1. Pre-harvest Planning BMPs*

*Note: BMPs outlined below are examples. Check with the appropriate state agency to determine applicable BMPs in your area.

As man becomes active in the forest environment - building roads, harvesting trees and preparing sites for new trees to grow - several types of impacts can occur. The topsoil of the forest floor is disturbed; the natural filtering action of the soil is changed; and the topography and drainage features of the land are modified. Trucks and other heavy equipment compact the soil affecting the ability of surface water to infiltrate. When it rains or the snow melts, the surface water is no longer well absorbed and begins to flow over and onto the roads and collect in ditches. These new man-made channels can increase the velocity and volume of runoff and increase erosion. Heavy equipment can also break down stream banks.