Recommended best management practices for forestry in Georgia

RECOMMENDED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR
FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

GEORGIA

FORESTRY

~

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Foreword
This booklet was prepared to inform loggers, foresters, landowners, and others involved with forestry in Georgia about the simple and practical methods to minimize erosion from forestry operations. The methods described are better known as Best Management Practices and will be referred to in this publication as BMPs. These BMPs were developed by the Forestry Non-Point Source Technical Task Force comprised of 14 individuals representing various aspects of forestry in Georgia.
It should be emphasized that these recommendations are strictly voluntary at the present time.
The Task Force feels that these practices are economical, common sense answers for assuring forestry's contribution to a high standard of water quality in the state.
*
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Georgia Forestry Commission wishes to express its appreciation to those individuals, committees, and agencies, which contributed to the development of this publication.
1985
THE PUBLICATION OF THIS DOCUMENT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION AND WAS FINANCED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, UNDER PROVISIONS OF SECTION 208 OF THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT, PUBLIC LAW 92-500, AS AMENDED.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Section I - Streamside Management Zones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Section II - Stream Crossings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Section III - Access Roads and Their Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Section IV - Timber Harvesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Section V- Site Preparation ......................................... 14 Section VI- Reforestation........................................... 15 Section VII- Forest Protection (Prescribed Burning, Fire Lines and
Chemical Fire Retardants)......................................... 16 Section VIII- Chemical Treatment (Pesticide and Herbicide)................ 17 Section IX- Fertilization............................................ 17 Appendix ....................................................... 18
LIST OF TABLES
Page Table 1 -Recommended Diameters for Corrugated Metal Culverts ............ 20 Table 2 -Recommendations for Seeding, Mulching and Fertilizing Roads,
Skid Trails and Disturbed Areas in Georgia ....................... 21 Table 3 -Calculation of Seed and Fertilizer Needs for Roads, Skid
Trails and Disturbed Areas ................................... 22
LIST OF FIGURES
Page Fig. 1 - Major Regions in Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Fig. 2 - Streamside Management Zones and Their Widths by Region. . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fig. 3 - Properly Constructed Road Cross Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Fig. 4 - Culvert Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Fig. 5 - Broad Based Drainage Dips .................................... 10 Fig. 6- Water Turnout.............................................. 11 Fig. 7- Profile of Abandoned Skid Trail Showing Water Bars ................ 12 Fig. 8- Water Bars in Firebreak ....................................... 17
1

INTRODUCTION Planning for protection of water quality from non-point source pollution.l/. is provided for in Section 208 of the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Public Law 92-500), as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-217). The basic goal of the federal law is to protect and improve the quality of the nation's waters so they are "fishable" and "swimmable". Included in overall area-wide planning is the protection of water quality from possible pollution by forestry (silvicultural) activities. Thus, the Forestry Non-Point Source Technical Task Force was created to assess the extent of pollution caused by forestry activities in Georgia and recommend practices which would eliminate or reduce the amount of pollution. The practices the Task Force recommended are called Best Management Practices (BMPs). Since soil characteristics and slope vary greatly within the state, these BMPs were designed for each of Georgia's four major regions: Lower Coastal Plain, Upper Coastal Plain, Piedmont and Mountain (Fig. 1). The BMPs are arranged in the following sections: 1. Streamside Management Zones 2. Stream Crossings 3. Access Roads and Their Construction 4. Timber Harvesting 5. Site Preparation 6. Reforestation 7. Forest Protection (Prescribed Burning, Firelines, and Chemical Fire Retardant) 8. Chemical Treatment (Pesticide and Herbicide) 9. Fertilization
lJ Non-Point source pollution is described as any pollution that is created from an
activity which has no particular permanent location. Examples are: Timber harvesting, farming, site preparation, mining, etc.
2

Fig. 1 --Major Regi.Ons in Georgia 3

-SECTION I-

STREAMSIDE MANAGEMENT ZONES

Areas adjacent to perennial (ever flowing) or intermittent (wet-weather) streams and ponds or lakes require special management in forestry operations. These "zones" are the prime areas where non-point source pollutants enter our water resources. They are known as Streamside Management Zones (SMZ). Special care and sometimes restricted activity are necessary in these areas.
The SMZ is divided into two parts: (1) primary, and (2) secondary. Figure 2 shows the recommended width of each by region.

