Ecology home > Water Quality > Watershed Information > Water Quality Guide >Woodlot Management

Woodlot Management

Many rural homeowners have forested areas on their land that require harvesting. Cutting operations vary, from clearing the land entirely to removing only selected wood for fenceposts or building materials.

Heavy equipment and stacks of logs will compact soils and lead to increased runoff. Harvesting can disturb and expose soils, leading to a greater chance of erosion. Streambanks may be disturbed and become unstable, and fish and wildlife habitat can be seriously impacted.

The following practices can prevent or minimize damage from logging.

Plan to leave some trees and vegetation to provide shade, reduce runoff, and stabilize soils.
Store stacked logs off the ground by using cross-supports.
Avoid intensive logging and roadbuilding on steep slopes (greater than 35 percent) or use proven stabilization measures to hold soils.

Minimize the area exposed to heavy equipment such as tractors, skidders and trucks by planning traffic routes early in the process. Dedicated routes over stable ground will reduce impacts.

Plan for streamside vegetation buffer strips.

Minimize the time soils are exposed by planting a fast-growing groundcover, mulch or other covering until ready to plant your crop.

NOTE: Pesticide application, road building and streambank disturbance may require a Forest Practices permit from the Department of Natural Resources.

For information and help: Contact the Department of Natural Resources regional office nearest you for specific requirements.

Return to Table of Contents