BMP Field Manual

Chapter 3 - Planning

Careful planning for forest management activities, such as road construction, timber harvesting and site preparation will minimize nonpoint source pollution. A plan will lead to harvest operations that use BMPs, remove forest products efficiently and profitably, and promote sustainable forest growth and water quality protection.

The first step is to develop a comprehensive forest management plan that includes forestry BMPs. The plan's formality and detail should be appropriate to the project size, cost and environmental risk. The plan should also be flexible and adaptable to changing conditions.

Landowners and land managers should select the best forest management strategy to protect water quality specific to the site. A contractor (i.e., logger, road developer), working with the landowner and land manager, is usually responsible for implementing forestry BMPs.

Wisconsin DNR foresters and consulting or industrial foresters can work with you to develop a forest management plan. Cost-sharing assistance may be available for plans written by a consulting forester.

Use the following check list to plan forest management activities:

• Make a list of site-specific forestry BMPs you will need to protect water quality in all timber sale contracts, timber harvest plans and forest management plans
• Develop a forest management plan that states the management objectives for the site. Plan operations to protect water quality by considering site conditions. Identify on a map the following site conditions:
• Harvest unit boundary
• Existing forest road system (roads, skid trails and landings)
• Sensitive areas: streams, lakes, wetlands, flood plains, habitat areas for known threatened or endangered aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal species, steep slopes and erodible soils.
• Riparian management zones
• Stream crossings
• The following resources can be used to identify site conditions:
1. United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps (7.5 minutes), available from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and some outdoor and sporting supplies retailers.
2. Aerial photographs, available from the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service.
3. County soil surveys, available from county land conservation departments and the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service.
4. Floodplain maps, available from local county zoning administrators.
5. Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Maps, may be reviewed at DNR area or district offices and local county zoning offices or can be purchased from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey.
• Conduct onsite evaluations.
• Obtain necessary permits and licenses before beginning management activities. For existing regulations pertaining to forest management activities, see Permits and Regulations.
• Plan to stabilize bare soil as soon as possible after exposing it to prevent erosion into streams, lakes, wetlands and riparian zones. This is especially important on steep slopes and erodible soils, in riparian management zones, and at stream crossings. Refer to the Soil Stabilization section in Forest Roads.
• Maintain a spill containment and cleanup kit appropriate for the materials on the operation. For information, see the Spills section in Fuels, Lubricants, Wastes and Spills.
• If you know of an endangered or a threatened species existing on your area of operation, plan operations to ensure that no "take" will occur. For more information, contact the DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources.

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