PRIMARY SMZ

-1 BMPs RECOMMENDED

l/

1. Any type of cutting practice, including clearcutting.-

2. The cabling out of any timber.

3. Hand planting or direct seeding.

X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED
1. Wheeled or tracked vehicles of any kind. 2. Leaving trees or tops in water. 3. Roads or trails of any kind, unless absolutely necessary. 4. Fire. 5. Any type of mechanical site preparation or machine planting. 6. Portable sawmills and log decks. 7. Aerial application of any pesticides or herbicides.

SECONDARY SMZ -/BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Any type of cutting practice, including clearcutting. 2. Careful use of wheeled or tracked vehicles. 3. Roller chopping. 4. Fire. 5. Any type of planting which does not remove the forest floor or expose mineral
soil.
X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED
1. Roads or trails of any kind, unless absolutely necessary. 2. Portable sawmills and log decks. 3. Harrowing, root raking, or bulldozing. 4. Gully leveling, unless immediately seeded and mulched. 5. Leaving trees or tops in water.

11 Clearcutting is unacceptable in the Primary SMZ in the Mountains, if it affects the water temperature to the extreme that it would threaten a trout environment (see thermal pollution in Glossary).
4

Fig. 2 - Streamside Management Zones and Their Widths by Region



SECONDARY SMZ

LOWER COASTAL PLAIN:

0'

PIEDMONT & MOUNTAIN:

SMZ
STREAMBED

SECONDARY SMZ
0'

Fire is acceptable in the Secondary SMZ but not in the Primary SMZ. 11 Does not apply to bottomlands in this region.
5

-SECTION II STREAM CROSSINGS The crossing of streams should be avoided if at all possible. In most situations, advanced planning will reduce or eliminate the number of crossings necessary. .J BMPs RECOMMENDED 1. Properly sized culverts should be used in small streams (usually 200-acre or less watershed, depending on geographic region) (Table 1). 2. Well constructed bridges should be used over large streams (200+ acre watersheds, depending on geographic region.) 3. Fords should be made only at right angles to the stream where stream banks and bottoms are hard and relatively level. These crossings should be made only on a temporary basis. 4. All approaches to stream crossings, whether temporary fordings or permanent roads, should be made at gentle grades of slope (about 3 percent). 5. Soil around all culverts and bridges should be stabilized with mulch and seed (Table 2). X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED 1. Temporary crossings of logs and brush topped with soil. 2. Anything which would impede the free flow of water.
6

- SECTION III ACCESS ROADS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION
Access roads, whether newly constructed or existing, create more potential for soil movement than any other activity in forest management. Advance planning of road construction is needed to minimize road grade or slope, number of spur roads, and proper location of each.
~BNWsRECOMMENDED
1. Roads located within the SMZ should have all exposed soil stabilized, preferably with mulch and seed (Tables 2 and 3).
2. Roads should follow the contour as much as possible. 3. Road grades should be kept at 5 percent or less, except where terrain requires
short steep grades. 4. Keep roads reasonably free of obstructions and logging debris which prevents free
flow of water from the road surface. 5. Locate roads on the sides of ridges or water divides to insure proper drainage. 6. Locate roads above flood plains and wet areas, if possible. 7. Insloping of roads should be avoided. However,some situations will require this.
In these cases, the use of under road culverts positioned at a 30 angle to insure proper inside road drainage is recommended (Fig. 3 and 4). 8. Construct road wide enough to handle equipment that will use the road (usually about 12 to 14 feet). 9. Broad based dips should be used at proper intervals to channel water off the road (Fig. 5). The bottom of these dips should be outsloped slightly (3 percent) to allow for removal of surface water. 10. Water bars should only be used when retiring temporary access roads and skid trails. 11. Water turnouts should be used at proper intervals with respect to grade (Fig. 6). 12. Removal of shading trees along road sides will aid in drying out road beds. 13. When all forestry activities are completed for that particular time, temporary access roads should be retired. This includes re-shaping, mulching, and seeding (Table 2), in combination with water bars (Fig. 7).
X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED 1. Keep road construction as far away as possible from SMZs. 2. Do not locate roads on tops of ridges. Water tends to collect in them, resulting in poor drainage. 3. Avoid constant use of soft roads during wet ground conditions.
7

Fig. 3 -- Properly Constructed Road Cross Section cut tall trees if shade prevents road from drying
sediment catch basin

Fig. 4 -- Culvert Installation

Culvert should cross road at about a 30-degree angle downgrade.

Road Surface , Earth. Cover : ..

~ lf2 Dia.

