2. Alabama Best Management Practices for Forestry

3. Alabama’s Best Management Practices for Forestry “… are voluntary guidelines to help maintain and protect the physical chemical and biological integrity of waters of the state.”

4. BMPs are Designed to reduce and/or prevent NPS Pollution. Sediment (loose soil particles) Organic materials (tree tops and limbs) Temperature (caused by the removal of shade) Trash Pesticides and Nutrients (herbicides & fertilizers) Sediment (loose soil particles) Organic materials (tree tops and limbs) Temperature (caused by the removal of shade) Trash Pesticides and Nutrients (herbicides & fertilizers)

5. Responsibility Landowners Forest resource managers Timber purchasers Loggers Vendors Landowners Forest resource managers Timber purchasers Loggers Vendors “… all those involved in the authorization, planning and implementation of forestry operations.”

6. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

7. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1. Streamside Management Zones

8. Other names for Streamside Management Zones (SMZs): Leave Strips Buffer Zones Wildlife Corridors Riparian Zones Hardwood Stringers Leave Strips Buffer Zones Wildlife Corridors Riparian Zones Hardwood Stringers

9. Streamside Management Zones Things to Consider: Things to Consider: Width should vary (min. 35 feet) Protect from destabilization Maintain shade and organic recruitment Maintain forest floor Control: logging debris, mech. operations, pesticides, fertilizers, trash Width should vary (min. 35 feet) Protect from destabilization Maintain shade and organic recruitment Maintain forest floor Control: logging debris, mech. operations, pesticides, fertilizers, trash

10. SMZ Illustration

11. Harvesting in a SMZ should be done so as to protect the forest floor & understory veg. from damage.

12. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

13. 2. Stream Crossings Avoid crossing streams if possible Use the fewest number as possible Locate and construct with least damage Install at right angles to stream Remove temporary crossings Stabilize and maintain permanent crossings Avoid crossing streams if possible Use the fewest number as possible Locate and construct with least damage Install at right angles to stream Remove temporary crossings Stabilize and maintain permanent crossings

14. Log Crossings

15. Culverts Make fill over a culvert the high spot in the crossing. Use adequate size

16. Proper Installation Is Critical Place culvert on stream bottom; do not dig out Culvert should have 2- 3% pitch downstream Compact lower half of fill during installation Provide for stream overflow away from culvert fill to prevent blowouts Place culvert on stream bottom; do not dig out Culvert should have 2- 3% pitch downstream Compact lower half of fill during installation Provide for stream overflow away from culvert fill to prevent blowouts

17. Forded Stream Crossings

18. A geoweb ford, when properly installed can be a good alternative to a culvert in the right situation.

19. Bridges create the least disruption to stream flow

20. Portable bridges can be used for temporary stream crossings

21. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

22. 3. Forest Roads Proper planning and location is key Avoid problem areas Minimize soil exposure Stabilize exposed soil Close temporary roads Maintain permanent roads DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE Proper planning and location is key Avoid problem areas Minimize soil exposure Stabilize exposed soil Close temporary roads Maintain permanent roads DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE Ex: Crowned road

23. Turnout ditches should be installed 3% slope = 235’ 5% slope = 180’ 10% slope = 140’ 15% slope = 125’ 3% slope = 235’ 5% slope = 180’ 10% slope = 140’ 15% slope = 125’

24. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

25. 4. Timber Harvesting Develop a harvesting plan Location of landings Felling direction Proper skid trails Harvesting system Trash disposal Develop a harvesting plan Location of landings Felling direction Proper skid trails Harvesting system Trash disposal Things to Consider:

26. Selecting the right harvesting system is critical

27. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

28. 5. Reforestation /Stand Management

29. 5. Reforestation Stand Mgt. includes recommendations on: Mech. site prep (subsoiling on contour) Chemical site prep (follow label) Prescribed burning (stabilize firelines) Tree planting (machine planting should be done on contour)

30. Mech. site prep (subsoiling on contour)

31. Prescribed burning (stabilize firelines)

32. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

33. 6. Forested Wetland Mgt.

34. There are 7 Individual BMPs 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization 1.Streamside Management Zones 2.Stream Crossings 3.Forest Roads 4.Timber Harvesting 5.Reforestation /Stand Management 6.Forested Wetland Mgt. 7.Revegetation/Stabilization

35. 7. Revegetation / Stabilization. includes recommendations on: Site preparation Applying limestone & fertilizer Plant species recommendations Mulching Vegetative establishment Site preparation Applying limestone & fertilizer Plant species recommendations Mulching Vegetative establishment

36. 7. Revegetation / Stabilization.

37. QUESTIONS?