Maintaining the integrity of our water resources while managing a
forest is an integral part of a forest stewardship plan. Improper
forest management has the potential to drastically affect our water
resources through soil erosion, disturbance and destruction of wetlands,
and compromising stream bank stability and riparian zone integrity.
Soil Erosion
Soil
erosion is a common problem across the U.S. In
Pennsylvania, erosion and sedimentation are the largest pollutant in
terms of volume. Sediment acts as a means for transport of
other pollutants that adhere tightly to soil particles (i.e.
nutrients), reduces habitat for benthic (bottom dwelling) organisms,
and suffocates aquatic organisms.
Improper road construction and maintenance is the single greatest
cause of soil erosion in forest management
activities .
Similar to trail maintenance and construction as discussed earlier,
it is important to keep water off
forest
roads. Forest roads should be well planned in accordance
with the land's topography (surface characteristics), soil
characteristics, and hydrologic conditions. Implementing
time-tested best
management practices (BMPs) will help reduce the erosion
potential of forest operations.
Wetlands
Wetlands
are the most fundamental component of a healthy ecosystem. They
serve as a productive source of food, a nutrient sink, reduce flood
intensities, act as a filter for groundwater, and are a necessary element of the life cycles of many
plants and animals. Wetlands have been under attack throughout much
of modern
history. Pennsylvania, among twenty-two other states, has lost
50 to 85 percent of its original wetlands. Though protected
by laws, wetlands remain under attack through both unintentional
and intentional activities.
Forest landowners should avoid wetlands when conducting forest operations.
If they are unavoidable, landowners should implement appropriate
BMPs to minimize potential impacts on wetlands. Many times
wetlands are disturbed simply because a landowner does not realize it is a
wetland. Land does not have to be wet all year long to be
considered a wetland. Often times they are only wet during the
spring. These include vernal pools which are essential to the breeding success of
many
amphibians. Before starting any forest operation, contact a local
natural resource manager to help determine whether there are wetlands on your
property.
Forested Riparian Buffers
A riparian zone is the land adjacent to a body of water, such as
a stream, lake, wetland, or river. These
zones are the link between the land and water,
serving
many different functions. One important function of maintaining
a forested buffer is stabilizing the soil.
The stream pictured was at one point badly eroded as a result of the trees
being removed and
several
Forested riparian
buffers are also beneficial in providing habitat and travel corridors
for wildlife, providing shade to cool the water, contributing organic
matter (leaves and woody debris) into aquatic ecosystems, slowing down
surface water and filtering pollutants before they reach the
waterways. Who would have thought that all of these benefits would
come from leaving trees around a body of water?
