMPs is to protect water quality, so this should always be a consideration when working adjacent to these areas.

After discussing this issue with the drainage district, I understand their reasoning. Sometimes when timber is left along the banks, falling trees or limbs can impede water flow. When this happens, a greater impact to water quality can occur. Removing this debris is very costly and labor intensive, and also slows the implementation of the district’s BMPs. These guidelines, approved by the EPA and TNRCC, require them to re-slope their structures and provide plantings and mulch cover to prevent erosion and stream degradation.

Cutting all the way up to the banks at the request of the drainage district on man-made drainage structures would not be against the voluntary state BMPs. However, certain practices should be followed when conducting forestry activities adjacent to these ditches and canals. It is important that logging and site preparation debris is kept out of these devices and that soil disturbance is minimized in these areas. Bedding operations and other activities should not channel runoff water into these waterways. All herbicide and fertilizer applications should ensure that chemicals remain on site and out of waterbodies. Canal crossings should be avoided unless they are critical and can be installed properly.

This practice should only be conducted on man-made drainage structures and at the request of the local drainage district. Coordination with the district on the timing of harvest and re-sloping of the ditches or canals is crucial. Water quality can be impacted if there is a long time period between these activities. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the May 2002 issue of the Texas Logger

 

April BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I have installed several culverts that have blown out this winter due to high rain events. Last month you mentioned a workshop for county commissioners and road crews that talked about proper culvert sizing and installation? I would like to know how I can prevent my culverts from blowing out, but question whether they should be installed to withstand a 5 inch rain. Is this reasonable? What can I do?

A:   Sorry to hear about your culverts blowing out. Culverts can be used as effective stream crossings, but when they fail, they can be very costly to replace, not mentioning the time it takes to reinstall them, but also the extra sediment that reaches the stream channel. This is why it is so important that proper culvert sizing and installation techniques are used.

It may seem as if a 5 inch rain is not a common occurrence in East Texas and would be hard to plan for, but in all actuality this is not as rare as you might think. This type of rain event does occur, especially in the last couple of years. Installing best management practices (culverts, waterbars, wing ditches, etc.) to safeguard against larger storm events would not be economically feasible and even the best structures would fail during natural disasters.

Before installing culverts, it is important to know the soil type, slope, and how big your drainage area is so you can properly size your culvert. Soils information can easily be found using a soil survey. Topographic maps can help you determine the slope and drainage area of the tract that you are working. To calculate the drainage area, use a topographic map to locate hill tops and decide which way runoff water will drain through a particular point (stream crossing). On a standard 1: 24000 USGS topographic map, one square inch equals 90 acres.

Once you have determined the soil type, slope, and drainage area, you can use a culvert sizing chart to assist you with selecting the right culvert. This chart is found on page 50 of the Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Handbook. Make sure that you buy a long enough pipe so that at least 1 foot extends on each side past the fill material.

Place the culvert in a firm, straight section of the stream channel on a 1-2% downgrade to prevent clogging. There should always be at least one foot of cover to help anchor culverts in and protect them from being damaged by traffic. A general rule of thumb to follow is one foot of fill per one foot of culvert diameter. It may also be necessary to install rip rap, geo-textile cloth, or large stone at the inlet and outlet to reduce erosion and washouts. The approaches to the crossing should be straight and at right angles to the streambed.

Frequent inspections and proper maintenance needs to be performed on all culvert crossings to ensure that they are safe and functional. A clogged or damaged culvert is very susceptible to blowing out under normal rainfall. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the April 2002 issue of the Texas Logger

March BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I am a road building contractor that works mainly on company forestland in Southeast Texas. My employers have developed standards and requirements that I must meet regarding BMPs and protecting water quality when I operate. This sometimes includes extensive training. Do county commissioners and road crews have to undergo a similar process when constructing or maintaining public roads?

A:   You bet! County commissioners are responsible for building or maintaining thousands of miles of roads every year, so they are constantly sending their crews to attend training. This training may include workshops that focus on new techniques, equipment, products, and safety procedures to implement when they are working.

The Texas Forest Service has even gotten involved in offering training to these groups. Ninety percent of all sedimentation (dirt getting into streams) occurs from road systems, clearly showing that erosion from these areas can pose a significant risk to water quality. This risk can be minimized by using Best Management Practices (BMPs), techniques designed to manage water effectively, during the road building process. In order to bring attention to this problem, we are providing water quality awareness training through the Texas Silvicultural Non Point Source Pollution Project.