9

Fig. 5 - Broad Based Drainage Dips

.-..--------SPACING: (SEE BELOW)

Road Grade (Percent)
1 2 5 10

Approximate Spacing Distance Needed Between Dips (Feet)
500 300 180 140

Fig. 6- Water Turnout
WATER DISPERSAL AREA TURNS DOWN SLOPE
WATER TURNOUT
11

Fig. 7 - Profile of Abandoned Skid Trail Showing Water Bars

EXTRA DEEP WATER BARS AT HEAD OF STEEP PITCHES

RECOMMENDED INTERVALS

Road Grade (Percent)
1 2
5 10

Approximate Distance Needed Between Water Bars
(Feet)
400 245 125
78

12

- SECTION IV -
TIMBER HARVESTING
Timber harvesting activities pose little threat to water quality when care is taken to prevent or minimize erosion and sedimentation.
~BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Timber harvesting within the SMZs should abide by practices pointed out in Section 1.
2. Skidding on steep slopes should be done on a gradual grade, rather than straight up the slope (primarily Piedmont and Mountain Regions).
3. Alternate skidding between several different skid trails instead of using only one primary trail. This will result in a minimum of soil exposure and disturbance.
4. Leave logging debris on exposed soil, dry washes, and at points of concentrated drainage from skid trails and roads.
5. Temporary culverts should be used when crossing streams with harvesting equipment. These culverts can be pulled out after logging operations are complete.
6. Log decks should only be large enough to handle necessary loading activities. 7. Log decks should be located on stable, well drained areas, well away from
streams and ponds. 8. Log decks located in the Piedmont and Mountain Regions should be site pre-
pared and seeded when harvesting operations have been completed. (May apply to Coastal Plain Region on certain sites, depending on slope and drainage characteristics. 9. Portable sawmills should be located at least 300 feet away from any stream or body of water. 10. Provisions should be made at lunch sites and sawmill setups for disposal of human wastes and garbage.
X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED 1. Do not service logging equipment where it will have an impact on water quality. 2. Sawdust and mill waste should not be discharged into streams ~nd lakes. 3. Temporary crossings made from logs piled into streams should not be used, as they are usually not removed following harvesting thus causing stream channel blockage.
13

-SECTION VSITE PREPARATION Site preparation, for the purpose of forest regeneration, is a basic silvicultural tool in Georgia where control of competing vegetation and reduction of logging debris are necessary. Several site preparation procedures, however, should be of concern when considering water quality.
~BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Analyze and plan the site preparation job, taking into account all aspects of the Streamside Management Zones (Section I).
2. All bulldozing, Vee-blading, K-G blading, and root raking should disturb as little soil as possible.
3. Use drum choppers, herbicides, or prescribed burning on highly erodible soils. 4. When windrowing, debris should be oriented on the contour. Breaks should be
left in the windrows to allow safe access for fire control or other activities. 5. Only dry washes may be filled in with debris. 6. Construction of planting beds should be done on the contour. X PRACTICES TO BE AVOIDED 1. Do not pile debris in live or wet-weather streams. 2. Avoid all heavy site preparation (K-G blading, root raking, disking, etc.) on slopes
greater than 20 percent. 3. On slopes, do not site prepare land up to the edge of roads and roadside ditches.
Leave a natural buffer strip (1 0+ feet) to catch soil particles going to or from road areas.
14

- SECTION VI REFORESTATION Reforestation includes hand and machine planting and direct seeding. Hand planting and direct seeding pose no threat to water quality; therefore, BMPs are not necessary. Since some exposure of mineral soil occurs with machine planting, there is a slight concern for erosion.
~BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Machine plant on the contour if at all possible. 2. Refer to Streamside Management Zone (Section I) regarding machine planting in
these areas.
15

- SECTION VII -
FOREST PROTECTION (PRESCRIBED BURNING, FIRE LINES, AND CHEMICAL FIRE RETARDANTS)
PRESCRIBED BURNING Prescribed fire is a very useful silvicultural tool when used properly. Poor planning
and weather conditions can cause too much heat in a prescribed burn, completely destroying the humus layer, exposing the soil to erosion.
~BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Carefully plan and execute the use of prescribed fire in forestry situations while observing the weather conditions.
FIRE LINES
~BMPsRECOMMENDED
1. Pre-suppression firebreaks should be located on the contour as much as possible. 2. When grades over 5 percent develop, water bars should be placed in firebreak
lines, if possible, at frequent intervals to slow the water and disperse it (Fig. 8). 3. Since wildfire suppression lines are made in the stress of emergency, implementa-
tion of BMPs should be left to the discretion of the landowner.
CHEMICAL FIRE RETARDANTS
Because of the limited use of chemical fire retardants in the state of Georgia, no BMPs are recommended.
16

