Highlights of the forestry BMP survey : Georgia's best management practices for forestry

Glossary
Artificial Regeneration The process of replacing stands of older trees removed by harvesting or disasters with young seedlings.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) Methods, measures or practices to prevent or reduce water pollution, including but not limited to, structural and nonstructural controls, operations, and maintenance procedures, and other requirements, scheduling, and distribution of activities. Usually BMPs are applied as a system of practices rather than a single practice.
ChemicalTreatments - Chemical substances or formulations that are applied to perform important functions in forest management, including fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and repellents.
Controlled Burning - The use of planned fire that is deliberately set under specific fuel and weather conditions to accomplish any variety of forest management objectives and is under control until it burns out or is extinguished.
Erosion The process by which soil particles are detached and transported by water, wind, and gravity to a point down slope or downstream.
Main Haul Road A permanent or temporary woods road over which timber is transported from a harvesting site to a public road.
Mechanical Site Preparation Includes shearing, raking, subsoiling, chopping, windrowing, piling, bedding and other physical methods to cut, break apart, or move logging debris, or improve soil conditions following harvest to prepare sites for planting desired tree species and stocking.
Nonindustrial Private Forest Land Privately owned forest lands other than forest industry and public lands.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Water pollution that 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 by using BMPs.
Sedimentation The result of the process by which soil particles are detached and transported into streams and other water bodies during erosion.
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 use of forests for multiple benefits.
Stream Includes perennial (continuous flowing) and intermittent (flows only during wet periods) streams that flow in well-defined channels.
Streamside Management Zone A designated area of varying width adjacent to the banks of streams and bodies of water where forest management practices that might affect water quality, fish, or other aquatic resources are modified.
Turbidity An optical measurement of water clarity.
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For more information call 1-800-GA-TREES or visit our website at www.gfc.state.ga.us.
J. Frederick Allen Director

Highlights of the
Forestry BMP Survey
Georgia's Best Management Practices for Forestry

Background
To better protect Georgia's streams and other water bodies from forestry nonpoint source pollution (primarily erosion and sedimentation), the forestry community developed Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommendations in 1981. These recommendations address all categories of practices that are encountered during normal silvicultural operations.
Since 1981, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) has designated the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) as the lead agency for the forest water quality program. The GFC's main role is BMP education. Other responsibilities include mediating forestry complaints on behalf of GAEPD and monitoring BMP implementation.
In order to determine if BMP educational efforts have been effective, as well as the BMPs themselves, the GFC conducted BMP compliance and implementation surveys in 1991 and 1992 and a BMP effectiveness (turbidity) study in 1992. The previous surveys and study have concluded that water quality, including aquatic habitat and overall stream ecosystem health, benefits when BMPs are applied.
1998 Statewide BMP Survey
The objectives of the 1998 Statewide Forestry BMP Survey were to determine the: rates of BMP implementation; units of measure (acres, miles of road and stream) in BMP compliance; effectiveness of BMPs for any needed modifications; comparability of stream habitats above and below stream crossings; and areas to target for future BMP training.
The GFC conducted the survey using a newly developed and more rigorous protocol recommended by a Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) Task Force. This group was comprised of hydrologists and water specialists from state forestry agencies, the US Forest Service, forest industry and the National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SGSF adopted these recommendations.
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Buffer of trees along the streams (SMZs) protects water quality.
Statewide, 386 sites (approximately 43,906 acres) were selected in a stratified random sample and evaluated for BMP compliance and implementation. These sites had to have experienced forestry activities within the past two years, preferably within the last six months. By ownership, 72% of the sites were on nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land, 26% were on forest industry land, and 2% were on public land. Sites covered all geographic regions of the state.
Results
BMP compliance rates were determined by dividing the number of units (acres, miles of road and stream, number of stream crossings) measured in compliance with the BMPs by the total number of units measured. Compliance could then be determined for a category of practice, the entire site, and statewide.
BMP implementation rates were determined by dividing the number of applicable BMPs implemented by the total number of applicable BMPs. Implementation could then be determined for a category of practice, the entire site, and statewide.
Of the 43,906 acres evaluated, 98% were in compliance with BMPs. This is a 6% increase from the 1992 survey.
Of the 6,690 applicable, individual BMPs evaluated, 79% were implemented. This is a 12% increase from the 1992 survey. Where the BMPs were implemented, no significant water quality risks were identified. This
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means the BMPs are effective when implemented. All water quality risks identified were associated with nonBMP implementation.
Of the 164.5 miles of stream evaluated on 267 sites, 91% were observed to have no impacts or impairments from forestry practices. Stream compliance in 1992 was 95.5%.
Categories Surveyed
Streamside Management Zones (SMZs): 1,955 acres were evaluated on 269 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 89%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 81%.
Stream Crossings: 428 crossings were evaluated on 138 sites. The percentage of crossings in compliance was 18%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 59%.
Stream Habitat Assessments: Stream segments immediately above and below 79 stream crossings were evaluated for habitat comparability. Only one segment rated dissimilar to the upstream reference.
Main Haul Roads Outside SMZs: 272.6 miles of road were evaluated on 319 sites. The percentage of miles in compliance was 88%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 77%.
Timber Harvesting Outside SMZs: 25,928 acres were evaluated on 354 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 99%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 87%.
Mechanical Site Preparation Outside SMZs: 3,955 acres were evaluated on 57 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 100%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 97%.
Chemical Treatments Outside SMZs: 4,076 acres were evaluated on 39 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 100%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 99%.
Controlled Burning Outside SMZs: 2,822 acres were evaluated on 33 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 94%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 62%.
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Artificial Regeneration Outside SMZs: 5,167 acres were evaluated on 68 sites. The percentage of acres in compliance was 99%. The percentage of applicable BMPs implemented was 93%.
Education is the Key
Overall, the forestry community's self-imposed BMPs are being implemented and are proving effective in protecting water quality on these sites. However, there are still opportunities for improvement.
Since December 1995, the GFC has been cooperating with the University of Georgia, the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), and the forest industry in the education of loggers and timber buyers through the Master Timber Harvester (MTH) program. This includes an intensive session on BMPs conducted by GFC. Training will stress avoiding crossings and, when necessary, to emphasize full and proper installation of stream crossing BMPs. As of January 2001, approximately 2,207 people have completed and maintained their MTH status. This includes 1,415 loggers.
The GFC will continue to work with other natural resource agencies and organizations to educate private landowners on BMPs.

Newly Revised BMPs
Since the 1998 BMP survey was conducted, advances in technology and changes in the rules and regulations governing land-disturbing activities have occurred. Because of this, a task force composed of representatives from the forestry community, environmental organizations, and regulators was convened in 1997 for the purpose of revising the 1981 forestry BMPs. The resulting 1999 manual represents the collective best efforts to establish and strengthen sound, responsible, guiding principles for silvicultural operations in Georgia. This manual can be viewed or downloaded from our website at www.gfc.state.ga.us.
Conclusion
This BMP Survey in Georgia supports national data from the EPA that verifies forestry practices contribute to a very small percentage of nonpoint source pollution to rivers and streams nationwide. A more detailed report can be obtained by calling 1-800-GA-TREES. Another BMP survey will be conducted during calendar year 2001 based on the 1999 BMPs.

Percentage

1991
100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10
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Streamside Mgmt. Zones

Trends in BMP Implementation
1992 1998

Stream Crossing

Main Haul Roads

Timber Harvesting

Mechanical Site Prep

Chemical Treatments

Controlled Burning

Artificial Regeneration

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