1. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP’S)

2. 1972 CLEAN WATER ACT - AMENDED IN 1977
PRIMARY FEDERAL LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE PRACTICE OF FORESTRY
SECTION 404 (F) REQUIRES PERMITTING FOR DISCHARGE
OF FILL MATERIAL INTO WATERS OF U.S.
NORMAL SILV. ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TIMBER HARVESTING, MINOR DRAINAGE, PLOWING, SEEDING & CULTIVATING FOR PRODUCTION OF FY. PRODUCTS ARE EXEMPT

3. WATER QUALITY ACT OF 1987, SECTION 319
REGULATES NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTION FROM FORESTRY ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS HARVESTING, SITE PREPARATION & ROAD CONSTRUCTION

4. ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT
AUTHORIZES ADEM TO ESTABLISH & ENFORCE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, REGULATIONS & PENALITIES IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF STATE & WATER QUALITY LAWS
ADEM PROHIBITS DEGRATION OF THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF WATERS OF THE STATE

5. SILVICULTURAL NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS
SEDIMENT
ORGANIC MATERIALS
TEMPERATURE
TRASH
PESTICIDES
NUTRIENTS (FERTILIZERS)

6. SOURCES OF NON POINT POLLUTION
8% FROM SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
39% FROM AGRICULTURE
BUT, IMAGE OF FORESTRY BY GENERAL PUBLIC ISN’T GOOD
CONSTRUCTION OF FOREST ROADS & LANDINGS MAY CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH AS 90% TO SOIL EROSION

7. WATER QUALITY RESPONSIBILITY
LANDOWNERS AND/OR INVOLVED PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY PRACTITIONERS SUCH AS
FOREST RESOURCE MANAGERS
TIMBER PURCHASERS
LOGGERS
VENDORS OR CONTRACTORS
FOREST ENGINEERS
OTHERS

8. HOW TO MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY
ADEM ADVOCATES VOLUNTARY APPLICATION OF PREVENTATIVE TECHNIQUES, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMP’S)
WETLAND AREAS ARE THE EXCEPTION (PG )
PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO ROAD & STREAM CROSSINGS (PG. 16 & 17)
TREND IS TOWARD MANDATORY BMP’S

9. TIMBER HARVESTING BMP’S
ROAD & LANDING LOCATION
ROAD GRADES
WATER DIVERSION DEVICES
STREAM CROSSINGS
STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONES (SMZ’S)

10. ROAD & LANDING LOCATION
OLD ROAD MAY NOT BE IN BEST LOCATION
LOCATE ROAD EDGE & LOG DECKS AT LEAST 50’ FROM ANY FLOWING STREAM
MINIMIZE ROAD USE DURING WET WEATHER, PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO STREAMS
USE MULCH OR SOIL STABILIZING MATERIALS AT LOG DECK IF NECESSARY

11. ROAD GRADES MAINTAIN GRADE OF 10% OR LESS AVOID LONG CONTINUOUS GRADES
IF GRADE MUST BE EXCEEDED, USE WATER DIVERSION DEVICES

12. WATER DIVERSION DEVICES
REMOVE WATER AWAY FROM THE ROADWAY
DISPERSE WATER SO VOLUME & VELOCITY IS REDUCED
TURN OUT DITCHES
CULVERTS
BROAD-BASED DIPS
WATER BARS

13. INTERVAL BETWEEN STRUCTURES DEPENDS ON ROAD GRADIENT
TABLE 3, PAGE 10

14. TURNOUT DITCHES
DISPERSE WATER IN ROADSIDE DITCHES AWAY FROM ROAD BASE INTO SURROUNDING VEGETATION
LEAST COSTLY
AVOID “DAMS” AT END OF TURNOUT

15. CULVERTS MOVE WATER UNDER ROAD BEFORE
FLOW GAINS SUFFICIENT HEAD TO ERODE DITCH
PLACE ON 2-4%GRADE TO PREVENT
CLOGGING
CROSS ROAD AT 30 DEGREE ANGLE DOWN GRADE

16. BROAD-BASED DIPS
EFFECTIVE WAY TO DIVERT WATER OFF OF A PERMANENT ROAD WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH TRUCK OR SKIDDER TRAFFIC
OUTSLOPE OF 3%
DEPTH 9-15”
FILL WITH CRUSHED ROCK

17. WATER BARS
USED TO STABILIZE TEMPORARY ROADS & SKID TRAILS THAT WILL NO LONGER BE USED
TROUGH 2 FT. DEEP BY 4 FT. WIDE AT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE ACROSS THE ROAD
PILE EXCAVATED SOIL ON DOWNHILL SIDE OF WATER BAR

18. WATER BAR SPACING

19. TYPES OF WATER BARS
SHALLOW - CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO AND DURING LOGGING, TEMPORARY
DEEP - USE OF ROAD OR TRAIL IS FINISHED, PERMANENT

20. STREAM CROSSINGS AVOID WHENEVER POSSIBLE
EXPENSIVE TO CONSTRUCT & MAINTAIN
TIME CONSUMING TO INSTALL
MAJOR SOURCE OF SEDIMENTATION

21. WHEN YOU MUST CROSS A STREAM
FOLLOW MANDATORY FEDERAL BMP’S LISTED ON PAGES 16-17
CROSS AT RIGHT ANGLE TO STREAM
AVOID DAMMING
PREVENT ROAD DRAINAGE FROM ENTERING STREAM DIRECTLY
STABILIZE BANKS
CONSTRUCT ADEQUATE APPROACHES, 50’ STRAIGHT LINE

22. STREAM CROSSING OPTIONS
LOG CROSSINGS - HOLLOW OR SOLID LOGS IN SHALLOW CHANNELS; MUST BE REMOVED WHEN LOGGING IS COMPLETE
FORD - SHALLOW & FIRM STREAM BED; BANKS ARE LOW; STABILIZE APPROACH & STREAMBED WITH ROCK

23. STREAM CROSSING OPTIONS
CULVERTS - PROPER SIZE & INSTALLATION REDUCES WASHOUTS & WATER IMPOUNDMENTS
SHOULD EXTEND 1’ BEYOND THE FILL
CLEAN OUT REGULARLY
PAGE 7, TABLE 11 FOR RECOMMENDED DIAMETERS

24. STREAM CROSSING OPTIONS
PORTABLE BRIDGES - LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO STREAM FLOW

25. STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONES (SMZ’S)

26. SMZ’S VERY FRAGILE AREA ACT AS A NATURAL FILTER HARVESTING
PERENNIAL STREAM - PARTIAL CUT
INTERMITTENT - PARTIAL OR CLEARCUT
MINIMIZE MACHINE ACTIVITY
REMOVE ALL TOPS FROM STREAM

27. BEST MGT. PRACTICES COMPLIANCE
ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION DOES 1 RANDOM INSPECTION PER QUARTER OR WHENEVER A COMPLAINT IS FILED
ADEM DOES SAME
SOME STATES HAVE MANDATORY BMP’S; VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, MASS. (IN WETLANDS THEY ARE MANDATORY)