These workshops are a partnership effort between the Texas Forest Service and local East Texas counties. The judge, county commissioners, and road crews all attend these meetings to get a better understanding of how our operations can impact water systems. These training sessions have already been held for Angelina, Nacogdoches, Upshur, and Morris Counties. Additional counties are being scheduled for future dates.

The workshop starts off with a general overview of the importance in protecting water quality. Every person places a demand on our water resources in one way or another, from drinking and bathing to recreational uses such as fishing or swimming. Impairing our water systems will drastically limit these uses for future generations. Participants understand that their actions in the field can have a direct impact on water quality.

Charles Snowden of the Natural Resources Conservation Services, follows with information regarding the major soil types found in East Texas. Understanding the different characteristics of soils is critical in determining equipment operability, flooding potential, erosion hazard, permeability, etc. Culvert sizing, based on a 5 inch rain, is another major point that is stressed to the group. Improper sizing of culverts can lead to blowouts, which can be very costly, waste time and impair water quality.

The Texas Logging Council Coordinator, Bob Currie, rounds out the agenda. Bob utilizes his expertise from his days with Currie Construction to talk about effective road building techniques. This includes everything from efficient ways to install BMPs to special tricks of the trade. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the March 2002 issue of the Texas Logger

February BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   Several months ago, you mentioned that having a pre harvest conference with the landowner was an important part of the planning process. These meetings allow you to know exactly what your client’s expectations are, as well as other pertinent information. Is there anything else that my company should be doing in the planning process of a harvest operation?

A:   There sure is! 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 will prove to be invaluable to your business. The following tools discussed below 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 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 road systems, estimating BMP costs, and also determining if a tract is suitable for wet weather harvesting. Blue line streams are also easily designated on these maps, taking some of the guesswork out of determining if a streamside management zone is needed. 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. Generally, a tract that has a sandy soil type coupled with moderate to steep topography will lead to increased BMP costs.






The Texas Forestry Best Management Practices Handbook is also another very important tool to use before conducting forestry activities. This manual contains recommended guidelines that will protect water quality during these operations. Specifications for road and skid trail construction, waterbar placement, culvert installation, SMZs, wetlands, and countless other topics are addressed. These books are available at any Texas Forest Service office. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the February 2002 issue of the Texas Logger

January BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I am interested in replanting my cutover timberland, but want to make sure that I follow all state recommended Best Management Practices. Mechanical site preparation was done on the contour several months ago and the site is ready to plant. What do I need to be aware of to ensure that water quality is protected during the planting operation?

A:   I am very glad to hear that you are interested in replanting your property. This act of good stewardship will allow you to receive a better return on your investment and help satisfy the ever-increasing demand for forest products. It will also aid in water quality protection. Senate Bill 977 and other key legislation have developed tax incentives to encourage reforestation, so make sure you take advantage of these new laws.

The potential threat from erosion and sedimentation is not as great in planting operations as it is in mechanical site preparation. A larger area is generally disturbed more intensively in the latter, therefore a higher risk to water quality is present. Several factors can influence the magnitude of this risk, mainly the amount of exposed soil, degree of slope, and type of soil.

Machine planting along the contour

Laying out your mechanical site preparation on the contour was an EXCELLENT thing to do! This practice reduces the amount of erosion that can occur on a site, because it functions as a terrace. When rainfall hits the top of a hill, the contours help slow down the runoff water. This allows any sediment that has been eroded away from the hillside to be deposited before it can reach a waterbody.

When planting, especially using a machine, it is important to continue to follow the contour of the land. By not doing this, you are increasing the possibility of erosion that may occur. Water will quickly flow down a furrow, washing out the soil in these rows. Skid trails, temporary roads, and other woods roads that are no longer needed should be planted through.

Streamside Management Zones should always be clearly designated so that they are protected from site preparation and planting operations. These areas function as filters for streams and creeks, so minimal disturbance from equipment is recommended.

During these silvicultural processes, water control devices (culverts, waterbars, wing ditches, etc.) may become damaged. It is important to avoid this if possible, but in the event that it occurs, repairs should be made immediately. Reasonable attempts should be made to stabilize any erosion that results.

