Recommended Forestry Best Management Practices for Louisiana

L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E lv

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE MANUAL ............................................................................................ lvii

USING THE MANUAL ............................................................................................. lviii

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................1

PLANNING FOR FOREST OPERATIONS...................................................................... 3

FOREST ROADS .........................................................................................................5Overview ..................................................................................................................5Permanent Roads ......................................................................................................5Temporary Roads ....................................................................................................10

TIMBER HARVESTING ..............................................................................................13Pre-harvest Planning ............................................................................................... 13Streamside Management Zones .............................................................................. 14Felling & Skidding Techniques ................................................................................ 19Landings, Log Decks & Sets .................................................................................... 20Revegetation ...........................................................................................................21Equipment Maintenance & Litter ............................................................................21

SITE PREPARATION / REFORESTATION .................................................................... 23General Methods ....................................................................................................23

SILVICULTURAL CHEMICALS ...................................................................................25Fertilization & Pesticides .........................................................................................25

FIRE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................... 27Prescribed Burning .................................................................................................. 27Fire line Construction & Maintenance ..................................................................... 28Wildfire ...................................................................................................................29

Recommended Forestry BestManagement Practices for Louisiana

lvi L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E

FOREST WETLANDS ................................................................................................30Benefits And Functions Of Wetlands ........................................................................30Overview ................................................................................................................ 30Normal Silvicultural Activities .................................................................................. 31Established Silvicultural Operations ......................................................................... 31Legal Definition of Wetlands ...................................................................................33Planning in Wetlands ..............................................................................................34Access Systems .......................................................................................................36Mandatory Road BMPs............................................................................................ 36Permanent Roads ....................................................................................................37Temporary Roads and Skid Trails (change to & here and in subhead) ..................... 38Road Maintenance .................................................................................................. 38Harvest Operations in Wetlands .............................................................................. 39Rutting ...................................................................................................................39Site Preparation in Wetlands ...................................................................................40Reforestation in Wetlands........................................................................................ 43Forest Chemicals in Wetlands .................................................................................. 43

LOUISIANA’S NATURAL & SCENIC RIVERS .............................................................. 45Overview ................................................................................................................ 45Notification of Commercial Harvesting.................................................................... 49

GLOSSARY ..............................................................................................................50

APPENDIX I: ROAD SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................... 55Recommendations for Forest Roads......................................................................... 55Wing Ditches .......................................................................................................... 56Stream Crossings ....................................................................................................58Culverts For Roads .................................................................................................. 61Broad-Based Dips ....................................................................................................63Rolling Dips ............................................................................................................64Waterbars ...............................................................................................................66

APPENDIX II: PLANNING TOOLS ............................................................................69Evaluating Slope .....................................................................................................69Evaluation of Aerial Photos ......................................................................................70Evaluation of Soil Maps ........................................................................................... 72Evaluation of Topographic Maps ............................................................................. 74Evaluation of Drainage Area .................................................................................... 76

APPENDIX III: ROAD SURFACE AREA ....................................................................... 79Determining Road Surface Area .............................................................................. 79Determining Road Surface Material ......................................................................... 80

APPENDIX IV: REVEGETATION ................................................................................ 81Revegetating Disturbed Areas ................................................................................. 81

L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E lvii

THIS MANUAL IS PART OF A BROAD UNDERTAKING toeducate the forestry community in effectivemanagement techniques to safeguard ourland and waters and to wisely use the re-sources found in this state.

A private-public partnership of the Loui-siana Forestry Association (LFA), the Louisi-ana Department of Environment Quality,and the Louisiana Department of Agricul-ture and Forestry has formulated this guide-book on the state’s non-regulatory Best Man-agement Practices (BMPS). It is hoped thatsuch education will help reduce forest soilmovement toward the waters of the state.

This revised manual is only a small partof this campaign. Significant progress hasalready been made in the protection ofLouisiana’s water quality through increaseduse of BMPS. From 1989 to 1997, the use ofBMPS has increased eightfold. The latest sur-vey by the Louisiana Office of Forestry foundthat 83 percent of survey sites in 1997 used

Billy Davis, PresidentThe Louisiana Logging Council

J. Dale Givens, SecretaryLouisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality

Jan BoydstunEnvironmental Specialist CoordinatorLouisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality

Bob Odom, CommissionerLouisiana Department ofAgriculture and Forestry

Paul D. FreyAssistant Commissioner andState ForesterLouisiana Department ofAgriculture and Forestry

Don Powell, PresidentThe Louisiana Forestry Association

BMPS. Our goal is to achieve 90 percentcompliance on the year 2000 survey.

The LAF and The Louisiana Logging Coun-cil have also implemented a five-step train-ing curriculum that involves loggers, forest-ers and landowners. A Master Logger desig-nation recognizes loggers completing 30hours of training in various aspects of forestmanagement, including BMPS. Master Log-gers will complete six hours of continuingeducation annually to retain that title.

Over the last four years, 2,634 peoplehave attended one or more of these classesand 500 loggers have attained Master Log-ger designation.

These accomplishments have been agreat educational undertaking and a greatsuccess. We are proud of the progress andlook forward to a bright future for Louisiana’sforest environment and the forest profes-sionals who provide the resources we growand use.

About the Manual

lviii L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E

THIS MANUAL IS WRITTEN TO BE A PRACTICAL FIELD GUIDE for forest landowners, loggingcontractors and forest industry, to ensure water quality during forestry operations. Itsets forth the voluntary guidelines and procedures to be followed for each operationand describes the federally mandated Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forestryoperations in wetlands. Each chapter is written as a stand-alone guide. BMPs commonto several operations will appear with each.

In using this manual the information it provides can be divided into four basic parts:

Voluntary guidelines, pages 3–29:Each forestry activity is described andthe BMPs associated with that activityare stated.

Mandated guidelines, pages 30–49:Discusses the issue of forest wetlandsand sets forth the federally mandatedBMPs applicable to forest operations inwetlands. Forest operations in the Loui-siana Natural and Scenic Rivers Sys-tem are also discussed.

Glossary, pages 50–54: Definition ofterms used to describe the activitiespresented in this manual.

Recommended examples & tools,pages 55–83: Detailed examples andtools for implementing the BMPs previ-ously described.

Using the Manual

L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E lix

Recommended Forestry BestManagement Practices for Louisiana

L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E 1

COMMERCIAL FORESTS OCCUPY

more than 49 percent,or 13.8 million acres, ofthe land in Louisiana.

Forest ownership here is similar to othersouthern states. At 64 percent, a majorityof the forest land is in nonindustrial pri-vate ownership; 26 percent owned by for-est industry and the remaining 10 percentheld by public agencies.

Introduction

through our timberlands are sources forwater supplies, recreation, and other uses.

Forestry annually contributes morethan $5 billion to the state’s economy. IfLouisiana is to thrive economically, ourforests’ ability to produce goods and ser-vices must be sustained.

Forest management programs shouldincorporate adequate measures to providefor proper soil and water conservation.Most streams originating in or flowing

Status of Louisiana Forests & Lands

Louisiana commercial forest land — 49% All other Louisiana lands — 51%

Non-industrial private lands — 64% Forest industry lands — 26% Public agency lands — 10%

In forested wetlands, the Law provides an

exemption from permitting under Section

404 for normal ongoing silvicultural opera-

tions, provided that the 15 federally man-

dated best management practices, herein-

after referred to as BMPS, are followed.

Section 404 Silvicultural Exemption

The Clean Water Act of 1972 (Public

Law 92-500) and its amendments man-date water quality sufficient to provide“fishable” and “swimmable” waters. Itrequires that all waters of the UnitedStates will be protected from degrada-tion. This includes, but is not limited toheadwater creeks, rich bottomland hard-woods, and permanently flooded cy-press-tupelo areas.

The scope of legal jurisdiction wasexpanded in 1977 by amendments rede-fining protection to include the watersof the United States and their adjacentwetlands. This protection, under Sec-tion 404, specifies that anyone engag-ing in activities impacting waters andwetlands is required to secure a permitbefore proceeding, unless exempted.

Amendments to the Clean Water Act in1987 required the Louisiana Departmentof Environmental Quality to assess thequality of water in the state and report itsfindings to Congress every two years. Un-der Section 319 of the amended act, thestate was also charged with addressingpollution carried to water bodies by rain-

2 L O U I S I A N A B M P G U I D E

fall runoff. This type of pollution is callednonpoint source pollution. It differs frompoint source pollution that originates fromidentifiable locations such as end-of-pipedischarges from an industrial facility orcity sewage treatment plant.

Most of the early efforts to clean upwater pollution were directed toward pointsources. Thus, most of what is left to workon is pollution caused by nonpoint sources.LDEQ’s nonpoint section uses a coopera-tive, non-regulatory approach to addressforestry nonpoint pollution statewide; pri-marily through the use of voluntary forestypractices described in this manual.

With support from the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency, and in part-nership with the Louisiana Departmentof Agriculture & Forestry and the Louisi-ana Department of Environmental Qual-

ity, the Louisiana Forestry Associationdeveloped this manual. It is a guide forforest landowners, logging contractors,and forest industry. It sets forth voluntaryguidelines and procedures to ensure wa-ter quality protection during forestry op-erations. The goal in meeting state andfederal water quality standards is neces-sary to provide clean water for presentand future generations. The forestrycommunity’s compliance with this guideis essential for continued freedom andflexibility to practice forestry without fur-ther government regulation.

Private landowners, who own most of Louisiana’s forest lands, should recognize that Best ManagementPractices begin with careful planning.


P

Planning for Forest Operations

LANNING FOR FOREST op-erations is complex. Itinvolves several inter-related processes carried

out over an extended period of time onareas with varying topography, soil con-ditions, and other characteristics. Eachprocess may take from days to months tocomplete. Persons involved in forest op-erations must comply with numerous lawsand regulations. Best management prac-

tices (BMPS) are recommended operationalguidelines to minimize environmentalimpacts and maintain water quality. Plan-ning is required to incorporate BMPS into aforest operation. The plan should maxi-mize efficiency, minimize traffic, preservesoil integrity, and protect water quality.

There are two stages of planning —preliminary planning and on-the-groundapplication. A preliminary plan is com-monly prepared by an appropriate re-source professional prior to conductingany operation. This plan includes recom-mendations for meeting plan objectiveswith consideration for special areas suchas fragile soils on steep slopes that mayrequire special treatment during forestoperations.

On-the-ground application can be com-plex and detailed. It is prepared prior tobeginning the operation and should in-clude recommendations on roads, trafficroutes, streamside management zones,stream crossings, and the schedule of ac-tivities. Finally, each person should beaware of the plan and understand theirpart in carrying it out.

Requirements may differ from tract totract. For example, does the tract have astream that requires a streamside man-agement zone? Is there a steep sandy hillon the tract that favors choosing chemi-cal site preparation with hand plantinginstead of mechanical site preparationfollowed by machine planting?

Thinking about the following four top-ics will help select the correct way toaccomplish needed forest operations. Theplanning process should consider thesepoints to protect water quality:

The tract topography — Will topogra-phy affect traffic flow for the opera-tion?

The tract soil conditions — Will soil typeaffect roads and traffic? Will soil typeaffect equipment decisions and sched-uling of activities?

The tract hydrology — How will streamrunoff after a major rain affect streamcrossing structures?

The applicable laws and regulations af-

fecting logging — How will these lawsand regulations affect each part of theforest operation?

Several tools are available to the har-vest planner. Some of these are explainedin Appendix II.


Forest Hill, Louisiana

1:24,000

Planning for any forest operation should include a map indicating important features.

Map

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Forest Roads

OVERVIEW

Using streamside manage-ment zone (SMZ) for roadlocations or traffic areas.

Locating roads adjacent toSMZS.

Locating roads where wa-ter tends to collect.

AVOID

Use of tools such as soil surveys, topographic maps, and aerial photo-graphs can help achieve the most practical road construction results.

Design a permanent road system to meet long-range objectivesrather than simply to access individual sites. Numerous separateroad projects have more environmental impact than one well-designed road system.

Stabilize or reconstruct existing roads where significant erosionproblems exist. Abandon and retire roads where repair is impractical.

Safety should always be considered with road design and location ofintersections, and access points to public roads.

Minimize the number of stream crossings.

Cross streams on straight segments and as close to a right angle aspossible (see illustration on page 7).

Locate roads on the best available sites, avoiding excessive slope.

All suitable excavated material should be used for the constructionof the road, when possible. This may include soil removed fromditches during construction or maintenance.

BMPs for Location & PlanningNote: Additional planningassistance may be obtainedfrom the United States De-partment of Agriculture,Natural Resources Conser-vation Service (NRCS).

PERMANENT ROADS

FOREST ROAD SYSTEM is made up of permanent and temporary roadsthat connect the forest land to existing public roads. They provideforest access for such activities as land management, fire protection,recreation and timber harvesting. Forest roads that are improperly

located, poorly constructed and / or not maintained are the largest contributor ofnonpoint source pollution from forest activities. Roads on steep slopes, erodible soilsor stream crossings hold the greatest potential for degrading water quality. Inwetlands, forest roads must comply with 15 mandatory BMPS. See page 36.


Ditches, culverts, dips, and wing (lateral) ditchesshould be installed at the time of constructionof the roadway. Ditches should be adequatelysized and sloped to prevent silting-up and toallow for maintenance equipment access.

Roads should be designed to drain at all timesby using crowning, ditching, culverts, and wa-ter bars.

Ensure that culverts, water turnouts, and broad-based dips empty road runoff onto the undis-turbed forest floor.

All culverts, permanent or temporary, shouldbe of adequate size to carry the water flowanticipated during heavy rains. (See CULVERT

SIZE CHART, Page 61).

BMPs for Drainage

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Salvage merchantable timber prior to clearingthe right-of-way.

Stumps, logs, slash and other organic debrisshould not be covered with fill material andincorporated into road beds unless the cordu-roy road construction technique is used.

Minimize the amount of soil on the road banksor roadsides that is exposed to soil erosion. Tominimize problems, revegetate or otherwisestabilize these areas as they are created.

