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ncforestservice.gov • www.buynctrees.com Year in Review 2016 North Carolina Forest Service, Nonpoint Source & Water Quality programs Success Stories & Accomplishments Forests & Watersheds Timber Harvesting Study in the Upper Neuse River Basin Demonstrates Water Quality and Water Quantity Effects In 2016, the N.C. Forest Service developed and published a detailed summary report and leaflet on a paired watershed timber harvesting research study in the upper Neuse River basin. There is a continued interest in how timber harvesting afects stream flow, nutrient and sediment levels, and residual streamside vegetation. The detailed summary report and leaflet illustrates data from technical peer-review journal articles in an easier to read fashion with “big-picture” forest management take-home points. So What Did We Find? Timber harvesting did increase streamflow and streamflow remained greater than pre-harvest levels three years following timber harvest. However, nutrients and sediment levels never exceeded the state’s water quality standards. Biodiversity of the streamside vegetation increased following timber harvests due to increase light reaching the ground. This study demonstrated that silviculture and forest management can be compatible with water quality standards when BMPs (Best Management Practices) are implemented. Timber Harvest Effects on Water Quantity and Quality in the North Carolina Piedmont: Paired Watershed Study Summary Water Resources Branch North Carolina Forest Service N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Raleigh, NC www.ncforestservice.gov Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center Southern Research Station USDA-Forest Service Raleigh, NC www.forestthreats.org Project Leader: Bill Swartley - Forest Hydrologist, NCFS Co-Principle Investigators: Johnny Boggs, Ge Sun, Steve McNulty, USDA-FS Tom Gerow and David Jones, NCFS Reviewers & Contributors Gail Bledsoe, Susan Gale, Alan Coats, A.J. Lang, NCFS Glen Catts, NCSU College of Nat. Res. Forest Manager Will Summer, NC Clean Water Trust Fund David Schnake, NCDA&CS Research Station Div. Forest Manager Timber Harvesting Effects on Water Quality and Quantity in the Headwaters of the Neuse River Basin A snapshot of a long-term paired watershed study results What We Did The North Carolina Forest Service completed and published a non-technical summary of a 6-year (2007-2012) paired watershed research project that evaluated the effects of timber harvesting on water quality and quantity in two headwater stream systems of the Neuse River Basin in North Carolina. Timber harvesting complied with the Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPG’s) and Neuse Buffer Rule. Additionally, the timber harvest followed appropriate voluntary forestry best management practices (BMPs) to help protect water quality. The non-technical summary distilled technical results into “take-home points” for forest management. Neuse River Basin Harvested watershed Reference watershed Reference watershed Harvested watershed Locations: North Carolina State University’s Hill Demonstration Forest (Durham Co.) and North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Umstead Research Farm (Granville Co.) A watershed is an area of land where all of the water that drains off of it or is under it collects into the same place (a stream). The bottom left photo is an onsite example of a section of the Neuse Riparian Buffer Rule Zone, which functioned as a streamside management zone (SMZ). A SMZ is an area along both sides of a stream or other water body where extra precaution is used in carrying out forest practices in order to protect water quality. A SMZ is required by the N.C. FPG’s. Streamside Management Zone Check out our web page for more details! (http://www.ncforestservice.gov/water_quality/pairedWatershed.htm) Best Management Practice (BMP) Implementation Assessments on Logging Sites Left: A set of properly installed bridgemats protecting the stream channel; Below: A skid trail stabilized with brush barriers, grass seed, and straw mulch. • After 3-4 years of data collection, 204 surveys were completed across 94 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. • Final reports and products including, leaflets, presentations, and a self-guided story map are on schedule to be completed in early spring 2017. • These surveys help direct program improvement eforts by evaluating the use of Forestry BMPs (Best Management Practices) for maintaining water quality and conserving soil. • These surveys also document the success as an agency in educating forest practitioners, landowners, and the general public. • Learn more about these BMP surveys on the agency’s website. http://www.ncforestservice. gov/water_ quality/wq_bmp_studies.htm Above: Bridgemats and logging mats installed over a roadside ditch. Education, Outreach & Training Notable Outreach Events with NCFS Participation: (Estimated number of attendees shown in parentheses) • Trained 113 loggers at North Carolina ProLogger workshops. • Instructed 41 college students on harvest planning and forestry BMPs. • Reached 162 foresters, timber buyers, and other natural resource professionals at three refresher workshops in Alamance, Granville, and Iredell counties. We plan for more workshops in 2017. • Southern Farm Show (atended by thousands). • Water Resources Research Institute, Erosion and Sediment Control Refresher Workshop (60). • Mills River Day in Henderson county (1,000+). • Resource Conservation Workshop for high school students (95). Left: NCFS Water Quality Forester filming a video for ProLogger; Right: NCFS Water Quality Forester speaking at a refresher