Fig. 8- Water Bars in Firebreak
- SECTION VIII CHEMICAL TREATMENT (PESTICIDE AND HERBICIDE) Chemical treatment in silvicultural operations poses no threat to Georgia's watel quality, due to the small amounts being applied on a statewide basis. However, state and federal laws should be adhered to regarding the proper use of silvicultural chemicals. These laws require application by trained and certified liscensees following label instructions and careful and prudent use of these chemicals. It is felt that additional BMPs regarding chemical treatment are not needed at this time.
- SECTION IX FERTILIZATION Forest fertilization, as practiced in Georgia, does not contribute to non-point source water pollution. Manner of application, fertilizer rates, infrequency of applications, time of application, and the terrain to which applied, all tend to minimize any potential that might exist for pollution of the state's water. Therefore, no BMPs are recomnended.
17

APPENDIX
-GLOSSARY-
Access Road -A temporary or permanent woods road over which timber is transported from a felling site to a public road. Also known as a haul road.
Bedding - A site preparation technique whereby a small ridge of surface soil is formed to provide an elevated planting or seed bed. It is used primarily in wet areas to improve drainage and aeration for seedlings.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) - A practice, or combination of practices, that is determined after problem assessment and examination of alternatives, to be most effective, practical means of preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by non-point sources to a level compatible with water quality.
Broad-Based Dip - Also called a rolling dip, this is a surface drainage structure specifically designed to tip water out of a dirt road while vehicles maintain normal haul speeds.
Buffer Strip - A barrier of permanent vegetation established or left undisturbed downslope from disturbed forest areas to filter out sediment from runoff before it reaches a watercourse.
Chopping - A mechanical treatment whereby vegetation is concentrated near the ground and incorporated into the soil. Chopping may be used to facilitate burning or to increase the organic component of the surface soil.
Clearcutting- A silvicultural system in which all merchantable trees are harvested over a specified area in one operation.
Commercial Forest Land- Forest land bearing or capable of bearing timber of commercial character, currently or prospectively available, and not withdrawn from such use.
Contour - An imaginary line on the surface of the earth connecting points of the same elevation. A line drawn on a map connecting points of the same elevation.
Culvert - Either a metal or concrete pipe, or a constructed box-type conduit, through which water is carried under roads.
Dry Wash - A stream bed that carries water only during and immediately following rainstorms.
Erosion - The process by which soil particles are detached and transported by water, wind, and gravity to some downslope or downstream point.
Felling- The process of cutting down standing trees. Forest Chemicals - Chemical substances or formulations that perform important
functions in forest management, and include fertilizers, herbicides, repellents, and other chemicals. Forest Land - Land bearing forest growth or land from which the forest has been removed but which shows evidence of past forest occupancy and which is not now in other use.
18

