1. Strategies to Reduce P Loading and Sedimentation on Forestry Operations in Vermont
First few slides will provide some background information on what we do know about P loading and sedimentation from forestland and forest management activities.
I will then talk about the strategies and actions that we are employing to protect forest water quality on a state-wide basis as well as some projects that are specific to the LCB.

2. P Contribution From Forestland
Very little data on P content (Avg. 600 mg/kg)
Ag soils (2-3 times as high)
Lack of data on P contribution

3. What’s The Big Deal?
Lake Champlain - 16% of total P has been attributed to VT forestland
Small amount per unit area
66% of VT LCB is forested
State-wide (4.4 million acres – 75%)
First bullet: SWAT modeling (background P and P from forest management activities)
Conclusion: When you consider that forests predominate the landscape, it makes forests and forest management activities an important area of focus for reducing sediment and phosphorus loading to state waters.

4. How Does P Get to the Water?
High % of total P loss is associated with sediment
Reducing sediment will reduce P input
Sediment is the most common pollutant associated with timber harvesting.
Timber harvesting equipment, which drags or carries trees over the ground, will loosen and expose soil.
Any time soil is exposed, there is the potential for erosion and sedimentation to nearby streams and other bodies of water.
Reducing sediment from forest management activities is something that can be controlled.

6. AMP Revision - Key Highlights
Compliance with ANR Stream Alteration Rule and GP
New standards for sizing temporary stream crossing structures
New AMP to address hazardous materials
Enhanced stream buffer protection
Strengthened standards to better manage ditch water and surface water runoff on truck roads and skid trails on approaches to stream crossings
We are going to continue to work with loggers, landowners and foresters to ensure that the AMPs are properly implemented.
The AMPs are intended to prevent discharges of sediment, hazardous materials and logging slash; control soil erosion and maintain natural water temperatures.
Have been in effect since 1987.
Why revise? To provide better clarification and guidance that will lead to a higher level of water resource protection.

7. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) – Improving Water Quality in LCB
$16 5-year grant to improve water quality in LCB
Provides FA and TA ($357,000 for forestry practices)
Controlling soil erosion on logging trails
Improving stream crossings
Restoring forest riparian buffers along streams
Stabilizing erosion-prone soils.

8. Portable Skidder Bridge Initiative
Portable skidder bridges are considered a BMP for protecting water quality during logging - less stream channel disturbance compared to other alternatives such as culverts or fords.
More and more loggers are using PSBs as they realize the economic and environmental benefits
Programs & workshops

9. Education & Outreach
Need to have an effective enforcement program as well.

10. New Projects/Future Initiatives
LiDAR mapping of forest legacy roads
Incentive financing to reduce NPS risk

11. Keeping Forests as Forests
UVA/Forest Legacy
Land Trusts
Public Lands
An all-encompassing strategy is to keep forests as forests for all the benefits they provide, including clean water. That’s FPRs mission and mantra
Forests provide the cleanest water of any land use.
Research indicates that on a watershed scale, water quality impacts become evident when forest cover drops below 65%.
Forests are part of the solution for providing good water quality

12. Healthy Forest Cover Strategies
Maintain/enhance forest cover (65%)
Restore riparian forest buffers
Enhance urban forest cover (New Stormwater Regs)
Prepare for and mitigate impacts to forest cover from invasive tree pests (EAB, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, ALB)
Forest adaptation to climate change: Creating & Maintaining Resilient Forests in VT
Goal: no net-loss of forest cover.
New Stormwater Manual provides credits for reforestation and tree planting
13 actions to support these strategies in the Lake Champlain Implementation Plan.

13. Act 171 of 2016 Forest Integrity Study Committee
Potential revisions to Act 250 and Regional/Municipal planning
Protecting forests from fragmentation and promote habitat connectivity between forest lands

14. AMP Rule and Creating/Maintaining Resilient Forests in VT/Act 171
Final Lake Champlain TMDL Implementation Plan