Functional water diversion structures should beinstalled at the same time roads are constructed.Drainage water should be dispersed onto theundisturbed forest floor when possible. Soilfrom parallel and lateral ditches may be incor-porated as material for the road bed and drain-age structure.

Road bank slopes should be a 2:1 ratio. Seed-ing, mulching, or other stabilizing means shouldbe used to reduce the potential for erosion.

Plan for periods of heavy rain during road con-struction by including temporary waterbars, turn-outs, or other structures to slow water runoff.

BMPs for Construction


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Several types of drainage structures are used in this forest access road.

Paul Wallace illustration

A permanent culvert of adequate size has been installed on this forest access road.

Alabama Forestry Com

mission photo

Rolling dip

Culverts

Lateral ditch

High point of road


Stream crossings should be constructed to mini-mize the disturbance to stream banks andexisting stream channels.

Use of equipment in the stream bed should bekept to an absolute minimum.

Crossing streams at fords should take placewhen stream flow is down and threat of sedi-mentation is low.

Fills and earth embankments used as bridgeapproaches should be stabilized to minimizepotential erosion by using headwalls, wingwalls, rip-rap, and other suitable material.

Excess material and woody debris from roadconstruction should be cleared from streamsand drainage ways.

Bridges and culverts should not constrict clearlydefined stream channels.

BMPs for Water Crossings

Improperly sized culverts (too small).

Poor location (wet spot, loose soil).

Insufficient number of wing ditches.

Steep hills (more than 10 percent grade).

Use of fill material taken from SMZ to coverculvert.

Improperly maintained road crown.

Plugged culverts.

Leaving erodible soils unstabilized.

Leaving ditches clogged with logging debris.

Inadequate soil compaction or “set-up” timebefore heavy use.

AVOID

Note: Some of the most common mis-takes in road construction and mainte-nance are shown below.

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The road surface should be crowned oroutsloped to dissipate surface runoff and mini-mize erosion of the roadbed.

Ditches, wing ditches, and culverts should bekept free of logging debris or other obstruc-tions to allow unrestricted passage of water.Siltation should be removed from ditches andwing ditches through periodic maintenance.

Exposed soil subject to excessive erosion shouldbe revegetated or otherwise stabilized if naturalrevegetation will not suffice.

Trees adjacent to permanent roads should betrimmed or cut back to allow maximum sun-light on the road surface.

Closed roads should be periodically inspectedto ensure their integrity.

Anticipate weak spots in road bed and repairwith support materials. Do not excavate theroad surface and create a channel.

BMPs for Road Maintenance

Note: Proper maintenance of permanentaccess roads is of vital importance to log-ging and land management activities.Road systems should be kept in service-able condition to minimize erosion byrainfall runoff and vehicle use.

Road construction for silvicultural purposes in juris-dictional wetlands does not require a permit be-cause of this silvicultural exemption. However, toqualify for silvicultural exemption, the road con-struction must comply with 15 mandatory BMPS forforested wetlands, (from Clean Water Act, Section 404

Program Definition and Permit Exemption, Part 232.3). See

FOREST WETLANDS, Page 30.

Exemption for Roads in Wetlands


TEMPORARY ROADS

Roads located directly up or down steep slopes.

Turning water onto erodible soils unless addi-tional protection from erosion is used.

Creating channels by cutting deeper and deeperin an attempt to remove soft spots.

AVOID

Roads should be built on the contour and at asufficient distance to minimize disturbances tostreams. Existing ridge lines should be usedwhere possible.

Crossings should be designed to prevent re-strictions of high water flows during harvestoperation.

Temporary roads may include the use of mats,portable bridges, culverts, lateral ditches, etc.

Temporary roads may require installation ofunderlayment to operate trucks across soft orunstable areas.

Cross streams as close to right angles as ispractical.

Temporary roads should be closed and the soilstabilized after use. Stabilize stream banks,ditches, and roads as needed. Remove tempo-rary crossings.

Maintaining or closing temporary roads as theoperation progresses prevents erosion and mini-mizes downtime.

BMPs for Construction

Forest Roads

Temporary roads often incorporate the same principles as permanent installations,but not the same degree of refinement and permanence. For example, the need existsto disperse water from temporary roads when conditions are wet, just as withpermanent roads.


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Installation of one of the types of temporary bridges that can be used.

Another type of temporary logging bridge, completed and ready to use.


mission photo


mission photo


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Temporary roads should be closed and stabilized after use.

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Timber Harvesting

ARVESTING OPERATIONS

cause a temporary dis-turbance in the forest.Pre-harvest planning is

critical to ensure that operations are con-ducted in a manner which minimizesimpact to water quality.

Note: During harvest design, careful plan-ning and the use of BMPS will minimize soildisturbance and maintain water quality.

PRE-HARVEST PLANNING

Identification and delineation of sensitive areassuch as SMZS, ephemeral streams, bogs, fragilesoils, and steep slopes.

Use of aerial photographs, timber stand maps,topographic maps, and soil surveys to aid inlocating log decks or “sets,” skid trails, andaccess roads.

The timing and type of harvest depends on soilmoisture (hydrology), topography, soil typeand soil conditions.

The application of stabilizing or surfacing mate-rials to roads; for example, stone or board runmats applied to potential trouble spots beforethe operation begins.

BMPs for Planning


STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONES

A streamside management zone (SMZ)serves as a natural filter of vegetationadjacent to a natural or manmade waterbody. These zones, also called riparian

zones, reduce erosion by both slowing theflow of surface water runoff and increas-ing water filtration. These water bodiesmay include streams, rivers, bayous, andlakes. To protect water quality, extra pre-cautions may be necessary in carrying outsome forest practices.

The key objective of SMZS is to protectand maintain the quality of water onforest lands by the following:

Maintaining a vegetative filtration stripon ephemeral areas.

Providing an adequate canopy of for-est cover along all perennial streamsto maintain normal water and shadeconditions.

Minimizing forest soil erosion by main-taining the appropriate amount of re-sidual ground cover or forest cover un-der various soil and slope conditions.

When timber is harvested within theSMZ, care should be taken not to compro-mise the objective of the SMZ.

SMZs should be provided on perennialand intermittent streams and other waterbodies. This includes springheads, oxbows,upland flats, and drains bordered by steepor erodible slopes. Any existing drainagestructures that over time have come toresemble natural drains are also included.

A perennial stream is one that has awell-defined channel and flows year-roundexcept during periods of extreme drought,

when they retain pools of water. Intermit-

tent streams have seasonal flow and acontinuous well-defined channel. Ephem-

eral streams flow during and for a fewhours or days after periods of heavy rainand the stream channel is less recogniz-able than either perennial or intermittentstreams.

Streams designated as scenic rivers willbe managed in accordance with state law.See LOUISIANA’S NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVER

SYSTEM, page 45.SMZ width is dependent on watershed

characteristics and the risk of erosion inthe SMZ and adjacent area. The risk isincreased by sandy soil, steep grade, largewatershed size or increasing stream width.Estimated normal flow width is the dis-tance in feet between the water’s edge onone side to the water’s edge on the other.This width will be estimated at a timewhen the stream is at its normal (low)flow. Normal flow width will be an aver-age for the stream, taking into consider-ation the stream will widen as it flowsfarther from its source.

Note: SMZ widths are measured from thetop of each bank and established on eachside of the stream. Determination of SMZ

width should be site-specific and shouldbe made by foresters or other qualifiedprofessionals. Soil type, slope gradient,vegetation cover, volume flow, and streamclassification should be taken into consid-eration when designing each SMZ.

Timber Harvesting


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Skidding across perennial or large intermit-tent streams, except over an adequately de-signed crossing.

Excessive skidding within an SMZ.

AVOID

Stream Type SMZ Width(each side)

Intermittent ............................................ 35 Feet

Perennialless than 20 feet wide ..................... 50 feetmore than 20 feet wide ................ 100 feet

Suggested SMZ Widths

Along perennial streams, timber can be harvested carefully within an SMZ provided that the filtering effects of the SMZ

are not compromised.

Take precautions to protect the remaining timber stands within the SMZ.

Do not remove trees from banks, beds or steep slopes if removal will destabilize soil and degrade water.

Permanent residual tree cover is not required along intermittent and ephemeral streams if vegetation andorganic debris are left to protect the forest floor during regeneration.

Flag or mark SMZS adjacent to all perennial and intermittent streams and lakes before harvesting.

Plan harvests to minimize stream crossings.

Locate stream crossings where stream impacts are likely to be minimal.

Locate roads, skid trails, fire lanes, and logging sets outside the SMZ.

To minimize damage, limit harvesting on SMZS and sensitive forested wetlands during abnormally wet periods.

Consider using wide-tire skidders, forwarders, cable skidders, and tracked equipment to minimize soildisturbance in an SMZ.

Construct stream crossings to minimize stream bank and channel disturbance.

Cross streams at right angles when practical.

Consider using portable bridges for temporary stream crossings.

Promptly remove all temporary crossings and restore the site after harvesting is completed.

BMPs for Streamside Management


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Timber harvesting is allowed in the SMZ, providing the objectives of the SMZ are not compromised.

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SMZs provide a water filtration strip of ground cover on ephemeral areas.

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WESTVACO photo

Boise Cascade Corporation photo

An effective SMZ provides adequate canopy of forest cover along all perennial streams to maintainnormal water and shade conditions.

An effective SMZ minimizes forest soil erosion by maintaining the appropriate amount of residualground or forest cover under various soil and slope conditions.


Timber Harvesting

Modern harvesting equipment is used to control the direction of felling.

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FELLING & SKIDDING TECHNIQUES

Use soil surveys, aerial photographs, and topo-graphic maps to help locate skid trails.

Use the smallest number, width and length ofskid trails needed to log the area effectively.

Use waterbars, wing ditches, or other appro-priate practices to slow and disperse waterrunoff. Construct water bars to divert waterrather than block it.

Keep stream crossings to a minimum.

Cross streams at right angles and in straightsections of the stream, when practical.

Skid logs uphill at an angle.

Scatter logging slash on wetter areas of skidtrails to prevent rutting.

Keep skidder loads light in sensitive areas toreduce rutting and protect drainage integrity.

Stabilize skid trails to prevent erosion by usingwaterbars, logging slash, or other appropriatewater diversions.

Establish vegetative cover after smoothing andshaping of bare ground subject to erosion.

When crossings streams, temporary fills shouldbe removed in their entirety after completionof harvesting operations.

Restore stream crossings to natural grade andshape.

BMPs for Skidding

Sensitive areas and problem soils.

Skidding straight up or down steep slopes.

Long, steep skids. Lay out skid trails on slopes atan angle to break up the grade.

Water draining down skid trails.

Skidding in a stream channel even when tem-porarily dry.

Skidding across perennial streams or large in-termittent streams unless it is done with aproperly constructed temporary crossing.

Excessive damage to remaining timber andother vegetation within SMZS.

Using existing skid trails if further use will causeexcessive soil disturbance.

AVOID

Timber Harvesting

When possible, trees should be directionallyfelled away from water bodies.

Remove only tops and limbs which havefallen into any water body during harvesting.

Inspect all stream courses to be sure they arefree from excessive logging debris.

BMPs for Felling


LANDINGS, LOG DECKS & SETS

Use no more sets than are necessary.

Make sets no larger than necessary.

Locate sets on firm, well-drained ground away from streams.

Locate log sets on a slight slope (less than 5%) for drainage wheneverpossible.

Locate sets so skidding will have a minimal impact on the naturaldrainage pattern.

Locate sets where skidding will avoid road ditches, sensitive sites,and excessive slopes.

Reshape disturbed areas to minimize soil erosion.

Seed and fertilize bare areas that would erode before naturalvegetation is re-established.

BMPs for Landings

Locating log decks in SMZS

or other sensitive areas.

Locating log decks wherethey might result in skid-ding through sensitiveareas.

AVOID

Timber Harvesting

Landings, log decks and sets are temporary locations where logs are assembled fortemporary storage, loading and transportation.


REVEGETATION

Reestablish vegetation on temporary roads,drainage systems, side slopes, back slopes, skidtrails or landings following significant soil dis-turbances when natural revegetation will notprevent erosion. See Revegetation Of DisturbedAreas in Appendix IV, Page 81.

BMPs for Revegetation

Perform all maintenance away from riparian areas.

Capture all coolants, oils, fuels, etc. and dispose of waste properly.

Repair leaks immediately.

Properly dispose of all trash associated with harvesting. DO NOT burnor bury.

BMPs for Equipment Maintenance & Litter

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE & LITTER

Timber Harvesting

LOGGING TRASH


SEEDED TEMPORARY ROAD


R

Site Preparation & Reforestation

GENERAL METHODS

APID REGENERATION OF FOREST LAND following final harvest or naturaldisaster is both economically and environmentally important. Anyincrease in erosion, water yield, and storm flow coming from a loggedsite diminishes rapidly as the site revegetates.

Root systems remain in place many years after trees are cut and provide soil stabilitywhich reduces the risk of erosion. Trees also intercept water and impede storm water runoff.Many sites require some type of treatment to accomplish quick and effective regenerationof desirable tree species, or to reduce some undesired effects of harvesting.

Clearly define boundaries of all SMZS before beginning site preparation activities.

Ripping, shearing, windrowing, and mechanical planting should follow the contours of the land to reducepotential erosion hazard.

On steep slopes or highly erosive soils avoid intensive site preparation. Use herbicides, hand tools, and / orprescribed fire, but be aware that extremely hot fires may significantly increase erosion potential.

Hand plant steep, erodable sites as soon as possible after final harvesting and site preparation.

Where accelerated erosion is likely, use methods which leave logging debris and other natural forest litterscattered over the site.

Minimize moving soil into windrows and piles.

The SMZ along streams should be protected by planning the use of equipment so as to minimize disturbanceof these areas. Stream crossing construction should minimize disturbance of the area in which the crossing isbeing constructed. Such crossings should be restored promptly.

