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COMMEjRqiAL FOREST
LAND DISTRIBUTION
IN TH& PACIFIC
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LOGGING
Oil-site logging activity may include tractor
skidding, cable logging (highlead, skyline, or
balloon), and helicopter logging. The potential
for soil disturbance is greatest in tractor skid-
ding operations and becomes less for other
methods in the order listed. Tractor skidding is
generally restricted to gentle or moderate
slopes, while highlead and the other cable
systems can be used on extremely steep slopes.
Soil disturbance from highlead systems can be
held to a minimum if yarding is conducted
uphill. The resultant pattern of yarding paths
radiates down and out from the landing thus
dispersing runoff over the slope and reducing
potential erosion. The highlead system is
generally identified with clearcutting however,
skyline logging may be used in partial cuts as
well as clearcuts.
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The balloon method has the additional
advantage of maximum log carry above ground
level and soil disturbance is generally reduced.
This system is particularly suitable in areas of
shallow and/or fragile soils. Similarly, the use of
helicopter logging gets the log off the ground
with negligible soil disturbance. While helicop-
ter logging allows more independence from
road systems, complications related to residue
management, reforestation and fire control
may occur later due to that isolation.
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ROAD CONSTRUCTION
AND MAINTENANCE
Proper practices are described in detail in an
EPA report "Logging Roads and Protection of
Water Quality". The two types of roads that are
built to harvest timber are (1) main haul for
trucks and (2) log skid roads for tractors. Ero-
sion potential is a primary environmental
concern closely related to location, construction
methods, and maintenance of these roads.
Sediment from logging roads is the No. 1 water
quality problem related to forest harvest in the
Northwest.
REFORESTATION
AND RESIDUE TREATMENT
These activities are a logical part of modern
timber harvest both to promote growth for
future harvest and to minimize forest fire
hazard. While they have a positive motive these
processes can be disruptive to soils due to heavy
equipment usage and the burning of slash and
debris. Allowing deposition of debris in stream
beds may result in diversions during high runoff
periods which lead to other complications such
as stream bank erosion, leaching materials toxic
to stream life, and damage to spawning beds.
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LOG STORAGE
Log storage in small bays, estuaries, and
rivers can have immediate impact from loss of
bark and other debris, and leaching of organic
matter from the logs into the water.
Much of the harvesting activity can lead to
soil disturbance. This, coupled with steep ter-
rain and wet weather, makes erosion and the
transport of sediments to surface streams highly
probable.
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In addition to the exposure of mineral soils
to climatic action, soil structure may be dam-
aged by compaction from use of heavy equip-
ment or dragging of logs. This reduces the
capacity of the soil for re vegetation and leaves it
exposed to the threat of erosion for greater
periods. Post-logging burning, preparatory to
reforestation, can increase soil erosion poten-
tial, reduce moisture retention, and change
water infiltration rates in the soil.
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Logging activities in and around streams can
adversely impact water quality in a number of
ways. The removal of stream side vegetation
during logging operations exposes the surface
waters to increased sunlight, which can lead to
higher water temperatures and algae growth.
Logging activities can also disrupt the stream
bed, which damages fish spawning areas. De-
bris and slash left in streams can lead to bank
erosion, the leaching of toxic compounds, the
biodegradation of organic matter, and a general
reduction in the dissolved oxygen level.
Log storage practices can result in color,
taste, and odor problems when logs are stored
in bodies of water for long periods, or in physi-
cal degradation of stream bottom habitat from
loss of bark and other residue. All of these ef-
fects can adversely impact aquatic life.
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- - -^tr ^ j-i
V<* <Ğ i
e^jtj Management
V^ljs the fojUo
./Several coff
-Jfc_?° jjj KB * "" * / >^
side^fiohfc'aimen^t iifiuhm^fca inij^aCts follow:
-r~fe* M*t £JS "() A *ff^ r** 3J**'.* ^fc*V^ ^JT A J 1
/ Hu^ie **rignr/ loggmg*Msrem to the pro-
posefl loj^htg arfea.^For ^gmJUy-^se aerial
logging on fr^lf jsoil-area^^p^te^pjfcpes.)
^imiiiH^^ciil and vege
sensijltrareas such as |tream c^nnj^f,^treahi
banks, marine or lakfe%^resvi'stebp slopes and
unstable soils. (As a general rule the less
x^compaction^and disturblng^feonjact ^ith th.e
anjb^^ng systein^ ofa the
Retain buffer strips between the logged area
and the stream, not only to prevent water
temperature modification but also to protect
wildlife habitat and act as sediment traps to
reduce potential silt discharge to the stream.
Prevent instream debris problems (do not
yard logs across streams, maintain adequate
buffer strips, fall trees away from streams,
clean out logging slash below the high water
line).
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Revegetate exposed soil areas promptly after
the logging or road construction operation.
Minimize log storage pollution problems by
handling logs in bundles rather than individu-
ally and use dumping and removal methods that
will cause minimum disturbance to the water
4 X* "**<
Recent national eoal
ualityl hsfre jbeen^steblishea^by Con-
ghLthe-FedejfeliVater Pollution
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For further infor
are available:
1. "Forest Hary,
Reforestati
Quality"
throug
Sprin
-^
2. "Log
Quality'
through"
Springfield;
3. "Logging Roads
625/5-76-011, avail
Technology Trans
nati, Ohio 45268. (
Jie following reports
idue Treatment,
ion of Water
pril 1976
($9.25)
Water
rch 1975
S,($9.75)
ater Quality" EPA
e free of charge from
U.S. EPA, Cincin-
page brochure)
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