Harvesting operations cause a temporary disturbance in the forest. Pre-harvest planning is critical to ensure that operations are conducted in a manner that minimizes impact to water quality.
Note: During harvest design, careful planning and the use of BMPs will minimize soil disturbance and maintain water quality.
BMPs for Planning
- Identification and delineation of sensitive areas such as SMZs, ephemeral streams, bogs, fragile soils and steep slopes.
- Use of aerial photographs, timber stand maps, topographic maps and soil surveys to aid in locating log decks or "sets," skid trails and access roads.
- The timing and type of harvest depend on soil moisture (hydrology), topography, soil type and soil conditions.
- The application of stabilizing or surfacing materials to roads, for example, stone or board run mats applied to potential trouble spots before the operation begins.