Equipment operators should be trained and appropriate planning done so that soil disturbance, compaction,and displacement is minimized.

In order to minimize erosion, firebreaks should have water control structures properly installed and maintained.

Site preparation activities should not enter SMZS and cross stream channels.

Provide water outlets on bedded or furrowed areas at locations that will minimize movement of soil. Dischargewater onto a vegetative surface.

BMPs for Site Preparation & Reforestation


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Damage to existing water control devices (i.e.culverts, wing ditches). Site preparation andplanting equipment should avoid crossing orturning around in roads, road ditches, andwing ditches. Damages should be repairedimmediately.

Intensive mechanical site preparation on steepslopes or on sites that have high potential forerosion.

Constructing windrows which will funnel sur-face runoff into perennial, intermittent, orephemeral streams.

Blocking any drainage with beds, windrows, orsimilar structures.

AVOIDTwo major problems associated with

site preparation include soil erosion andpotential sedimentation from runoff. Pri-mary factors contributing to acceleratederosion from runoff are percent of thearea with exposed soil, type of soil, degreeof slope, and ground cover.

Techniques used for site preparationshould be based on soils, slope, conditionof the site, natural vegetation, crop treespecies, and cost. Soils with a shallowsurface layer generally have limited ca-pacity to absorb water and are more likelyto erode. Steeper slopes provide more rain-water runoff velocity, and thus energy, toerode soils. Ground cover helps hold soilin place and dissipates some of the energyof rainfall.

Ripping, shearing, windrowing and mechanical planting should follow the contours of the land toreduce potential erosion hazard.

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Silvicultural Chemicals

FERTILIZATION & PESTICIDES

ESTICIDES, INCLUDING BOTH HERBICIDES AND INSECTICIDES, are valuable toolsin maintaining a healthy forest. The use of herbicides, rather thanmechanical site preparation methods is recommended on erodablesites to protect water quality. Insecticides can be used to control

certain insect infestations where outbreaks are localized provided care is taken tominimize use in SMZS.

Fertilization, may be used to enhance tree growth. Fertilizers can be applied safelywith ground and air equipment, provided that care is taken and application is in

Follow label directions and applicable state andfederal laws in the storage, transportation, han-dling, and application of all chemicals. All workerprotection standards should be strictly followed.All restricted-use pesticides shall be applied underthe supervision of a certified pesticide applicator.

Know each chemical’s characteristics. Know alsotopography, soils, drainage, weather, and otherpotential site hazards that might be important forpreventing water pollution during application.

No leakage of chemicals should be permittedfrom equipment used for transporting, storing,mixing, or applying chemicals.

Water for mixing with chemicals should becarried to the field in water-only tanks. Thedanger of getting a chemical into a ground orsurface water supply must be avoided. An anti-siphon device is essential in the water intake toprevent back flow. Chemical mixing shouldonly be done at the application site.

Mix chemicals and clean tanks only wherepossible spills will not enter streams, lakes, orponds. Do not mix chemicals or clean / flushtanks near wellheads. CONTINUED, NEXT PAGE

BMPs for Silvicultural Chemicals

accordance with label instructions andapplicable state and federal laws.

Proper planning, training and consci-entious execution of the plan are keys tosafe use of silvicultural chemicals.

Note: These guidelines are intended tocomplement state or local regulations re-lating to the sale, transportation and useof chemicals.


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Carefully plan ground and aerial application toavoid direct and indirect entry of chemicalsinto streams and impoundments. Special careshould be taken when chemicals are used inthe SMZ. Realize that significant portions of theSMZ will probably be left untreated. Leave well-marked buffer zones between target area andsurface water.

Chemicals must not be applied when streampollution is likely to occur through aerial drift.

Use spray equipment that is capable of imme-diate shut-off.

Where feasible, utilize injection or stump treat-ment herbicide methods in areas immediatelyadjacent to open water.

If a spill should occur, construct a containmentdike around it. Use absorbent material such askitty litter, sawdust, or soil to soak up fluid. Keepthe spill from flowing into streams or bodies ofwater. Some spills will require notifying appropri-ate authorities.

All empty pesticide containers must be triple-rinsed and disposed of in accordance with labelrequirements.

The rinse water should be used in the pesticide mixand sprayed on the treatment area.

Clean equipment in a location where chemicalswill not enter any stream, lake, pond.

…more Chemical BMPs

Applying pesticides and fertilizers directly towater bodies such as streams, lakes, or swampsunless specifically prescribed and approved foraquatic management.

Broadcast application of pesticides within SMZS.

Applying any herbicide adjacent to the SMZ thatwould damage trees in the SMZ or enter astream.

Aerial chemical application during turns andover open water.

Exceeding intended or allowable dosages ofchemicals.

Applying chemicals to vegetation protectingeroded slopes, gullies, drainages, and otherfragile areas subject to erosion.

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Fire Management

PRESCRIBED BURNING

RESCRIBED FIRE IS AN IMPORTANT AND USEFUL SILVICULTURAL TOOL. It can beused to prepare a site for planting by reducing logging debris or toprepare a seedbed for seed fall. Prescribed fire can also be used inestablished stands for silvicultural purposes, wildlife habitat im-

provement, and hazard reduction. A major concern of forest management is the effectof prescribed fire on surface runoff and soil erosion.

Studies have shown that properly planned and conducted prescribed burning hasa minimal impact on water quality in the South. Most problems associated with

Site prep burns on steep slopes or highly erod-ible soils should only be conducted when theyare absolutely necessary and should be of lowintensity. Time prescribed fires so that themoisture level of the forest floor prevents theentire humus layer from being burned.

A significant amount of soil movement canoccur when preparing for prescribed burns; forexample, along firebreaks. Firebreaks shouldhave water control structures in order to mini-mize erosion. Locate firebreaks on contours asmuch as possible. Water bars should be con-structed in firebreaks at frequent intervals toslow surface runoff in areas subject to acceler-ated erosion, such as steep grades or highlyerodible sloping firebreaks.

Site prep burning creates the potential for soilmovement. All efforts should be made to keephigh intensity site prep burns out of SMZS.

Use hand tools when necessary to connectfirebreak lines into stream channels.

BMPs for Prescribed Burning

prescribed burning can be eliminated withproper planning, awareness of changingweather conditions, and compliance withLouisiana’s Voluntary Smoke Manage-ment Guidelines (copies can be obtained

from the Louisiana Office of Forestry). Formost flat, sandy soils there is little dangerof soil erosion; however, in steeper topog-raphy there is a greater chance for soilmovement. When a prescribed fire be-comes too hot, the entire surface layer(humus) can be consumed, exposing theunderlying mineral soil to erosion andincreasing surface runoff.

Burning when conditions will cause a fire toburn too hot and expose mineral soil to erosion.

Allowing high intensity fire to enter filter stripsor SMZS.

Burning on severely eroded forest soils wherethe average litter duff is less than one-half inch.

AVOID


FIRELINE CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

Firelines should be constructed on the perimeter of the burn areaand along the boundary of the SMZ. The purpose of protecting theSMZ from fire is to safeguard the filtering effects of the litter andorganic matter.

Firelines should follow the guidelines established for logging trailsand skid trails with respect to waterbars and wing ditches, andshould be only as wide and as deep as needed to permit safe sitepreparation burns.

Firelines that approach a drainage should be turned parallel to thestream or include the construction of a wing ditch or other structurethat allows runoff in the line to be dispersed rather than channeleddirectly into the stream.

Firelines on highly erodible sites or other problem areas should beinspected periodically to correct erosion problems by installing dips,wing ditches, waterbars, etc. and / or by seeding. See vegetation

specifications in Appendix IV , Page 81.

BMPs for Firelines

Disturbing existing gullieswhere possible.

Disturbing more soil sur-face than necessary.

Connecting firelanes di-rectly into stream chan-nels.

Plowing against the con-tour where possible.

AVOIDFireline construction and maintenance is an essentialpart of forest management. It deals with site prepara-tion burning, prescribed burning, and wildfire suppres-sion. A number of control practices can be implementedduring fireline construction to prevent unnecessaryerosion. Periodic inspection and proper maintenancecan prevent potential erosion on established firelanes.

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Fireline construction and main-tenance is an essential part offorest management.


The first and foremost concern in wildfirecontrol is to prevent damage to peopleand property. During wildfire suppres-sion, fireline BMPS that slow containmentefforts must take a lower priority than firesuppression. Potential problems shouldbe corrected later.

Actively eroding gullies should be stabilizedwhen possible.

Stabilize and revegetate fire lines on steepgrades, areas subject to accelerated erosion, orknown sensitive areas.

Ensure all road surfaces are left stabilized andprotected.

BMPs for Wildfire

WILDFIRE

Fire Management


mission photo

During wildfire suppression, fireline BMPS that slow containment efforts must take alower priority than the suppression itself.


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Forest Wetlands

OVERVIEW

Louisiana’s bottomland hardwood forests,including wetlands, are productive ecosys-tems with multiple functions and ecologi-cal values that can be managed for com-mercial timber production without com-promising this valuable resource. This sec-tion deals with the management of thesesites in order that they may continue toprovide this ecological value. The readershould keep in mind that many sites clas-sified as bottomlands may be wetland-like,but are not necessarily “wetlands” in thestrictest legal or jurisdictional sense. Juris-dictional wetlands are found throughoutthe state and are not limited to obscureflooded or remote marsh areas.

Maintaining ecological productivity forwetland and wetland-like sites often callfor the same management techniques.These wetland BMPS address sustained tim-ber production as one of the landowner’sobjectives. Timber production is recog-nized as a land use that is compatible withwetland protection.

Although wetlands are federally regulated,normal forestry operations in wetlands —including but not limited to soil bedding, site

preparation, harvesting, and minor drainage

(see note on next page) — are exempt from

permit requirements under Section 404 of the

Clean Water Act Amendments of 1977, aslong as the activity:

Qualifies as “normal silviculture.”Is part of an “established” silviculturaloperation.Does not support the purpose of convert-ing a water of the United States to a useto which it was not previously subject.Follows the 15 mandatory BMPS for roadconstruction (see Access Systems), andthe six mandatory BMPS for site prepara-tion (see Site Preparation in Wetlands).Contains no toxic pollutant listed un-der Section 307 of the Clean Water Actin discharge of dredge or fill materialsinto waters of the United States.

A forestry activity will require a Section404 permit if it results in the conversion ofa wetland to a non-wetland. Landownerswho wish to change land use, who feel anactivity may change land use, or who areuncertain about the permit exemption

BENEFITS AND FUNCTIONS OF WETLANDS

OREST WETLANDS ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. Special attention tothe proper use of BMPS is essential if water quality is to be protected. Forestroad construction has the potential to disrupt normal drainage patternsand produce sediment that may reach streams. Tree tops or other

logging debris left in streams can obstruct water flow, increase erosion of stream banks, anddecrease dissolved oxygen in the water. Normal wetland drainage patterns can be alteredby severe rutting or by improperly constructed windrows. Excessive soil compaction causedby careless logging can reduce water infiltration, reduce soil moisture available to treeroots, and decrease site quality. NOTE: The section on wetlands herein is taken from Handbook on

Forested Wetlands, Forested Wetlands Workshop, August 8, 1996, Alexandria, Louisiana.


NOTE: Minor drainage refers to installation of ditches or other water control facilities for temporarydewatering of an area. Minor drainage is considered a normal silvicultural activity in wetlands to temporarily lowerthe water level and minimize adverse impacts on a wetland site during road construction, timber harvesting andreforestation activities. Minor drainage does not include construction of a canal, dike or any other structure whichcontinuously drains or significantly modifies a wetland or other aquatic area.

Minor drainage is exempt from needing an individual 404 permit if it is part of an ongoing silviculturaloperation and does not result in the immediate or gradual conversion of a wetland to an upland or other uses.Artificial drainage must be managed. Once silvicultural activity has been completed, the hydrology that existedprior to the activity should be restored by closing drainage channels.

NORMAL SILVICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Normal silvicultural activities conductedas part of “established, ongoing” silvi-cultural operations are exempt from Sec-tion 404 Corps of Engineers permit re-quirements as long as the appropriatemeasures are implemented. Normal ac-tivities include but are not limited to roadconstruction, timber harvesting, me-chanical or chemical site preparation,reforestation, timber stand improvementand minor drainage. These measures in-

clude 15 federal mandatory BMPS for roadconstruction and the six BMPS for silvicul-tural site preparation activities in for-ested wetlands. Recommended Forestry Best

Management Practices for Louisiana arenot required for exemption from Section404 Corps of Engineers permit require-ments; but they are strongly recom-mended to minimize nonpoint sourcepollution of waters of the state and / orwaters of the United States.

ESTABLISHED SILVICULTURAL OPERATIONS

Established or ongoing silvicultural op-erations are included in a managementsystem (not necessarily written) which isplanned over conventional rotationcycles for a property or introduced aspart of an established operation. Anactivity need not itself have been ongo-ing as long as it is introduced as part ofan ongoing operation.

Evidence of use of the property may beused to determine whether an operation isongoing. Examples of such evidence mayinclude, but not be limited to:

A history of harvesting with either natu-ral or artificial regeneration.A history of fire, insect and diseasecontrol to protect the maturing timber.The presence of stumps, logging roads,landing or other indications of estab-lished silvicultural operations that willcontinue on the site.Explicit treatment of the land as com-mercial timberlands by governmentagencies under zoning, tax, subsidy,and regulatory programs.Certification under the National Tree

status of a forestry activity should contactthe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE).If the activity is on a farmed wetland or on

agricultural land, the Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) is the appro-priate initial contact.


Note: Streamside management zones or SMZS should beestablished and managed around the perimeter of allmajor drainages and open bodies of water containedwithin wetlands; for example, mainstream courses oroxbow lakes.

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The activity results in the immediate or gradual conversion of awetland to an upland as a consequence of altering the flow andcirculation or reducing the reach of waters of the United States.

Changes in flow, circulation or reach of waters can be affected bypermanent major drainage such as channelization or by placement offill materials. A discharge which changes the bottom elevation ofwaters of the United States without converting it to dry land, does notreduce the reach of waters but may alter flow or circulation andtherefore may be subject to permitting requirements.

