Roads provide access for timber removal, fire protection, hunting, routine forest management activities and other multiple-use objectives. When properly constructed and maintained, roads will have minimal impact on water quality, hydrology and other wetland functions.
Mandatory Road BMPs
As mandated by Amendments to the Clean Water Act, forest roads in jurisdictional wetlands including “waters of the United States” must be constructed and maintained in accordance with the following mandatory Best Management Practices to retain Section 404 exemption status:
15 Federally Mandated BMPs for Roads
- Permanent roads, temporary access roads and skid trails in waters of the U.S. shall be held to the minimum feasible number, width and total length consistent with the purpose of specific silvicultural operations and local topographic and climatic conditions.
- All roads, temporary or permanent, shall be located sufficiently far from streams or other water bodies (except portions of such roads that must cross water bodies) to minimize discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S.
- The road fill shall be bridged, culverted or otherwise designed to prevent the restriction of expected flood flows.
- The fill shall be properly stabilized and maintained to prevent erosion during and following construction.
- Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. to construct a road fill shall be made in a manner that minimizes the encroachment of trucks, tractors, bulldozers or other heavy equipment within waters of the U.S. (including adjacent wetlands) that lie outside the lateral boundaries of the fill itself.
- In designing, constructing and maintaining roads, vegetative disturbance in the waters of the U.S. shall be kept to a minimum.
- The design, construction and maintenance of the road crossing shall not disrupt the migration or other movement of those species of aquatic life inhabiting the water body.
- Borrow material shall be taken from upland sources whenever feasible.
- The discharge shall not take, or jeopardize the continued existence of, a threatened or endangered species as defined under the Endangered Species Act or adversely modify or destroy the critical habitat of such species.
- Discharges into breeding and nesting areas for migratory waterfowl, spawning areas and wetlands shall be avoided if practical alternatives exist.
- The discharge shall not be located in the proximity of a public water supply intake.
- The discharge shall not occur in areas of concentrated shellfish population.
- The discharge shall not occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System.
- The discharge of material shall consist of suitable material free from toxic pollutants in toxic amounts.
- All temporary fills shall be removed in their entirety and the area restored to its original elevation.
Permanent Roads
Permanent roads are constructed to provide all- or nearly all-season access for silvicultural activities and are maintained regularly. Construction of permanent roads in wetlands and wetland-like areas should be minimized.
BMPs for Permanent Roads
- Construct and maintain permanent roads in forested wetlands according to the 15 mandatory BMPs listed above.
- Plan the access system prior to construction. Whenever possible, avoid crossing streams, sloughs, sensitive areas, etc.
- Consider relocating poorly designed or constructed section(s) of an established road system that may lead to water-quality pollution during and after the management activity.
- If applicable, construct roads well before the management activity to allow roads to stabilize.
- Construct fill roads only when necessary. Road fills should be as low as possible to natural ground level and should include adequate cross-drains for surface water flow.
- Borrow pits should be located outside SMZs and jurisdictional wetlands.
- Stabilize soils around bridges, culverts, low water crossings, etc. When natural stabilization will not occur quickly, fill material should be stabilized with grass, rip-rap, etc.
- Construct fill roads parallel to water flow, where possible.
- Use of a geo-textile or a geo-grid fabric can increase soil-bearing capacity and reduce rutting.
- Use board-road or wooden mats where needed to minimize rutting. Stream crossings should be made at right angles to the channel, when possible, and should not impede stream flow.
- Minimize sediment production when installing stream crossings.
- Use gates or otherwise restrict unnecessary traffic on wet roads.
- Road ditches should not feed directly into stream channels.
Temporary Roads and Skid Trails
Roads provide access for timber removal, fire protection, hunting, routine forest management activities and other multiple use objectives. When properly constructed and maintained, roads will have minimal impact on water quality, hydrology and other wetland functions.
BMPs for Temporary Roads and Skid Trails
- Construct and maintain temporary roads in forested wetlands according to the 15 mandatory BMPs.
- Favor temporary roads over permanent roads when possible. When properly constructed, temporary roads will have less impact on the hydrology of forested wetlands than permanent roads.
- Temporary road fill should be removed and the area restored to its original elevation upon completion of operations.
Road Maintenance
As mandated by Amendments to the Clean Water Act, forest roads in jurisdictional wetlands, including “waters of the United States,” must be constructed and maintained in accordance with the following Best Management Practices to retain Section 404 exemption status.
BMPs for Road Maintenance
- All drainage structures should be inspected and maintained, especially following unusually heavy rains.
- Ditches, culverts and other water flow structures should be kept free of debris.