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Nonpoint
Pollution from Forest PracticesIncreased sedimentation and water temperature are historically the greatest problems associated with forest practices. These problems are mostly caused by improper road construction and maintenance, and by careless timber harvesting next to streams. Forest practices on most private and state lands are regulated by forest practice rules (PDF).
The forest practices rules are based on the 1999 Forests and Fish Report, which was developed by Washington State forest landowners and federal, state, local, and tribal governments. These participants agreed on a new set of aquatic resource protection commitments governing forest practices on state and private forest lands. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ecology believe that, as a result of these commitments, waters covered by the report will meet water quality standards in the future. The Washington State's Forest Practices Program and Clean Water Act (PDF) paper describes Clean Water Act assurances that EPA and Ecology identified in response to implementation of the Forests and Fish Report. The paper also outlines what information is needed to continue these assurances beyond 2009.
The rules preserve trees in streamside areas to shade the streams, keep them cool, and provide the woody debris that builds in-stream salmon habitat. They also require road construction and maintenance to help prevent stream silting, provide protection for wetlands, and set restrictions on pesticide use. Ecology is an active participant in the Forest Practices Adaptive Management Program for initiating changes when necessary to meet the goals of the Forests and Fish Report.
For small forest landowners, the Small Forest Landowners Office in the Washington State Department of Natural Resources provides financial and technical assistance, and education.
Congress Approves $39 Million for Vital Watershed Restoration on National Forest Lands
Feds must live up to commitment to maintain failing logging roads - Jay Manning's guest editorial in the Seattle Times
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State government, treaty Indian tribes in western Washington, and 13 conservation groups have joined forces to seek adequate federal funding for the maintenance and decommissioning of abandoned and deteriorating national forest roads in Washington.
Thousands of miles of crumbling USDA Forest Service (USFS) roads in our state are degrading water quality, causing flooding and harming habitat for endangered salmon runs. Two-thirds of the problem roads drain into an already ailing Puget Sound.
In addition to the funding, the groups propose that the USFS:
The 13 conservation groups include:
| Olympic Forest Coalition | Wildlands CPR |
| Pacific Rivers Council | American Whitewater |
| The Wilderness Society | Cascade Chapter, Sierra Club |
| Alpine Lakes Protection Society | North Cascades Conservation Council |
| Pilchuck Audubon Society | The Mountaineers |
| Washington Wilderness Coalition | Wild Fish Conservancy |
| Gifford Pinchot Task Force |
Presentation: USFS Failing Road Networks
Brochure (PDFs — 8 1/2 x 11 and 11 x 17)
For more information on the Watershed Restoration Initiative please contact:
Stephen Bernath Water Quality Program WA Department of Ecology Phone: 360.407.6459 Email: sber461@ecy.wa.gov
Contact us for more information about Nonpoint Pollution - Forest Practices
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