The criteria that are used to determine if a wetland has beenconverted include a change in hydrology, soils and vegetation tosuch an extent that the area no longer qualifies as a jurisdictionalwetland according to the Federal Manual for Delineating JurisdictionalWetlands (1987).A new activity results in a change from the past, historical use of thewetland into a different use to which it was not previously subjectwhere the flow of circulation of waters is impaired or the reach of thewaters is reduced. Such a change does not meet the established,ongoing requirement and causes the activity or operation to lose itsexemption.

Examples of this situation are areas where tree harvesting hasbeen the established use and the landowner wishes to convert thesite for use as pasture, green tree reservoir, agriculture, real estate oraquaculture. In such cases, the landowner must first obtain a 404permit before proceeding with the change.Roads and stream crossings are constructed in wetlands withoutfollowing the mandatory federal BMPS.The area has lain idle for so long that hydrologic modifications arenecessary to resume operations. This does not refer to temporarywater management techniques such as minor drainage, plowing,bedding and seeding which are exempt, normal silvicultural activi-ties as long as they don’t result in the conversion of wetlands touplands. However, it does apply to reopening ditches which wereonce established as permanent wetland drainage structures buthave lost their effectiveness for this purpose as they filled in with soiland vegetation.

A 404 Permit is required when:Farm System or Steward-ship ProgramOwnership and man-agement by a timbercompany or individualwhose purpose is timberproduction.

While past manage-ment may have been rela-tively non-intensive, inten-sification of managementinvolving artificial regen-eration and other practicescan occur as part of a con-ventional rotation and beconsidered an establishedoperation.

Although wetland regu-lations do not require awritten forest manage-ment plan, it is in alandowner’s best interestto document that opera-tions are established, thatBMPS are implemented andeffective, and that activi-ties are consistent withother Section 404 exemp-tion criteria.

A change in ownershiphas no bearing on whethera forestry operation is partof an established, ongoingactivity. Continuation orstrict adherence to a man-agement plan written forthe previous owner is notrequired by Section 404 sil-vicultural exemptions.

Note: Forestry activities oroperations require a 404permit from the Corps ofEngineers under the condi-tions listed in the adjacentpanel.


The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Federal

Register, 1982) and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (Federal Register, 1980)jointly define wetlands as:

“Those areas that are inundated or

saturated by surface or groundwater at

a frequency or duration sufficient to

support and, under normal circum-

stances, do support a prevalence of

vegetation typically adapted for life in

saturated soil conditions. Wetlands

generally include swamps, marshes,

bogs, and similar areas.”

LEGAL DEFINITION OF WETLANDS

Established by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE)

Hydrophytic vegetation — plants that havethe ability to grow, effectively compete, re-produce, and / or persist in anaerobic soilconditions.

Hydric soils — soils that are saturated, flooded,or ponded long enough during the growingseason for anaerobic conditions to develop.

Wetland hydrology — inundated by watersufficient to support hydrophitic vegetationand develop hydric soils.

All three must be present under normalcircumstances for an area to be identified

as a jurisdictional wetland.

Criteria for Delineating Wetlands

Forest Wetlands


PLANNING IN WETLANDS

Planning for timber har-vesting is an often over-looked step in silviculturalactivities. When working inwetlands or wetland-likeareas, planning is essential.To facilitate planning, iden-tify and mark the locationof waterbodies and othersensitive areas using aerialphotographs, topographicmaps or soil surveys. (SeeAppendix II, Page 69).

Forest Wetlands

The photos on these two pagesillustrate examples of four typicalLouisiana wetlands.

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Forest Wetlands

ACCESS SYSTEMS

Roads provide access for timber removal, fire protection, hunting, routine forestmanagement activities, and other multiple use objectives. When properly constructedand maintained, roads will have minimal impact on water quality, hydrology, andother wetland functions.

MANDATORY ROAD BMPs

As mandated by Amendments to the Clean Water Act, forest roads in jurisdictionalwetlands including “waters of the United States” must be constructed and maintainedin accordance with the following mandatory Best Management Practices to retainSection 404 exemption status:

1. Permanent roads, temporary access roads, and skid trails in waters of the U.S. shall be held to the minimumfeasible number, width, and total length consistent with the purpose of specific silvicultural operations andlocal topographic and climatic conditions.

2. All roads, temporary or permanent, shall be located sufficiently far from streams or other water bodies (exceptportions of such roads that must cross water bodies) to minimize discharge of dredged or fill material intowaters of the U.S.

3. The road fill shall be bridged, culverted or otherwise designed to prevent the restriction of expected flood flows.4. The fill shall be properly stabilized and maintained to prevent erosion during and following construction.5. 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 ofthe U.S. (including adjacent wetlands) that lie outside the lateral boundaries of the fill itself.

6. In designing, constructing, and maintaining roads, vegetative disturbance in the waters of the U.S. shall bekept to a minimum.

7. The design, construction, and maintenance of the road crossing shall not disrupt the migration or othermovement of those species of aquatic life inhabiting the water body.

8. Borrow material shall be taken from upland sources whenever feasible.9. 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.10. Discharges into breeding and nesting areas for migratory waterfowl, spawning areas, and wetlands shall be

avoided if practical alternatives exist.11. The discharge shall not be located in the proximity of a public water supply intake.12. The discharge shall not occur in areas of concentrated shellfish population.13. The discharge shall not occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System.14. The discharge of material shall consist of suitable material free from toxic pollutants in toxic amounts.15. All temporary fills shall be removed in their entirety and the area restored to its original elevation.

15 Federally Mandated BMPs for Roads


PERMANENT ROADS

Construct and maintain permanent roads in forested wetlandsaccording to the 15 mandatory BMPS listed opposite.

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 anestablished road system that may lead to water quality pollutionduring and after the management activity.

If applicable, construct roads well before the management activityto allow roads to stabilize.

Construct fill roads only when necessary. Road fills should be as lowas possible to natural ground level and should include adequatecross-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 shouldbe 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 bearingcapacity 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.

BMPs for Permanent RoadsPermanent roads are con-structed to provide all ornearly all-season access forsilvicultural activities, andare maintained regularly.Construction of permanentroads in wetlands and wet-land like areas should beminimized.

Forest Wetlands


Forest Wetlands

TEMPORARY ROADS AND SKID TRAILS

Roads provide access for timber removal, fire protection, hunting, routine forestmanagement activities, and other multiple use objectives. When properly con-structed and maintained, roads will have minimal impact on water quality, hydrol-ogy, and other wetland functions.

ROAD MAINTENANCE

As mandated by Amendments to the Clean Water Act, forest roads in jurisdictionalwetlands including “waters of the United States” must be constructed and maintainedin accordance with the following Best Management Practices to retain Section 404exemption status.

Construct and maintain temporary roads in forested wetlandsaccording to the 15 mandatory BMPS.

Favor temporary roads over permanent roads when possible. Whenproperly constructed, temporary roads will have less impact on thehydrology of forested wetlands than permanent roads.

Temporary road fill should be removed and the area restored to itsoriginal elevation upon completion of operations.

BMPs for Temporary Roads and Skid Trails

All drainage structures should be inspected andmaintained, especially following unusually heavyrains.

Ditches, culverts, and other water flow struc-tures should be kept free of debris.

BMPs for Road Maintenance


Forest Wetlands

HARVEST OPERATIONS IN WETLANDS

Harvest during dry periods if possible to minimize rutting.

Use low pressure / high flotation tires or wide tracks where possible,so that excessive damage to residual stand will not occur.

Keep skidder loads light when rutting is evident.

Fell trees away from watercourses if possible.

During harvesting, remove any obstructions in channels resultingfrom harvesting operations.

Limit operations on sensitive sites and in SMZS during periods of wetweather.

BMPs for Wetland Harvest OperationsHarvesting should be donewith consideration to sea-son, stand composition, soiltype, soil moisture, and thetype of equipment that isused. When done correctly,harvesting can benefit siteproductivity for future for-ests, improve regeneration,and benefit the overall hy-drologic function of a wet-land site.

RUTTING

Ruts should not be present to the extentthat they impede, restrict, or changenatural water flows and drainages. Thedetermination of excessive rutting ishighly subjective and must be made

only by a forester or other qualifiedindividual who evaluates rutting extent,depth, soil type, direction and position,and other local factors.


Forest Wetlands

SITE PREPARATION IN WETLANDS

The following are circumstanceswhere mechanical site preparationactivities do not require a permit:

NO PERMIT REQUIRED

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

1 These guidelines were developed for the establishment of pine plantations and does not apply to, restrict, or require a permitfor mechanical site preparation for the establishment of hardwood plantations.

2 Mechanical silvicultural site preparation activities include shearing, raking, ripping, chopping, windrowing, piling and othersimilar methods used to cut, break apart, or move logging and other debris following harvesting for the establishment of pineplantations.

3 These BMPS firmly establish that forestry site preparation activities including shearing, raking, moving logging slash,windrowing, piling, etc. are part of normal silviculture; therefore, implementation of the mechanical site preparations BMPS

does not constitute “land clearing” or other non-exempt activities.

Mechanical silvicultural site prepara-tion2 is a non-permitted activity in wet-lands that are:

Seasonally flooded — Characterized by surfacewater that is present for extended periods, espe-cially early in growing season and is absent by theend of the season in most years but water table isoften near the surface.

Intermittently flooded — Characterized by sub-strate that is usually exposed, but where surfacewater is present for variable periods without detect-able season periodicity.

Temporarily flooded or saturated — Character-ized by surface water that is present for brief periodsduring the growing season, but also by a water tablethat usually lies well below the soil surface for mostof the season.

Historically 25% or more pine — Conducted inpine plantations and other silvicultural sites thatoriginally or historically contained more than 25%pine in the canopy (except as listed under “permitrequired,” next page — circumstances which do

require a permit). Examples typical of these wet-lands include pine flatwoods, pond pine flatwoodsand wet flats, such as certain pine-hardwood forests.

The site preparation activity is con-ducted in a manner designed to mini-mize impacts to the aquatic ecosystemand are conducted according to the sixBMPS3 listed below:

Minimize soil disturbance — Position shear bladesor rakes at or near the soil surface and windrow, pile,and otherwise move logs and logging debris bymethods that minimize dragging or pushing throughthe soil to minimize soil disturbance associated withshearing, raking, and moving trees, stumps, brush,and other unwanted vegetation.

Avoid soil compaction — Conduct activities insuch a manner as to avoid excessive soil compactionand maintain soil tilth.

Site preparation activities in forested wetlands for the establishment of pine planta-tions1 in Louisiana may or may not require a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit.


The following are circumstanceswhere mechanical site preparationactivities require a permit:

PERMIT REQUIRED

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Limit erosion and runoff — Arrange windrows insuch a manner as to limit erosion, overland flow,and runoff.

Keep logging debris out of SMZS — Prevent dis-posal or storage of logs or logging debris in stream-side management zones (defined areas adjacent tostreams, lakes, and other waterbodies) to protectwater quality.

Maintain natural contour and drainage — Main-tain the natural contour of the site and ensure thatactivities do not immediately or gradually convertthe wetland to a non-wetland.

Exercise water management — Conduct activi-ties with appropriate water management mecha-nisms to minimize off-site water quality impacts.

Semi-permanently flooded wetlands — characterized bysurface water throughout the growing season in mostyears and when absent, the water table is usually at ornear the land surface. Examples of these three typesinclude cypress gum swamps, muck and peat swampsand cypress strands / domes.

Riverine bottomland hardwood wetlands

Seasonally flooded floodplains — characterized by sea-sonally flooded or wetter river floodplain sites whereoverbank flooding has resulted in alluvial features suchas well-defined floodplains, bottom / terraces, naturallevees, and backswamps. Surface water present forextended periods, especially early in growing season,but absent by end of the season in most years, but watertable often near land surface. Field indicators includewater-stained leaves, drift lines and water marks ontrees.

Hardwoods dominant — hardwoods dominate thecanopy but do not include sites where more than 25%of canopy is pine.

Poorly drained soils — soil characteristics include listedhydric soils that are poorly drained or very poorlydrained.

Non-riverine forest wetlands — Are rare, high-quality, wet forests with mature vegetation; located onthe southeastern coastal plains, with hydrology domi-nated by high water tables representing two forestcommunity types.

Non-riverine wet hardwood forests — poorly drainedmineral soil interstream flats (comprising 10 or morecontiguous acres), typically on the margins of largerpeatland areas, seasonally flooded or saturated by highwater tables, with vegetation dominated (greater than50% of basal area per acre) by swamp chestnut oak,cherrybark oak, or laurel oak alone or in combination.

Non-riverine swamp forests — very poorly drained flats(comprising 5 or more contiguous acres), with organicsoils or mineral soils with high organic content, season-ally to frequently flooded or saturated by high watertables, with vegetation dominated by bald cypress,

A permit will be required in the follow-ing areas unless they have been so al-tered through past practices (includingthe installation and continuous main-tenance of water management struc-tures) as to no longer exhibit the distin-guishing characteristics described be-low (see “circumstances where mechani-cal silvicultural site preparation activi-ties do not require a permit” above).

Permanantly flooded, intermittently exposed,and semi-permanent flooded wetlands

Permanently flooded wetlands — characterized by waterthat covers land surface throughout the year in all years.

Intermittently exposed wetlands — characterized bysurface water throughout the year except in years ofextreme drought.


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Site preparation in forested wetlands, as out-lined under Permanently flooded wetlandsabove, should be conducted according to thesix BMPS listed under Riverine bottomlandhardwood wetlands on page 41.

BMPs for Pine Wetlands

Permanently flooded, intermittently exposedand semi-permanent flooded wetlands.

Riverine bottomland hardwood wetlands.

Non-riverine forest wetlands.

Tidal freshwater marshes.

Maritime grasslands, shrub swamps and swampforests.

AVOID

pond cypress, swamp tupelo, water tupelo, or Atlanticwhite cedar alone or in combination.

