Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution from Forestry

Pointer No. 8
EPA841-F-96-004H

Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

Nearly 500 million acres of forested lands are managed for the production of timber in the United States. Although only a very small percentage of this land is harvested each year, forestry activities can cause significant water quality problems if improperly managed. The latest National Water Quality Inventory reports that forestry activities contribute to approximately 9 percent of the water quality problems in surveyed rivers and streams.

Sources of NPS pollution associated with forestry activities include removal of streamside vegetation, road construction and use, timber harvesting, and mechanical preparation for the planting of trees. Road construction and road use are the primary sources of NPS pollution on forested lands, contributing up to 90 percent of the total sediment from forestry operations. Harvesting trees in the area beside a stream can affect water quality by reducing the streambank shading that regulates water temperature and by removing vegetation that stabilizes the streambanks. These changes can harm aquatic life by limiting sources of food, shade, and shelter.

Preharvest Planning: Opportunities to Prevent NPS Pollution

To limit water quality impacts caused by forestry, public and private forest managers have developed and followed site-specific forest management plans.

Following properly designed preharvest plans can result in logging activities that are both profitable and highly protective of water quality. Such plans address the full range of forestry activities that can cause NPS pollution. They clearly identify the area to be harvested; locate special areas of protection, such as wetlands and streamside vegetation; plan for the proper timing of forestry activities; describe management measures for road layout, design, construction, and maintenance, as well as for harvesting methods and forest regeneration.

Public meetings held under the authority of federal and state laws provide citizens with a good opportunity to review and comment on the development of forest management plans.

Factors Considered in the Preharvest Plan

Surveying the Site.Preactivity surveys can help identify areas that might need special protection or management during forestry operations. Sensitive landscapes usually have steep slopes, a greater potential for landslides, sensitive rock formations, high precipitation levels, snowpack, or special ecological functions such as those provided by streamside vegetation. Forestry activities occurring in these areas have a high potential of affecting water quality.

Timing.Because most forestry activities disturb soil and contribute to erosion and runoff, timing operations carefully can significantly reduce their impact on water quality and aquatic life. Rainy seasons and fish migration and spawning seasons, for example, should be avoided when conducting forestry activities.

Establishing Streamside Management Areas (SMAs). Plans often restrict forestry activities in vegetated areas near streams (also known as buffer strips or riparian zones), thereby establishing special SMAs. The vegetation in an SMA is highly beneficial to water quality and aquatic habitat. Vegetation in the SMA stabilizes streambanks, reduces runoff and nutrient levels in runoff, and traps sediment generated from upslope activities before it reaches surface waters. SMA vegetation moderates water temperature by shading surface water and provides habitat for aquatic life. For example, large trees provide shade while alive and provide aquatic habitat after they die and fall into the stream as large woody debris.

Managing Road Construction, Layout, Use, and Maintenance. Good road location and design can greatly reduce the transport of sediment to water bodies. Whenever possible, road systems should be designed to minimize road length, road width, and the number of places where water bodies are crossed. Roads should also follow the natural contours of the land and be located away from steep gradients, landslide-prone areas, and areas with poor drainage. Proper road maintenance and closure of unneeded roads can help reduce NPS impacts from erosion over the long term.

Managing Timber Harvesting.Most detrimental effects of harvesting are related to the access and movement of vehicles and machinery, and the dragging and loading of trees or logs. These effects include soil disturbance, soil compaction, and direct disturbance of stream channels. Poor harvesting and transport techniques can increase sediment production by 10 to 20 times and disturb as much as 40 percent of the soil surface. In contrast, careful logging disturbs as little as 8 percent of the soil surface.

Careful selection of equipment and methods for transporting logs from the harvest area to areas where logs are gathered can significantly reduce the amount of soil disturbed and delivered to water bodies. Stream channels should be protected from logging debris at all times during harvesting operations.

Managing Replanting. Forests can be regenerated from either seed or seedlings. Seeding usually requires that the soil surface be prepared before planting. Seedlings can be directly planted with machines after minimal soil preparation. In either case, the use of heavy machinery can result in significant soil disturbance if not performed carefully.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Additional fact sheets in the Nonpoint Pointers series (EPA-841-F-96-004)

Evaluating the effectiveness of Forestry Best Management Practices in Meeting Water Quality Goals or Standards, USDA Forest Service, Miscellaneous Publication 1520, July 1994

Forest Resources of the United States, 1992, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report RM-234 (Revised)

Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, Chapter 3 (EPA-840-B-92-002)

The Quality of Our Nation's Water: 1994 (EPA-841-S-95-004)

Summary of Current State Nonpoint Source Control Practices for Forestry (EPA-841/S-93-001)

Water Quality Effects and Nonpoint Source Control for Forestry: An Annotated Bibliography (EPA-841/B-93-005)

To order any of the above EPA documents call or fax the National Center for Environmental Publications and Information.

Tel (513) 489-8190

Fax (513) 489-8695

FOR MORE INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Nonpoint Source Control Branch

Washington DC 20460