Forest Practice - An activity relating to the growing, protecting, harvesting, or processing of forest tree species on forest land and other aspects such as wildlife, recreation, etc.
Forest Road- An access route for vehicles into forest land. Harrowing (Disking) - A mechanical method of scarifying the soil to reduce competing
vegetation and to prepare a site to be seeded or planted. Harvesting - The felling, skidding, loading, and transporting of timber products (pulp-
wood, poles, sawlogs, etc.). Haul Road - See Access Road Herbicide - Any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent the growth of
or destroy unwanted trees, bushes, weeds, algae, and other aquatic weeds. Intermittent Stream - A watercourse that flows in a well defined channel during the
wet seasons of the year, but not the entire year. Same as a wet-weather stream. Live Stream - See Perennial Stream. Lo~ Deck - Also called log landing, log yard, brow or bunching area. A place where
ogs or tree-length material is assembled for loading and transporting. Logging Debris - The unutilized and generally unmarketable accumulation in the
forest of woody material, such as large limbs, tops, cull logs and stumps, that remain as forest residue after timber harvesting. Mulching- Any loose covering of forest soil with organic residues, such as grass, straw, or wood fibers, to check erosion and stabilize exposed soil.
Non-Point Source Pollution -Water pollution which is: (1) induced by natural processes, including precipitation, seepage, percolation, and runoff; (2) not traceable to any discrete or identifiable facility; and (3) better controlled through the utilization of best management practices.
Perennial Stream - A watercourse that flows throughout the year or nearly so (90 percent), in a well defined channel. Same as a live stream.
Pesticides - Chemical materials that are used for the control of undesirable insects, diseases, vegetation, animals or other forms of life.
Prescribed Burning - The practice of using controlled fires to reduce or eliminate the unincorporated organic matter of the forest floor, or low, undesirable vegetation.
Regeneration - The young tree crop replacing older trees removed by harvest or disaster; the process of replacing old trees with young.
Retirement of Road - Preparing a road for a long period of non-use. Methods include mulching, seeding, installing water bars, etc.
Rotation (Period) - The period of time to establish, grow and harvest a crop of trees at a specified condition of maturity.
Sidecast - The act of moving excavated material to the side and depositing such Illl;lter. ial.
Silviculture - The science and art of growing forest crops, More particularly, the principles, theories and practices for protecting and enhancing the regeneration, growth, development and utilization of forests for multiple benefits.
Site Preparation - A forest activity to remove unwanted vegetation and other material, and to cultivate or prepare the soil for reforestation.
Skid - Short-distance moving of logs or felled trees, along the surface of the ground, from the stump to the point of loading.
Skid Trail - A temporary, non-structural pathway over forest soil to drag felled trees or logs to a log landing.
Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) -An area adjacent to the banks of streams and bodies of open water where extra precaution is necessary in carrying out forest practices in order to protect bank edges and water quality.
Thermal Pollution - A temperature rise in a body of water sufficient to be harmful to the aquatic life in the water. 19

Water Bar- A hump or small dike-type surface drainage structure, properly used only in closing abandoned roads to traffic, on firelines, and abandoned skid trails.
Watercourse -A stream of water; river; brook; a channel for water. Can be also used to include bodies of open water.
Watershed Area- All land and water within the confines of a drainage divide. Water Turnout- The extension of an access road's drainage ditch into a vegetated area
to provide for the dispersion and filtration of stormwater runoff. Wet-Weather Stream - See Intermittent Stream. Windrow - Logging debris and unmerchantable woody vegetation which has been piled
in rows to decompose or be burned; or the act of constructing these piles.

Table !.-Recommended Diameters for Corrugated Metal Culverts

Drainage Area (Acres)
10 50 100 200

Lower Upper Coastal Coastal Plain Plain Piedmont Mountains

-----D~mctcr~fu~~-----

12

12

30

18

48

30

60

42

12

18

30

36

42

48

54

2(48)

20

Table 2.--Recommendations for Seeding, Mulching and Fertilizing Roads, Skid Trails and Disturbed Areas in Georgia

UPPER & LOWER COASTAL PLAINS REGION

Dates Species for Plantingl.l Rates/Acre

Sept. 1 Tall fescue or

25-35 lb.

to

"Pensacola" bahiagrass 25-35 lb.

Nov. 15 and rye grass

15lb.

Nov. 15 Tall fescue or

25-3 5 lb.

to

"Pensacola" bahiagrass 20-25 lb.

Feb. 15 and Abruzzi rye

1 bu.

Feb. 15 to
June 15

Pensacola bahiagrass 20-25 lb.

or bermuda grass and

6lb.

scarified sericea or

30-40 lb.

"Ambro" virgata lespedeza

Dates

PIEDMONT REGION Species for Plantingl.l

Rates/Acre Dates

MOUNTAIN REGION Species for Planting~/

Rates/Acre

Sept. 1 Tall fescue and

25-35 lb.

to unhulled sericea or

Nov. 1 "Ambro" virgata lespedeza 50-60 lb.

Nov. 1 Tall fescue and

to unhulled sericea or

Mar. 12../ "Ambro" virgata lespedeza

and Abruzzi rye

Mar. 1 Tall fescue and

to

scarified sericea or1

Apr. 15 "Ambro" virgata lespedeza

25-35 lb.
50-60 lb. 1 bu.
25-35 lb.
30-40 lb.

Apr. 15 to
July 1

Pensacola bahiagrass and 25-35 lb.

scarified sericea or

"Ambro" virgata lespedeza 40-50 lb.

or

common bermuda grass and

6lb.

scarified sericea or

"Ambro" virgata lespedeza 40-50 lb.

Mar. 15 Tall fescue and

25-35 lb.

to

sericea or "Ambro"

June 1 virgata lespedeza

40-50 lb.

and

Weeping lovegrass and

4lb.