The term “high quality” refers to generally undisturbedforest stands, whose character is not significantly af-fected by human activities such as forest management.Non-riverine forest wetlands dominated by red maple,sweetgum, or loblolly pine alone or in combination arenot considered to be of high quality, and do not requirea permit.

Tidal freshwater marshes — Wetlands regularly orirregularly flooded by freshwater with dense herbaceousvegetation, on the margins of estuaries or drowned riversor creeks.

Maritime grasslands, shrub swamps andswamp forests — Barrier island wetlands in duneswales and flats; underlain by wet, murky or sandy soils,vegetated by wetland herbs, shrubs and trees.

Four other wetland types in addition to the five above —white cedar swamps, Carolina bay wetlands, low po-cosin wetlands and wet marl forests — require a permitfor mechanical silvicultural site preparation, but are notnormally found in Louisiana.

Note: Pine plantations that have alreadybeen established in the nine wetland typesare grandfathered and not subject to theabove prohibition. Thus, if a pine planta-tion already exists in the wetland types,no permit will be required for mechanicalsite preparation in order to continue pineplantation management on that site. Fur-ther, it is important to note that the aboveprohibition against mechanical site prepa-ration in the above wetlands does notpreclude pine management all together.Pine management can occur as long asthe pine trees can be established consis-tent with the other clearly exempt activi-ties including, harvesting, minor drain-age, seeding, plowing and cultivating.


Forest Wetlands

REFORESTATION IN WETLANDS

Reforestation in wetlands is not much different fromregenerating uplands, with regard to water quality; themain factors to consider are the sites’ potential forerosion and sedimentation, and for hydrology.

FOREST CHEMICALS IN WETLANDS

Follow all label instructions to the letter. Beaware that some chemicals are labeled for usein wetlands and some are not.

Conduct applications by skilled and, if required,licensed applicants.

Identify and establish buffer areas for movingsurface waters, especially for aerial applications.

BMPs for Chemicals in Wetlands

Do not allow spray or rinse water to enter SMZS.

AVOID

Use of chemical treatment should be lim-ited within an SMZ because of their pollutionpotential. Application of pesticides, includ-ing herbicides, should be made by injectionor directly. Forest fertilizer should be appliedin such a manner (such as rate, time, orfrequency of application) to prevent soil orwater pollution. If state and federal laws

regarding the proper use of silviculturalchemicals are adhered to and manufactur-ers label directions followed, the judicioususe of chemicals should not jeopardize anSMZ or the water it protects. Care should alsobe taken in areas adjacent to an SMZ toprevent the drift, spill, seepage, or wash ofchemicals into the SMZ or watercourse.


A variety of plants are found along the upland-bottomland interface.

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Louisiana’s Natural & Scenic Rivers

OVERVIEW

The following activities are prohibited,require a permit, or are exempted ad-jacent to or within 100 feet of the low-water mark of a state scenic stream:

SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES

HE LOUISIANA NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM is one of the nation’slargest, oldest, most diverse and unique state river protectioninitiatives. It currently includes 52 streams, rivers, bayous, streamcomplexes and segments thereof, totaling over 1,700 miles in

length. Additions or deletions to the Sce-nic River System are made by the Louisi-ana Legislature.

The system was proposed in the late1960s and adopted in the early 1970s withthe Louisiana Natural and Scenic River Act,which outlined requirements for a river tobe included. It also established a regulatoryprogram and empowered the Secretary ofthe Louisiana Department of Wildlife andFisheries (LDWF) to administer the systemthrough regulation and permits.

In 1978, the Legislature created a scenicriver task force, mandated to update theAct, set policy and establish regulations forfull implementation, and oversee plan-ning for system management by the LDWF.

Activities exempted from regulation by the act —While clearcutting of trees for commercial purposes within100 feet of the low water mark is prohibited, removal of aportion of the trees is allowed as follows:

Selective harvesting — The selective harvesting of treesfor commercial purposes is exempt under the followingdefinition: the removal of trees, either as single scat-

Prohibited activities — Certain activities which drasti-cally alter the natural and scenic qualities of streams in thesystem are prohibited by the State of Louisiana.

ChannelizationChannel realignmentClearing and snaggingImpoundmentsCommercial clearcutting within 100 feet of the low-water mark

Activities requiring permit — Any other activ-ity that may have a direct, significant ecologicalimpact on the river must be permitted by theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Inaddition, four other agencies — the Department ofEnvironmental Quality, Department of Agricultureand Forestry, Department of Culture, Recreationand Tourism, and the Office of State Planning —review permit applications. Activities which mustbe permitted, for example, include, but are notlimited to:

Bridge, pipeline and powerline crossingsBulkheads, piers, docks and rampsWaste water dischargesLand development adjacent to the riverAerial application of pesticides and fertilizers tofields adjacent to scenic streams.Water withdrawals

Contact the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fish-eries for permitting information under the LouisianaNatural & Scenic Rivers System.

Scenic River Permit Requirements


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Channelization

Channel realignment

Clearing and snagging

Impoundments

Commercial clearcutting of timber within 100feet of the low-water mark

AVOID

PROHIBITED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

tered individuals or in small groups at relatively shortintervals, resulting in openings generally less in widththan twice the height of the dominant trees. Repeatedindefinitely, selective harvesting ensures the continu-ous establishment of reproduction, and an unevenaged stand adequate to encourage and maintain streamshading and stream bank integrity.”

The cutting of trees for the control of disease or insects

The harvesting of timber for personal use by the personwho owns or leases the property

Permits are not required for harvestingtrees adjacent to natural and scenic rivers,as outlined above, provided that prior noti-

fication is given to the Louisiana Office ofForestry.

Disposal of trees or tree tops into aScenic River is a violation of both the StateWater Pollution Control Act and the Sce-nic Rivers Act. The riparian landowner isliable for a violation of this nature regard-less of who actually placed the trees ortops into the stream.

ACTIVITIES REQUIRING NOTIFICATION OF THE

LOUISIANA OFFICE OF FORESTRY

Selective harvest in 100 foot buffer

Cutting trees for insect and / or disease control

Harvesting trees for personal use

Bridge, pipeline and powerline crossings

Bulkheads, piers, docks and ramps

Waste water discharges

Land development adjacent to the river

Aerial application of pesticides and fertilizers tofields adjacent to scenic streams.

BMPs for Natural & Scenic Rivers

ACTIVITIES REQUIRING PERMIT


1. Abita River, St. Tammany — From its headwaters to itsentrance into the Bogue Falaya River.

2. Amite River, East Feliciana — From the Mississippi stateline to Louisiana Highway 37.

3. Bashman Bayou, St. Bernard — From its origin to BayouDupre.

4. Bayou Bartholomew, Morehouse — From the Louisiana-Arkansas state line to Dead Bayou.

5. Bayou Bienvenue, St. Bernard — From Bayou Villere toLake Borgne.

6. Bayou Chaperon, St. Bernard — From its point of origin toits end.

7. Bayou Chinchuba, St. Tammany — From the West Cause-way approach south to Lake Pontchartrain.

8. Bayou Cocodrie, Concordia — From Wild Cow Bayou toLittle Cross Bayou.

9. Bayou Cocodrie, Rapides, Evangeline — From U.S. High-way 167 to the Bayou Boeuf-Cocodrie Diversion Canal.

10. Bayou D’ Loutre, Ouachita, Union — From the Louisiana-Arkansas state line to its entrance into the Ouachita River.

11. Bayou Des Allemands, LaFourche, St. Charles — From LacDes Allemands to Lake Salvador.

12. Bayou Dorcheat, Webster — From the Arkansas state lineto its entrance into Lake Bistineau.

13. Bayou Dupre, St. Bernard — From the Lake Borgne Canalto Terre Beau Bayou.

14. Bayou La Branche, St. Charles — From its source to whereit drains into Lake Pontchartrain.

15. Bayou La Combe, St. Tammany — From its headwaters toLake Pontchartrain.

16. Bayou St. John, Orleans — From its point of origin to itsentrance into Lake Pontchartrain.

17. Bayou Trepagnier, St. Charles — From Norco to where itjoins Bayou La Branche.

18. Big Creek , Grant — From Highway 167 in Grant Parish toits entrance into Little River.

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12 27 10 36 4

19

28

40Caddo

DeSoto

Bossier Claiborne

Webster

Bienville

Lincoln

Jackson

Red River

Winn

Ouachita

Caldwell

Union Morehouse

Richland

Franklin

Natchitoches

34

33

29

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Madison

Tensas

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24

Catahoula

Concordia

Vernon

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Beauregard Allen

Evangeline

CalcasieuJefferson

DavisAcadia24

Rapides

Avoyelles

St. Landry

W. Feliciana

Pointe Coupee

Lafayette

Iberville

St. Martin (N)

E. Feliciana

WestBatonRouge

EastBatonRouge

St. Helena

Livingston

Ascension

2 48 44

45

26

20

21

39

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725

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15 50

30

35

Washington

Tangipah

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St. Tammany

St. John/Baptist

Assumption

Jefferson

St. Martin (S)

St. Mary

St. James

St. Charles

Orleans

St. Bernard

Plaquamines

La Fourche

Terrebonne

St. Bernard (E)

17 14 165

11

6 313

32 38 47CameronVermilion

Iberia

Iberia

LouisianaNatural andScenic Rivers

SystemThe bold numerals annotating thescenic rivers on the map are keyedto geographic descriptions of thoserivers in the text below.


19. Black Lake Bayou, Red River, Winn, Bienville — From theWebster-Bienville Parish line to Black Lake in NatchitochesParish.

20. Blind River, St. James, Ascension, Livingston, St. John —From its origin in St. James Parish to its entrance into LakeMaurepas.

21. Bogue Chitto River, Washington, St. Tammany — Fromthe Louisiana-Mississippi state line to its entrance into thePearl River Navigation Canal.

22. Bogue Falaya River, St. Tammany — The river from itsheadwaters to Louisiana Highway 437 in St. TammanyParish.

23. Bradley Slough (Bayou), St. Tammany — all of thatportion of the slough lying within the boundaries of St.Tammany Parish.

24. Calcasieu River, Vernon, Rapides — From Louisiana High-way 8 east through Vernon Parish and all of that portionof said river lying within the boundaries of Rapides Parish.Allen, Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu — From the mouth of theWhiskey Chitto River in Allen Parish, south through JeffersonDavis Parish, and to its intersection with the Ward EightPark in Calcasieu Parish.

25. Cane Bayou, St. Tammany — From its headwaters to LakePontchartrain.

26. Comite River, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge — From theWilson-Clinton Highway in East Feliciana Parish to theentrance of White Bayou in East Baton Rouge Parish.

27. Corney Bayou, Claiborne, Union — From the Louisiana-Arkansas state line to Corney Lake and Corney Lake Damto Lake D’Arbonne.

28. D’Arbonne Bayou, Union, Ouachita — From the LakeD’Arbonne Dam to its entrance into the Ouachita River.

29. Fish Creek, Grant — From its origin near Williana to itsentrance into Little River.

30. Holmes Bayou, St. Tammany — All of that portion of thebayou lying within the boundaries of of St. TammanyParish.

31. Kisatchie Bayou, Natchitoches — From its entrance intoKisatchie National Forest to its entrance into Old River.

32. Lake Borgne Canal (Violet Canal), St. Bernard — Fromthe Forty Arpent Canal to Bayou Dupre.

33. Little River, Rapides, Grant, Catahoula, LaSalle — From thejuncture of Dugdemona and Castor Creek to its entranceinto Catahoula Lake.

34. Middle Fork of Bayou D’Arbonne, Claiborne, Union —From its origin near Louisiana Highway 2 Alternate to LakeD’Arbonne.

35. Morgan River, St. Tammany — From its juncture with thePorters River to its re-entry into the West Pearl River.

36. Ouachita River, Morehouse, Union — From the north bankof Bayou Bartholomew at its intersection with the OuachitaRiver to the Arkansas state line.

37. Pearl Creek, Vernon — From Louisiana Highway 111 to itsentrance into Sabine River.

38. Pirogue Bayou, St. Bernard — From Bayou Dupre to NewCanal.

39. Pushepatapa Creek, Washington — From East Fork andWest Fork join near state line to where it breaks up prior toits entrance into the Pearl River.

40. Saline Bayou, Bienville, Winn, Natchitoches — From itsorigin near Arcadia Louisiana to Highway 156 in WinnParish.

41. Saline Bayou, Catahoula, LaSalle — From Saline Lake toLarto Lake.

42. Six Mile Creek, Allen, Vernon — Includes the East & WestForks and beginning at the boundary of Fort Polk MilitaryReservation (Lookout Road) and extending south throughVernon and Allen Parishes to its entrance into WhiskeyChitto Creek.

43. Spring Creek, Rapides — From Otis to Cocodrie Lake inRapides Parish.

44. Tangipahoa River, Tangipahoa — From the Mississippi-Louisiana state line to the I-12 crossing.

45. Tchefuncte River and its Tributaries, Washington,Tangipahoa, St. Tammany — From origin in TangipahoaParish to its juncture with the Bogue Falaya River, and fromthe Bogue Falaya River to Louisiana Highway 22, exclud-ing any tributaries thereto from the Bogue Falaya south toLouisiana Highway 22.

46. Ten Mile Creek, Rapides, Allen, Vernon — From the bound-ary of Fort Polk Military Reservation (Lookout Road) throughVernon Parish and all of that portion of said creek lyingwithin the boundaries of Rapides and Allen Parishes.

47. Terre Beau Bayou, St. Bernard — From Bayou Dupre tothe New Canal.

48. Tickfaw River, St. Helena — From the Louisiana-Missis-sippi state line to Louisiana Highway 42.

49. Trout Creek, LaSalle — From its origin near Highway 8 toits entrance into Little River.

50. West Pearl River, St. Tammany — From the confluence ofWilson and Bradley Sloughs to its entrance into LakeBorgne.

51. Whiskey Chitto Creek, Vernon — From the boundary ofFort Polk Military Reservation (Lookout Road) to the Vernon-Beauregard Parish line. Allen — From the BeauregardParish line to its entrance into the Calcasieu River.