Any trash (fluids, equipment parts, paper and plastic products, etc.) that is associated with these activities should be hauled to a legal waste disposal site. Equipment fluids need to be caught in containers and disposed of in accordance with state and manufacturer regulations. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

* This article was published in the January 2002 issue of the Texas Logger

December BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I just met with a landowner in a pre harvest conference and found out that he had a forestry water quality management plan (FWQMP). I also heard a radio commercial discussing this topic the very same day. What exactly is a FWQMP? Will this effect the way I conduct my harvest operations?

A:   First, I would like to commend you for having a pre-harvest conference with the landowner. This is an important part of the planning process and can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. In this meeting, you will know exactly what the landowner’s goals and objectives are for the operation, as well as find out important information on the tract that you will be working (streams, sensitive areas, property lines, area to be cut, road systems, etc). All parties are usually satisfied with the results of the harvest if one of these meetings is held.

The demands on Texas’ water supplies are constantly increasing due to our explosive population growth. We all need it to drink, cook, wash, and to enjoy recreational activities, so everyone is responsible for conserving and protecting water quality. Forest landowners now have another tool to assist them in this process.

A forestry water quality management plan is a management plan (a written document that outlines a course of action for a specified time period) that contains specific recommendations about using Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent erosion and protect water quality. The Texas Forest Service in cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Natural Resource Conservation Service are promoting these plans to landowners.

These plans, introduced by the 73rd Texas legislature in Senate Bill 503, allow landowners to manage their land according to their own personal goals and stay in compliance with the state’s water quality objectives. This bill also amends the Water Code to grant certified forestry water quality management plans the same legal status as a Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission point source pollution permit. In order to receive this protection, WQMPs must be certified by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. This is a simple process and at any time the landowner is able to drop out of the program.

As a logger, you have the responsibility to help a landowner carry out his plan when harvesting timber. This is important because WQMPs mention the necessity of following all state recommended BMPs during forestry activities. In doing this, you are ensuring that the landowner is meeting his objectives and protecting water quality at the same time. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

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

November BMP Q&A

By: Hughes Simpson, BMP Forester, Texas Forest Service

Q:   I just received a copy of a Texas BMP Monitoring Checklist in the mail the other day from the Texas Forest Service regarding one of my logging operations. Would you give me an overview of this program, the number of inspections you have completed so far, and how well the forestry community is doing in following the recommended BMP guidelines?

A:   Sure! The Texas BMP compliance monitoring program is currently in the fifth round. Evaluations are conducted throughout East Texas not only to determine if BMPs are being followed, but also to see if they are functioning properly. The data that is collected is compiled into a formal report and analyzed. This information is extremely important because it shows how well voluntary efforts are protecting water quality.
The results that are gathered are used primarily for educational purposes only. In the event that a landowner is found to be violating forestry best management practices, recommendations will be made on how to correct the possible problems. No citation or fine will be issued.

This program requires the Texas Forest Service to monitor 150 sites every two years. Random selection of these sites is critical, and is achieved primarily through aerial detection of forestry operations. These sites may include any “normal” forestry activity (thinnings, clearcuts, site preparation, planting, etc.) and preferably have occurred within the last year.

The three major ownership groups that are targeted through these evaluations are public (mainly National Forests), industry (International Paper Company, Louisiana Pacific Corporation, and Temple Inland Forests), and private landowners. Before any BMP evaluation is conducted, permission must be granted by the landowner.

Ninety forestry sites have already been evaluated in this current round of BMP compliance monitoring. The breakdown of these sites show that 9 are under public ownership, 40 are owned by private landowners, and 41 have occurred on industry land.

Significant improvements have been made (so far) since the last round of monitoring achieved the highest ever BMP compliance (88.6%) in the program’s existence. Public ownership (97.9%) led the way last round, followed by industry (94.2%) and the private landowner (81.2%). An increase in all ownership groups, most notably the private landowner, has led to an early compliance rate in the low 90s.

What can you do to improve your BMP compliance? Statistical analysis shows that loggers that have attended the BMP training workshop score higher on the random evaluations. Familiarizing landowners that you come in contact with on the importance of protecting water quality is also another great way to do this. If you have a question regarding BMPs, please call me at (936) 639-8180.

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