June 1 scarified sericea or

to

"Ambro" virgata lespedeza 40-50 lb.

Aug. 15/ Browntop or "Dove" proso millet~_/

20-30 lb.

Aug. 15 Tall fescue and

40 lb.

to

unhulled sericea or "Ambro"

Oct. 15 virgata lespedeza

40-60 lb.

or red clover

10 lb.

Oct. 15 Tall fescue and

25-35 lb.

to

unhulled sericea or "Ambro"

Mar. 15 virgata lespedeza

40-60 lb.

and Abruzzi rye

1 bu.

(for nurse crop)

1./ Inoculate legume seed.
2../ Planting during this period is hazardous and may have to be repeated. l/ Can be used for temporary cover, June to August
NOTE: Fertilize with 800 to 1,000 lb. per acre of 6-12-12. Mulch slopes with 4,000 lb. small grain straw or 5,000 lb. hay per acre.

Table 3. --Calculation of Seed and Fertilizer Needs for Roads, Skid Trails and Disturbed Areas

A. ROADS

1. Determine acres from table below

Road Surface Area Determination Table - Acres

Road Length

Road Width (Feet)

(Feet)

8'

10' 12' 14' 18'

50

.01 .01 .01 .02 .02

100

.022 .02 .03 .03 .04

250

.05 .06 .07 .08 .10

500

.09 .12 .14 .16 .21

750

.144 .17 .21 .24 .31

1000

.18 .24 .28 .32 .41

1500

.28 .34 .41 .48 .62

2000

.36 .48 .56 .64 .83

5000

.92 1.15 1.38 1.61 2.07

5280

.97 1.21 1.45 1.70 2.18

20'
.02 .05 .11 .23 .34 .46 .69 .92 2.30 2.43

2. Multiply the appropriate acre figure times the pounds per acre that is recommended in seed mixtures.
B. OTHER AREAS
1. To determine acreage and pounds of seed needed for other areas such as loading decks, turnouts, etc., use the following formula:
Avg. Length X Avg. Width= Square Feet Square Feet X 23 and point off 6 places. Multiply the answer times the pounds per acre as recommended in seed mixtures or amount of seed.
2. To determine fertilizer and mulch needs, use the above procedure.

22

GUIDE FOR STABILIZING ROADBANKsJ/

SLOPE

TREATMENT

Y2 to 1
(200%)

These slopes sometimes hold without treatment. If the soil is unstable and subject to caving, the bank must be resloped to a lower angle.

1 to 1
(100%)

L

Mulching and fertilization IS almost always necessary.

2 to 1
(50%)

Can loosen to apply fertilizer and seed; should use light mulch on droughty soils.

4 to 1
(25%)

Can cultivate with machinery; drill m fertilizer and seed.

1._1 This guide generally applies to roadbanks with significant height to warrant treatment. It may not be practical or necessary to seed banks or many logging roads.

23

TYPICAL ROAD CROSS-SECTIONS ON SIDE SLOPES OF VARYING DEGREES

~ ---2-~~
Slope

33% Slope

50% Slope

66% Slope

24

For additional information regarding any aspect of this booklet, contact your local 208 Coordinator located in one of the following districts.

Rome District 3086 Martha Berry Hwy., NE Rome, GA 30161 (404) 295-6021
Gainesville District Route 11, Box 37 Gainesville, GA 30501 (404) 534-5454
Athens District Route 4, Box 168A Athens, GA 30605 (404) 542-6880
Newnan District P. 0. Box 1080 Newnan, GA 30264 (404) 253-1207
Milledgeville District Highway 49 Milledgeville, GA 31061 (912) 453-5164
Washington District Route 2, Box 266 Washington, GA 30673 (404) 678-2015
Americus District Route 1, Box 23A Americus, GA 31709 (912) 928-1301

Tifton District Route 3, Box 17 Tifton, GA 3 17 94 (912) 386-3617
Camilla District Route 2, Box 722 Camilla, GA 31730 (912) 336-5341
Statesboro District Route 2, Box 28 Statesboro, GA 30458 (912) 764-2311
McRae District Route 1, Box 46 Helena, GA 31037 (912) 868-5649
Waycross District Route 6, Box 167 Waycross, GA 31501 (912) 283-5464
Urban Forestry 6835 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (404) 469-3050

GEORGIA
FORESTRY
t:(J?J~411S~"~~
John W. Mixon Director
Larry W. Thompson Water Quality Coordinator
$3227/5M