52. Wilson Slough (Bayou), St. Tammany — All of thatportion of the slough lying within the boundaries of St.Tammany Parish.

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Louisiana’s Natural & Scenic Rivers

NOTIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL HARVESTING

LOUISIANA OFFICE OF FORESTRY (LOF)NOTIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL HARVESTINGADJACENT TO NATURAL AND SCENIC RIVERS

A. Date LOF notified

B. Name of designated natural or scenic river

C. Landowner

D. Location:

Parish Section

Township Range

E. Estimated date operation will begin

F. Estimated date operation will end

G. Person notifying LOF: 1. Name

2. Phone No.

H. LOF person receiving notice

I. Inspecting forester

J. Date inspected

K. Retain this form in district office files and send copy to:

Scenic River Coordinator Chief, Forest ManagementDepartment of Wildlife & Fisheries LA Office of ForestryP. O. Box 98000 P. O. Box 1628Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1628


Access road — A temporary or permanent access route forvehicular traffic.

Barriers — An obstruction, intended to restrict pedestrian,horse, or vehicular traffic to a specific location.

Bedding — A site preparation technique, usually in wetareas, whereby a small ridge of soil is formed as an elevatedplanting or seedbed.

Best management practices (BMPS) — Forest managementpractices, developed to minimize or prevent non-pointsource water pollution.

BMPs, 15 Mandatory — See page 36.

Borrow pit — An area that has been excavated for earthenmaterial.

Broad-based dip — A surface drainage structure specificallydesigned to drain water from an access road while allowingvehicles to maintain normal travel speeds.

Buffer strip — A relatively undisturbed section of forestadjacent to an area requiring special attention or protectionsuch as a stream or lake.

Channel — A natural stream which conveys surface runoffwater within well-defined banks.

Chemical site preparation — The use of herbicides tocontrol plant competition to prepare an area for theestablishment of a future forest either by artificial or naturalmeans.

Chopping — The flattening of vegetation remaining afterharvest in order to concentrate it near the ground.

Clearcutting — The total removal of a merchantable treecrop from an area.

Glossary

TERMS OF FOREST MANAGEMENT

Contour — An imaginary line on the surface of the earthconnecting points of the same elevation.

Contour line — A line drawn on a map connecting pointsof the same elevation.

Corduroy — Placing small poles side by side, perpendicularto the roadway, usually over a mat of woody vegetation.

Culvert — Pipe made of metal, plastic, or other suitablematerial; installed under roads to transmit water from theroadway or side ditches, storm runoff, seeps and drains.

Cut and fill — Process of earth moving by excavating partof an area and using the excavated material for adjacentembankments or road fill areas.

Disking — Tilling soil to enhance site preparation.

Diversion ditch — A drainage depression or ditch builtacross a slope to divert surface water from that slope.

Ephemeral stream — A water course generally without awell-defined channel that flows only in response to rainfall.These streams flow less than 20% of the year during normalrainfall conditions.

Erosion — The detachment and transportation of soilparticles.

Filter strip — A vegetated area of land separating a waterbody from forest management activities.

Firebreak (fire lane) — Naturally occurring or man-madebarriers to the spread of fire.

Fireline — A barrier used to stop the spread of fire, con-structed by removing fuel or rendering fuel inflammableusing water or fire retardant.


Ford — A natural or paved stream crossing suitable forshallow streams with stable bottoms.

Forest practices — An activity related to the growing, pro-tecting, harvesting, and processing of forest tree species.

Forestry — The science, the art and the practice of manag-ing and using for human benefit the natural resources thatoccur on and in association with forest lands.

Grade — The slope of a road, usually expressed as a percent.

Gully — An eroded channel at least 12 inches deep.

Harvesting — The removal of merchantable tree crops froman area.

Herbicide — Any chemical or mixture of chemicals in-tended to prevent the growth of or promote the removalof targeted trees, bushes, and/or herbaceous vegetation.

High-flotation equipment — Machinery that exerts lowground pressure.

Humus layer — The top layer of the soil formed by the decayof organic matter.

Intermittent stream — A watercourse that flows in a well-defined channel for 20–90% of the year during normalrainfall conditions.

Jurisdictional wetlands — Areas subject to the regulationsof the Clean Water Act of 1987; generally, concave or low-lying topographic forms that collect, store, or flow waterfrequently enough to favor a majority of plants that areadapted to saturated soil conditions.

Lateral ditch — A water turnout to move water from theroadway or road side ditches. It is the same as a wing ditchor diversion ditch.

Log deck — A place where logs are assembled for temporarystorage, loading and transportation.

Logging — The felling and transportation of wood prod-ucts from the forest to a delivery location.

Logging debris — The unutilized and generally unmarket-able accumulation of woody material, such as limbs, tops,and stumps, that remains after timber removal.

Low-water bridge — A stream crossing structure built withthe expectation that, during periods of high water or flood,water will flow over the structure.

Mineral soil — The layer of earth composed of sand, silt,and clay, in varying amounts, with less than 20% organicmatter in the surface layer.

Mulching — Covering an area loosely with some materialto hold soil in place and facilitate revegetation. Straw, bark,hay, or wood fibers are common mulches.

Natural channel — A water course created by the erosiveforces of water moving over land.

Natural regeneration — The planned regeneration of aforest that either uses existing trees as a source of seed orencourages sprouting from stumps or roots.

Non-point source pollution — Pollution which is 1) inducedby natural processes, including precipitation, seepage,percolation, and runoff; 2) not traceable to any discrete oridentifiable facility; 3) controllable through the utilizationof best management practices.

Nutrients — Mineral elements in the forest ecosystem suchas nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, usually insolublecompounds that are present naturally or they may beadded to the forest environment as forest chemicals, suchas fertilizer.

Organics — Particles of vegetative material in the water,which can degrade water quality by decreasing dissolvedoxygen and by releasing organic solutes during leaching.

Outfall protection — A rip-rap or aggregate placed at theoutlet of a culvert or water-control device to protect thatarea from erosion damage due to the force orvelocity of the outlet of water.

Outslope road — A road along a hill constructed so that thewater will flow across the road toward its downhill side.

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Perennial stream — A watercourse that flows continuously(at least 90% of the year) in a well-defined channel.

Pesticides — Any chemical substance that is used to controlundesirable insects, diseases, vegetation, animals, or otherforms of life.

Point source pollution — Sources of water pollution whichcan be traced to a specific place or location.

Pollution — The presence in a body of water (or soil or air)of substances of such character and in such quantities thatthe natural quality of the environment is impaired orrendered harmful to health and life or offensive to thesenses.

Prescribed burning — The controlled application of fire towild land fuels under such conditions of weather, fuelmoisture, etc. which allows the fire to be confined to apredetermined area and at the same time to produce theintensity of heat and rate of spread needed to furthercertain planned objectives (of silviculture, wildlife habitatmanagement, grazing, fire hazard reduction, etc.).

Permanent road — A high specification permanent roadwhich is maintained periodically and serves as a main arteryin a network of roads.

Parallel ditch — A drainage ditch alongside and parallel toa road.

Regeneration — The young tree crop replacing older treesremoved by harvest or disaster; the process of replacing oldtrees with young.

Residual trees — Live trees left standing after the comple-tion of harvesting.

Rill erosion — An erosion process in which numerous smallchannels only several inches deep are formed. Occursmainly on disturbed and exposed soils.

Riparian — The land adjacent to and pertaining to thebanks of streams, rivers, or other water bodies.

Rip-rap — Aggregate placed on erodible sites to reduce theimpact of rain or surface runoff on these areas.

Rutting — Tracks in the soil resulting from the passage ofheavy vehicles.

Rolling dip — Cross between a water bar and a broad-baseddip; it has a reverse grade, but is shorter than a broad-baseddip.

Salvage cut — Removal of trees that are dead or imminentlythreatened with death in order to utilize their wood beforeit is ruined by natural decay agents.

Scarify — To break up the forest floor and topsoil preparatoryto natural or direct seeding (or the planting of seedlings).

Secondary road — A road constructed for a particular useor single operation and normally abandoned upon comple-tion of the operation.

Sediment — Soil material suspended in air or water whichis being transported or moved from its original site; thematerial which is deposited.

Seedbed — The soil prepared by natural or artificial meansto promote the germination of seed and the growth ofseedlings. (also see log deck)

Set — A place where logs are assembled for temporarystorage, loading, and subsequent transportation.

Shearing — A site preparation method that involves cuttingbrush, trees, and other vegetation at the ground level usingtractors equipped with angled or v-shaped cutting blades.

Sheet erosion — The removal of a fairly uniform layer of soilfrom the soil surface by water runoff.

Side ditch — A drainage ditch alongside and parallel to aroad.

Silvicultural activities — All forest management activities,including intermediate cutting, harvest, log transporta-tion, and forest road construction (EPA interpretation).

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Silviculture — Generally, the science and art of cultivating(growing and managing) forest crops, based on a knowl-edge of silvics; and more particularly, the theory and practiceof controlling the establishment, composition, constitutionand growth of forests. (Society of American Foresters)

Site preparation — A general term for removing unwantedvegetation and other material — if necessary — and soilpreparation carried out before reforestation.

Skid trail — A route over which logs are moved from thelocation where the trees were felled to a landing or road.

Soil productivity — The output or productive capability ofa forest soil to grow timber crops.

Slope — Steepness of the land expressed as the amount (inpercent) of vertical fall per 100 ft. of horizontal distance.

Soil — The unconsolidated mineral and organic material onthe immediate surface of the earth that serves as a naturalmedium for the growth of land plants.

Soil conservation — Using the soil within the limits of itsphysical characteristics and protecting it from unalterablelimitations of climate and topography.

Stream — A well-defined natural channel that has a flowanywhere below its headwaters greater than 5 cubic feetper second at least 50% of the time (EPA—US Army Corps of

Engineers). A permanently or intermittently flowing body ofwater that follows a defined course.

Ephemeral stream flows during precipitation eventsand for a short period thereafter along a course that may ormay not have a well-defined channel.

Intermittent stream flows only during wet periods (20–90% of the year), in a continuous, well-defined channel.

Perennial stream flows most of the time (more than90% of the year) and flows in a well-defined channel.

Streambanks — The boundaries of a stream which containnormal flows.

Streamside management zone (SMZ) — Also known asriparian zones, these are sensitive areas adjacent to lakes,streams, and water courses where extra precautions incarrying out forest practices are necessary to protect waterquality.

Temporary road — A minimal road of short-term use,which links timberland parcels to a permanent road.

Turnout — Drainage ditch which drains water away fromroads. (see wing ditch)

Waterbar — A diversion dam constructed across a road ora trail to remove and disperse surface runoff in a mannerwhich adequately protects the soil resource and limitssediment transportation.

Water body — An area of standing water with relativelylittle or slow movement (pond, lake, bay, slough).

Water course — A definite channel with bed and bankswithin which concentrated water flows continuously or in-termittently.

Water pollution — Contamination or other alteration of thephysical, chemical or biological properties of any naturalwaters of the state, or other such discharge of any liquid,gaseous or solid substance into any waters of the state, as well,or is likely to create a nuisance or render such waters harmfulor detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare,or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recre-ational, or other legitimate beneficial uses, or to livestock, wildanimals, birds, fish or other aquatic life. (EPA definition)

Water quality — A term used to describe the chemical,physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually inrespect to its suitability for a particular purpose.

Watershed area — All land and water within the confines ofa drainage divide.

Wetlands — Geographic area characteristically supportinghydrophytes, hydric soils, and some saturation or floodingduring the growing season.

Windrow — Slash, residue, and debris pushed and / orraked into rows.

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Wing ditch — A water turnout or diversion ditch con-structed to move and disperse water away from the roadand side ditches into adjacent undisturbed areas so that thevolume and velocity of water is reduced on slopes. It is thesame as a lateral or diversion ditch.


Appendix I: Road Specifications

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOREST ROADS

The following is a simple list of recom-mended specifications for forest roads.

Roads should follow ridges as much aspossible with road grades between 2%to 10%. Grades steeper than 10% shouldnot exceed 500 feet in length and slopesgreater than 15% should not exceed200 feet in length. By breaking or chang-ing grade frequently fewer erosion prob-lems will result than by using long,straight, continuous grades.

On highly erodible soils, grades shouldbe 8% or less, but grades exceeding12% for 150 feet may be acceptable aslong as measures are taken to preventerosion. Graveling the road surface canhelp maintain stability.

Intermittent or perennial streams shouldbe crossed using bridges, culverts, orrock fords. Cross as close to a right angleto the stream as possible. Structuresshould be sized so as not to impede fishpassage or stream flow (see pipe culvertrecommended specifications, page 66;and size chart, page 62).

Install water turnouts prior to a streamcrossing to direct road runoff water intoundisturbed areas of the streamsidemanagement zone (SMZ). Road gradi-ents approaching water crossingsshould be changed to disperse surfacewater at least 50 feet from the stream.With the exception of stream crossings,roads should be located a minimumdistance of 50 feet from any flowing oridentifiable stream. Distance is mea-

sured from the bank to the edge of soildisturbance, or in case of fills, from thebottom of the fill slope.

Outslope the entire width of a roadwhere road gradient and soil type willpermit. Usually inslope the road to-ward the bank as a safety precautionon sharp turns, steep road gradients, orslippery soils. Use cross drainage oninslope or crowned roads to limit traveldistance of runoff water.

Where roads are insloped or crowned,and gradients begin to exceed 2% formore than 200 feet, broad-based dipsor rolling dips should be placed withinthe first 25 feet of the beginning of theincline.

Haul roads that intersect highwaysshould use gravel, mats or other meansto keep mud off the highway.

At culverts and dips, install rip-rap orother devices at the outlets to absorband spread water, if needed.

Use brush barriers or check dams asneeded along roads and sensitive areasto filter sediment.

Control the flow of water on road sur-faces by keeping drainage systems openand intact during logging operations.

Inspect roads at regular intervals todetect and correct potential mainte-nance problems.



WING DITCHES

Definition: A water turnout, or diversionditch constructed to move and dispersewater away from the road and side ditchesinto adjacent undisturbed areas so thatthe volume and velocity of water is re-duced on slopes.

Purpose: To collect and direct road sur-face runoff from one or both sides of theroad away from the roadway and intoundisturbed areas.

Conditions where practice applies: Anyroad or trail section where water couldaccumulate or accelerate. The watershould be diverted onto undisturbed ar-eas so the volume and velocity is reduced.

RECOMMENDEDSPECIFICATIONS

The wing ditch should intersect theroadside ditch line at the same depthand be outsloped to a maximum gradeof 2%.

On sloping roads, the wing ditch shouldleave the road ditch line at a 30 to 45degree angle to the roadbed and bedownsloped less than 2% of the natu-ral contour.

Wing ditches may often be needed toprovide stable outlets for other watercontrol devices such as water bars anddips, but additional turnouts may alsobe needed along stretches of road wherewater is expected to collect. The spac-ing of wing ditches will be determinedby the topography and relief of thearea. Soil texture should also be con-sidered for wing ditch spacing. Onhighly erodible or sandy soils wingditches / turnouts should be spacedcloser together than on clay soils.

Wing ditches should not feed directlyinto adjacent drainages, gullies orchannels.

Wing ditches should be installed or cutsolidly into the soil and wide enough toallow maintenance with logging equip-ment, such as skidders.

Slope MaximumRange Distance

BetweenWing Ditches/

Turnouts(Feet)

Flat 2% 2503% 2204% 1905% 160

Moderate 6% 1447% 1288% 1129% 96

Steep 10% 8011% 60

Recommended Wing Ditch Spacing


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Basic Specifications for Water Turnout Installation

Purposes — To safely divert water from a side ditch anddisperse it onto a stable outlet.

Construction guidelines — Constructing wing ditchesor water turnouts with as flat a bottom as possible:

Begin the ditch with its bottom at the same depthas the road ditchAngle the turnout away from the road to direct allthe water from the road ditchThe curve the wind ditch across the hill to flattenout the grade in the ditch — however, be carefulnot to turn it back uphillBlend or feather the end onto a stable outlet tospread the water as much as possibleavoid building turnouts that release water directlyinto streams

Distance guidelines — Water turnouts or wing ditchesmay often be needed to provide stable outlets for otherwater control devices such as water bars and dips, butadditional turnouts may also be needed along stretchesof road where water is expected to collect.

Water Dispersal AreaTurns Downslope

Typical Wing Ditch Bar



STREAM CROSSINGS

Definition: Culverts, bridges, or rock fordsthat allow equipment to cross intermit-tent or perennial streams, or drains anddrainage ditches, and insure minimalnegative impact to the stream.

Purpose: To cross intermittent or peren-nial streams with minimal increase instream sedimentation.

Conditions where practice applies: Usedfor ongoing operations where streams ordrainages must be crossed by logging, sitepreparation, road maintenance, and firesuppression equipment.


General

Aggregate or other suitable materialshould be laid on approaches to fords,bridges, and culvert crossings to ensurea stable roadbed approach and mini-mize sediment in the stream.

When necessary, stabilize road surfacesand cut and fill slopes using effectiveerosion control and water control meth-ods (seeding, commercial erosion con-trol material, rip-rap, etc.)

Stream crossings will require frequentinspections during operations to deter-mine their functional and safe condi-tion. When needed, corrective mea-sures should be taken immediately torestore to full functioning.

Remove culverts and bridges from tem-porary stream crossings upon comple-tion of operations and return the cross-ing as closely as possible to its originalcondition.

Bridges

Bridges should be constructed withminimum disturbance to the streambank, channel and adjacent SMZ.

When it is necessary to protect ap-proaches and roadbed fills near bridges,adequate erosion protection should beprovided by head walls, wing walls, riprap, etc.

The use of temporary bridges may benecessary to minimize stream bankdisturbances and provide a means oftemporary access to critical areas whenpermanent structures are not warrantedor needed.

Fords

Rock fords may be used if no practicalalternative exists. Approaches, streambanks, and stream bottoms must behard enough or sufficiently stabilizedto minimize stream bottom and bankdisturbance.


Basic Specifications for Culvert Design and Installation

Definitions

Peak runoff is the accumulated amount, in cubic feet persecond, of a storm’s runoff from an entire drainage area.Factors that affect runoff include vegetative cover, slopesand soils. The design guidelines included in this sectionare calculated on a 5-inch, 24-hour storm occurrence.

Head is the vertical column of water that is temporarilystacked over the culvert’s entrance. Head provides theenergy needed to force water through the culvert. Thegreater the head, the more water that can be forcedthrough the pipe.

Construction guidelines

Culverts should be placed in straight sections ofstream channelsThe stream should have as straight an entrance andoutlet as possibleThe inlet should be placed on the stream bed, notabove itThe approach to the stream crossing should be atright angles to the streamSeat the culvert on firm ground, not fill, and com-pact the earth at least halfway up the side of theculvert18” of compacted fill over culverts is recommended

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Basic Specifications for Installation of Fords

If fords (low-water crossings) are used

Look for stream crossings that have low banks andsolid stream bedsLook for stream sections that can accommodateapproaches of about 50 feet on both sides, and thatare reasonably levelStabilize immediately, and if necessary use heavyapplications of gravel

Make crossings at right angles to the stream andonly in straight sections, never in bendsInstall wing ditches, waterbars or dips before thecrossing; this will drain water off the side of the roadrather than into the streamUse other stream crossing methods such as culvertsor bridges if water quality is important for domesticuse, livestock water, fishponds, etc.Never use during high water periods

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CULVERTS FOR ROADS

Definition: Pipe made of metal, plastic,or other suitable material installed underhaul roads to transmit water from theroad side ditch, storm runoff, seeps anddrains.

Purpose: To collect and transmit watersafely from side ditches, seeps or naturaldrains under haul roads and skid trailswithout eroding the drainage system orroad surface.

Conditions where practice applies: Cul-verts can be used for any size operationwhere cross drainage of water is needed.In some cases, a culvert is necessary fortemporary drainage crossings. Permanentinstallation should be periodically in-spected for obstructions.


Pipe length should be long enough soboth ends extend at least one foot be-yond the side slope of fill material.

The culvert should be placed 1% to 2%downgrade to prevent clogging andlaid so the bottom of the culvert is asclose as possible to the natural grade ofthe ground or drain.

The culvert should be angled 30 to 45degrees to the direction of water flow.

Erosion protection should be providedfor outflows of culverts to minimizeerosion downslope or downstream ofthe outfall; it may also be needed onthe upstream end of culverts on flow-ing streams. This protection can be inthe form of headwalls, rip rap, geo-textile filter cloth, large stone, or pre-fabricated outflow and inflow devices.

Culverts should be firmly seated andearth compacted at least halfway upthe side of the pipe. Cover, equal to aminimum of half the culvert diameter(preferably 1 foot fill per 1 foot culvertdiameter), should be placed above theculvert — but never use less than onefoot of cover. The distance betweenpipes in a multiple culvert applicationshould be a minimum of half the pipediameter.


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Culvert Size Chart

Light Soils(SANDS)

Flat Mod Steep(%) (%) (%)

0–5 5–15 15+

18 18 1818 18 1818 18 1818 18 1818 18 1818 18 1818 21 2121 21 2421 24 2424 30 3027 30 3030 36 3630 36 4236 36 42

AcresDrained

5102030405075

100150200250300350400

Medium Soils(LOAMS)


0–5 5–15 15+

18 18 2121 24 2724 27 3627 30 3627 36 4230 36 4836 4236 484248

Heavy Soils(CLAYS)


0–5 5–15 15+

21 21 2427 27 3636 36 4236 42 4842 4848 48

C u l v e r t D i a m e t e r i n I n c h e s



BROAD-BASED DIPS

Definition: A surface drainage structurespecifically designed to drain water froman access road, while allowing all vehiclesto maintain normal travel speeds.

Purpose: To gather surface water anddirect it off the road to prevent buildup ofsurface runoff and subsequent erosion,while allowing passage of traffic.

Conditions where practice applies: Usedon truck haul roads and heavily used skidtrails having a gradient of 8% or less.Should not be used for stream crossings.


Installation should take place follow-ing basic clearing and grading for road-bed construction.

A 20-foot long, 3% reverse grade isconstructed into the existing roadbedby cutting from upgrade of the diplocation.

The cross drain outslope will be 2% to3% maximum.

An energy absorber such as rip rap and,in some cases, a level area where thewater can spread, should be installed atthe outfall of the dip to reduce watervelocity thus minimizing erosion.

On some soils the dip and reverse gradesection may require bedding with threeinches of crushed stone to avoid ruttingthe road surface.

Broad-based dips are very effective ingathering surface water and directingit safely off the road. Dips should beplaced across the road in the directionof water flow.

Approximate recommended spacingtable for broad-based dips.

Slope DistanceBetween

Broad-based(%) Dips (Feet)

Flat 2% 3003% 2334% 2005% 180

Moderate 6% 1667% 1578% 150

Recommended Broad-basedDip Spacing



ROLLING DIPS

Definition: Rolling dips are a cross be-tween water bars and broad-based dips.Like broad-based dips they have a reversegrade (except its shorter) and they directwater off the road. Like water bars theymay rely on a mound of soil at the down-hill side. Rolling dips should be used onroads with a steeper grade than where abroad-based dip is used.

Purpose: To gather water and direct itsafely off the road to prevent buildup ofsurface runoff and subsequent erosion,while allowing passage of traffic.

Conditions where practice applies: Usedon truck haul roads and heavily used skidtrails having a gradient of 15% or less.Should not be used for crossing streams,springs, and seeps.


Installation following basic clearingand grading for roadbed constructionor on skid trails after logging is com-pleted.

A 10 to 15-foot long, 3% to 8% reversegrade is constructed into the roadbedby cutting from upgrade to the diplocation and then using cut material tobuild the mound for the reverse grade.

In hills, rolling dips are located to fit theterrain as much as possible. They shouldbe spaced according to the slope of theplanned roadbed.

Spacing rolling dips can be determinedfrom the adjacent table.

Slope DistanceBetween

Broad-based(%) Dips (Feet)

Flat 2% 3003% 2334% 2005% 180

Moderate 6% 1678% 150

Steep 9% 14411% 13613% 13115% 127

Recommended RollingDip Spacing


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Basic Specifications for Rolling Dip Installation

Definition — Rolling dips are a cross between waterbars and broad-based dips. Like broad-based dips, theyhave a grade (a shorter one) and they direct water fromthe roadway. Like water bars, they may also rely on amound of soil at the down-hill side.

PurposesTo gather water and direct it safely off the roadwayTo provide cross-drainage of inside ditches

Where suitableNot for handling live (constantly running) water

On roads that will be usedCan be employed on steeper grades than broad-based dips

Construction guidelinesPlace across the road in the direction of flowOutslope the dip only, not the roadMound excavated material from the dip on thedown-hill sideBlend the mound to as gentle a slope as possible, tomake traveling over it easier



WATERBARS

Definition: A diversion dam constructedacross a road or trail to remove and dis-perse surface runoff in a manner whichadequately protects the soil resource andlimits sediment transportation.

Purpose: To gather and shed surface wa-ter off a road, firebreak, trail, etc. ; Toprevent excessive erosion until natural orartificial revegetation can be established;To divert water from an inside (uphill)ditch.

Conditions where practice applies: Thisis a practice that can be utilized on limiteduse roads, trails and firebreaks and aban-doned or retired roads and trails wheresurface water runoff may cause erosion ofexposed soil.


Waterbars should be placed at an angleof 30 to 45 degrees to the road, fire-break or trail. Waterbars are not dams.Waterbars intercept and / or divertsurface water runoff.

Recommended proper spacing betweenwaterbars can be determined from thetable, below left.

The outflow end of the waterbar shouldbe fully open and extend far enoughbeyond the edge of the road or trail tosafely disperse runoff water onto theundisturbed forest floor. The outletshould fall no more than 2%.

Specifications for waterbar construc-tion on forest roads, trails and fire-breaks must be site specific and shouldbe adapted to existing soil and slopeconditions.

Grade Distanceof Road Between

Waterbars(Feet)

Flat 2% 2503% 2204% 1905% 160

Moderate 6% 1447% 1288% 1129% 96

Steep 10% 8011% 60

Recommended Waterbar Spacing


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Basic Specifications for Waterbar Installation

PurposesTo gather and shed surface water off a road, trail,firebreak, etc.To divert water from an inside ditchTo prevent excessive erosion until revegetation canbe established

Where suitableRoads and trails that will have no or very limitedtrafficAbandoned or retired roads and trailsFirebreaks

Construction guidelinesAngle across the road in the down-grade directionTie the upper end into the inside ditch’s bank, whenpresentEmpty onto stable outletsCan be constructed mechanically or by hand

Note: See the waterbar spacing guidelines displayed inthe small table on the opposite page. In addition todistance between waterbars, consider taking advantageof factors such as slope changes, curves and presence ofstable outlets.


Tree farmers practice sustainable forestry. That means they share a unique commitment to producewood for America’s needs while protecting our soil, water, and wildlife resources and providingrecreation from our woodlands.

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Appendix II: Planning Tools

EVALUATING SLOPE

Definition: Slope is the steepness of theland expressed as the amount (in percent)of vertical fall per 100 feet of horizontaldistance. For example, a 3% slope meansa three foot change in elevation per 100feet of horizontal distance.

Importance of slope: Slope along withsoil texture (sand, loam, clay) and groundcover determines how fast water will drainfrom an area. Water drains quickly fromsteep slopes, however erosion may be aproblem. Flat surfaces may result in satu-rated soils. Slope can be managed duringroad design and layout.

Estimating slope: Slope can be dividedinto three broad categories: flat, moderate,and steep. Standing downhill, and facinguphill, try to look level back into the hill.To help keep your line of sight level, faceuphill with your arm stretched out in frontof you with a pencil (or a rolled up dollarbill) pointing up out of your fist. Lookingover the tip of the pencil will keep yoursight level. Estimate the horizontal, leveldistance between you and where your lineof sight hits the ground. Divide the heightdistance by horizontal distance to deter-mine the percent of slope. Instrumentscan be obtained to increase accuracy: anAbney level for $100+, a clinometer for$100, or a slope gauge for $40.

Other sources of slope information:

USGS topographic maps

Soil surveys

Soils maps



EVALUATION OF AERIAL PHOTOS

Definition: Aerial photographs or “maps”are high altitude photos taken in a veryconcise and systematic manner. Althoughmaps can be made in color and eveninfrared, the most commonly used aerialphotos are black and white. The top of themap is usually north.

Information provided:

Boundaries and timber types (for ex-ample, on aerial photos, pines appeardarker than hardwoods)Drainage patternsRoads, buildings, etc.

Scale: Aerial photos come in many scalessuch as 1” = 660’, 1320’, etc. It is impor-tant to know the photo scale before using.

Sources for aerial photo information:

Natural Resources Conservation ServiceFarm Services AgencyLouisiana Department of Agricultureand ForestryPrivate vendors


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Forest Hill, Louisiana

1:24,000

Aerial photographs are valuable planning tools.

Natural Resources Conservation Service photo



EVALUATION OF SOIL MAPS

Definition: Soils maps are aerial photo-graphs on which the types are delineated.Soils are classified, mapped, and pub-lished by the Natural Resources Conser-vation Service into a book called a SoilSurvey. A Soil Survey can be obtained atyour local NRCS office.

Use for soil maps:

Plan routesAvoid problem areas such as wet areasPlan where and how to cross streamsEstimate slopes that may be encoun-teredDetermine drainage patterns

Soil surveys and soils maps are impor-tant planning tools, but an on-site checkof the exact soil type and slope is essential.


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Soil maps are available in each Louisiana parish. They are available to the public at the local (USDA)Natural Resources Conservation office.

Natural Resources Conservation Service map



EVALUATION OF TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

Definition: Topographic maps or “quadsheets” are printed maps that portray therelief of the landscape. In addition, theyalso display physical features such asroads, buildings, rivers, and creeks.

Scale: The most common used topo-graphic map is the 7.5 minute map whichhas a scale of 1:24,000 or 1 inch = 2,000feet. In any case, scale is displayed at thebottom of the map.

Relief: Changes in elevation are shownby a series of contour interval lines. Theselines represent a point’s elevation abovesea level. Any point along a line is thesame elevation as any other point on thesame line. The closer the contour lines areto each other, the steeper the slope. Theelevation distance between the lines isusually 5 or 10 feet. This information isgiven at the bottom center of the map.The elevation is frequently printed alongseveral of the contour lines.

Determining slope: Determine the eleva-tion change between two points from thecontour lines, being sure to use the propercontour interval. Divide this change bythe distance between the two points, us-ing the scale at the bottom of the map.Multiply by 100 to get the percent slope.


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Topographic maps are available from most forestry and engineering suppliers.

Natural Resources Conservation Service map



EVALUATION OF DRAINAGE AREA

Definition: Drainage area, or watershed,is the total number of acres which drain toa common point, such as a culvert, creekcrossing, or bridge. Determining the acre-age in the watershed is important in siz-ing culverts, locating stream crossings, orlocating bridges.

Using topographic maps: Topographicmaps show changes in elevation by aseries of contour lines. These lines can beused to determine which slopes drainthrough an area. To determine the water-shed, it is helpful to remember two things:

On hilltops, contour lines will form asmall, roughly circular shape.

On contour lines with fingerlike projec-tions, the fingers point uphill.

The watershed can be defined by drawingarrows in the direction of drainage to thecommon point.

Determining areas: After the watershedis drawn, the number of acres in the areacan be estimated. For a topographic mapwith a scale of 1:24,000 (a 7.5 minutemap) the table below can be used as aquick guide.

Facsimile / Shape Acres

Head of pencil eraser 5

Dime 40

Nickel 50

Quarter 70

1” X 1” square 90

Guide for Area Estimation on7.5-Minute Topographic Maps


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Estimating Storm Runoff for Culvert Sizing

Estimation guidelines

Using appropriate maps (like topo map, left), esti-mate the drainage area for the stream crossing site.Using either a soils map or testing the texture by feel,determine if the drainage is predominantly sandy,loamy or clayey.Determine the average slope class (flat, moderate orsteep) of the drainage area. Although most drainageareas will be either flat or moderate, do not considerthe crossing site only, but the whole drainage area.Using the table below, determine the runoff for a 5-inch, 24-hour storm for the appropriate drainagearea, soil type and slope class.

Sample Topographic Map

Peak Runoff from A 5-Inch Storm, in Cubic Feet per Second

Acres Flat Slopes Moderate Slopes Steep SlopesSand Loam Clay Sand Loam Clay Sand Loam Clay

5 ....................................... 4 ........ 9 ..... 15 ................. 6 ...... 12 ..... 19 ................. 8 ...... 14 ..... 2010 ....................................... 7 ...... 14 ..... 24 ............... 11 ...... 21 ..... 35 ............... 15 ...... 27 ..... 4015 ....................................... 9 ...... 19 ..... 32 ............... 14 ...... 29 ..... 47 ............... 21 ...... 39 ..... 5720 ..................................... 11 ...... 23 ..... 40 ............... 17 ...... 35 ..... 60 ............... 26 ...... 50 ..... 7525 ..................................... 12 ...... 26 ..... 47 ............... 20 ...... 42 ..... 70 ............... 30 ...... 60 ..... 9230 ..................................... 14 ...... 30 ..... 52 ............... 23 ...... 47 ..... 80 ............... 35 ...... 70 ... 11035 ..................................... 15 ...... 32 ..... 60 ............... 25 ...... 52 ..... 90 ............... 40 ...... 77 ... 12540 ..................................... 17 ...... 35 ..... 65 ............... 27 ...... 57 ... 100 ............... 43 ...... 85 ... 14045 ..................................... 18 ...... 37 ..... 70 ............... 30 ...... 62 ... 120 ............... 47 ...... 95 ... 15050 ..................................... 19 ...... 40 ..... 75 ............... 32 ...... 67 ... 140 ............... 50 .... 100 ... 16575 ..................................... 25 ...... 52 ... 100 ............... 42 ...... 87 ... 160 ............... 67 .... 130 ... 230

100 ..................................... 30 ...... 65 ... 120 ............... 50 .... 110 ... 190 ............... 80 .... 170 ... 290


An example of rolling dips on a permanent road.

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Appendix III: Road Surface Area

DETERMINING ROAD SURFACE AREA

The following is intended as an aid todetermining the surface area of roads.

Determine the road acreage for eachsegment of the road system from theRoad Surface Area table given below.

Combine the acreage of each road seg-ment to determine the total acreage ofthe entire road system.

Multiply the total acreage of the roadsystem by the recommended applica-tion/acre of the appropriate revegetat-ing material (e.g., fertilizer, seed mix,mulch, etc.) to determine the totalamount of materials needed.

Guide for Determining Road Surface Area

RoadLength(FEET)

Road Width(FEET)

8 10 12 14 16 18 20

50 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.020 0.020 0.020 0.020100 0.022 0.020 0.030 0.030 0.040 0.040 0.050250 0.050 0.060 0.070 0.080 0.090 0.100 0.110500 0.090 0.120 0.140 0.160 0.180 0.210 0.230750 0.144 0.170 0.210 0.240 0.270 0.310 0.340

1,000 0.180 0.240 0.280 0.320 0.370 0.410 0.4601,500 0.280 0.340 0.410 0.480 0.550 0.620 0.6902,000 0.360 0.480 0.560 0.640 0.730 0.830 0.9205,000 0.920 1.150 1.380 1.610 1.800 2.070 2.3005,280 0.970 1.210 1.450 1.700 1.940 2.180 2.430

Wider road widths can be calculated by using multiples from the above table

A C R E S


The following is intended as an aid todetermining the surface area of otherdisturbed forest sites.

Determine the acreage of each disturbedforest site using the following formula:

average length X average width = total square feet

total square feet / 43,560 = acreage

Combine the acreage of each site todetermine the total acreage of all dis-turbed sites.

Multiply the total acreage of the dis-turbed sites by the recommended ap-plication / acre of the appropriate reveg-etating material, such as fertilizer, seedmix, and mulch, to determine the totalamount of materials needed.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

2 4 6

5 10 15

6 12 19

7 15 22

9 17 26

10 20 30

11 22 33

12 25 37

14 27 41

15 30 44

Surface Material Determination for Roads

Surfacing Material Thickness, inchesRoad Width, feet

CUBIC YARDS OF SURFACING MATERIAL PER 100 FEET OF ROAD LENGTH

8

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Appendix III: Road Surface Area

DETERMINING ROAD SURFACE MATERIAL


Appendix IV: Revegetation

REVEGETATING DISTURBED AREAS

Definition: The establishment of vegeta-tion on disturbed soil areas not expectedto naturally revegetate in time to preventerosion.

Purpose: To stabilize the soil and mini-mize the chance of erosion.

Conditions where practice applies: Onareas where activities expose mineral soiland where natural vegetation will notsuffice; thus operations may accelerateerosion and contribute sediment to drain-ages. Other areas to consider are thosewith highly erodible soils or those severelyeroded or gullied.


Site & Seedbed Preparations

All disturbed areas with a grade of 5percent or greater and/or which aresubject to excessive erosion should beseeded within the first 15 days of nextseeding season after construction asweather permits. These steep gradesand any other area with a high erosionpotential (such as sets, skid trails, andhaul roads) should be identified as soonas the operation is completed. See thetables on the following pages.

Water control measures and / or shap-ing of the land should be completed asthe operation is finished to guaranteethe stability of the site until a groundcover becomes established.

Seeding

Selected seed mixture may be broad-cast or drilled. Seeding is usually moresuccessful in the spring and fall. Broad-cast seed can be covered by dragging achain, brush, disk, or harrow or firm-ing with a roller or cultipacker, or bydrilling to ensure seed contact with thesoil (0.5–1 inch deep). Permanentgrasses may be seeded or sprigged intodead cover provided by temporary coverplants. A long-term perennial, fine-rooted seed mixture should be used formost effective erosion control.

The objective of seeding is to quicklyestablish a ground cover that will holdthe soil together under most condi-tions. Seed selection should considerthe season, the soil type, the availabil-ity of sunlight to the area to be seeded,and the cost of the seed. To get thedesired results, a combination of seedsmay be required.

Adapted plants — See the table, on thefollowing pages, Seed for Revegetation in

Louisiana, for a list of plants and theiradaptation by soil types.

Planting rates and dates — See thetable on the following pages, Revegeta-

tion – Planting Information.

When temporary cover plants such asannual, cool season crops are used, afollow-up to determine the need forpermanent vegetation is needed.


Legumes should always be used inmixes with grasses.

Sprigging Methods — Sprigged plantssuch as Bermuda grass can be plantedby sprigging either by hand or ma-chine, or broadcasting the sprigs andthen disking and firming with a roller.

Fertilizing — Apply 600 to 650 lbs. of 13-13-13 (or its equivalent) per acre ( these

rates are double normal rates) and ei-ther mix into the top 2–3” during seed-bed preparation or at the time of plant-ing. Care should be taken to insure thatthe fertilizer does not enter a stream. Toavoid stream contamination, it is rec-ommended that fertilizer not be appliedwithin the streamside managementzone. On small areas, fertilizer may bebroadcast manually with a spreaderprior to or at the time of seeding.

Seed for Revegetation in Louisiana

SpeciesRevegetation Type

AnnualGrass / crops ....................

PerennialGrasses ............................

Legumes ...........................

Sands Loams Clays

MilletBrown topFoxtailPearl

RyegrassOatsElbon ryeWheat

Bahia2

BermudaAleciaCoastalSelection 3SheffieldCommon2

NK-37Tall fescue2

Lovegrass2

WeepingWilman

Alamo switchgrass

Singletary peasHairy vetchArrowleaf cloverSubterranean clover

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XXX

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1 Not adapted to very deep sands. 2 Most shade tolerant. 3 Used as a temporary cover, in mixes, or for wildlife.

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Revegetation — Planting Information

SpeciesName

Revegetation Typeand Season

AnnualGrass / crops ....................

PerennialGrasses ............................

Legumes3 ..........................

Seasonof Growth

PlantingDates

PlantingRate / Acre

MilletBrown topFoxtailPearl

RyegrassOatsElbon ryeWheat

Bahia2

BermudaAleciaCoastalSelection 3SheffieldCommon2

NK-37Tall fescue2

Lovegrass2

WeepingWilman

Alamo switchgrass

Singletary peasHairy vetchArrowleaf cloverSubterranean clover

warmwarmwarmcoolcoolcoolcool

warm

warmwarmwarmwarmwarmwarmcool

warmwarmwarm

coolcoolcoolcool

4/15–8/14/15–8/15/15–8/19/1-11/309/1-11/309/1-11/309/1-11/30

year-round2

1/15–6/11/15–6/11/15–6/11/15–6/13/15–5/153/15–5/159/15–11/15

3/15–5/13/15–5/13/15–5/1

9/15–11/309/15–11/309/15–11/309/15–11/30

40 lbs.30 lbs.40 lbs.24 lbs.

128 lbs.112 lbs.120 lbs.

30 lbs.1

48 bu.48 bu.48 bu.48 bu.4 lbs.1

4 lbs.1

20 lbs.1

4 lbs.1

4 lbs.1

7 lbs.1

70 lbs.1

40 lbs.20 lbs.20 lbs.

1 Pure live seed (% germination x % purity = pure live seed. 2 Bahia can be planted year-round if planted with an approriate cover.

3 Innoculate legumes before planting. Note: Sowing rates are double normal rates to ensure maximum cover.

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Recommended Forestry Best Management Practices for Louisiana

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