workshop Bridgemats N.C. Forest Service allows loggers to borrow agency-owned portable steel bridgemats to help protect water resources. This service is provided to loggers to demonstrate the advantages over other stream crossing methods. During 2016, NCFS bridgemats were implemented on 38 logging jobs and utilized on 45 stream and/or ditch crossings to access an estimated 1,932 acres of timber. Bridgemats were also used for an emergency response purpose this past September. NCFS delivered a set of bridgemats to an Alamance County community cut of from a storm-induced culvert failure. This temporary fix provided access to dozens of homes and was highlighted by local television media. Above: NCFS bridgemats in use on a logging job in Halifax County. Below: NCFS bridgemats installed over road washout as temporary access in Alamance County Right: View of a road washout where NCFS bridgemats were used as a temporary crossing in Alamance County Stream Restorations Post-restoration monitoring was completed on the Lake Julia Outfall Restoration Project, located in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Trout appear to seasonally access the restored stream when water temperatures drop to a trout tolerant range (fall, winter, and spring). Streamside vegetation has begun shading parts of the stream. A kiosk was installed as an educational tool and depicts the nature and purpose of this stream restoration. Lake Julia Outfall Restoration Project Left: view of the outfall restoration project in June 2016; Right: rainbow trout caught in the restored stream The Water Resources Branch was awarded grant money to restore a section of the Linville River located on Gill State Forest in Avery County. During 2016, demolition of a low-water bridge and soil stabilization following bridge removal was completed. The restoration project planning and permitting will take place in 2017, and the river restoration construction in 2018. Linville River Restoration Project The Canal Restoration Project This restoration project located at the Claridge State Forest Tree Nursery in Wayne County aimed to reconstruct about 1 mile of stream. The floodplain had been widened (increasing the floodwater storage capacity) and the stream redirected to meander within the floodplain (slowing down water flow). Prior to Hurricane Mathew, this project was about 80% complete. The extent of damage from flooding is being evaluated by NCDOT, who is overseeing this restoration. Left: Low-water bridge before removal; Right: Low-water bridge removed Right: A section of restored stream after Hurricane Mathew. Note the mudline on the vegetation in the background showing the water level at peak flood stage. Mudline The North Carolina Forest Service is an equal opportunity / afirmative action employer. Its programs, activities and employment practices are available to all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap or political afiliation. 500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $154.52 or $0.03 each. WQ-04-16 Partners and Cooperators Inspections, Customer Service, & Technical Assistance Other BMP & Technical Assistance Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPG) Compliance Inspections For state fiscal year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016: Category Description In-Compliance Out-of-Compliance Totals Timber Harvest - Active 2,558 33 2,591 Timber Harvest - Completed 917 30 947 Reforestation & Site Prep 144 1 145 Other 239 1 240 Totals 3,858 65 3,923 FPG Referrals for Enforcement: 6 Citizen Complaints: 66 In-Compliance and 22 Out-of-Compliance upon initial inspection • Provided NCFS agency comments to USEPA on the potential for forest road permiting. • Provided NCFS agency comments to USF&WS on the efects of forest management to four aquatic-life species for the potential of listing them as federally Threatened or Endangered. • Compiled and contributed forestry site inspection information for NC-DWR staf to include in their update of the Watauga River Basin Water Quality Plan. • Assisted a landowner in Washington County with assessing the need for maintenance clean-out of drainage ditches in a manner that adheres to state and federal rules. • Worked with staf at the N.C. Division of Coastal Management to learn more about coastal wetland marshes, and how silvicultural operations can occur in a way that minimizes impacts. • Obtained guidance from the State Dam Safety Engineer on the removal of trees from earthen dams, in keeping with the state’s dam safety law; and shared this guidance with forest industry stakeholders and NCFS employees. • Provided information about forests, nutrients, and a summary of relevant forestry research in response to an inquiry from the NC Sea Grant Program, related to concerns about algae blooms in the Chowan River. • Conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight over portions of the Chowan, Meherrin, and Perquimans rivers to visually observe if timber harvesting appeared to be a direct contributor to algal blooms. • Provided feedback to Weyerhaeuser environmental scientists on their company owned sites that were inspected during the BMP implementation survey. • Issued wet-weather logging advisories for T.S. Hermine and Hurricane Mathew. • Ofered guidance on handling “clean-up” on logging sites following Hurricane Mathew. • Water Resources Branch staf members assisted with public information in support of Yellowstone National Park and western North Carolina fires and Hurricane Mathew relief (photo on right). • The Water Resources Branch became fully stafed in June 2016! Above: Water Resources Branch staf member presenting an update on the Party Rock fire.
Object Description
Description
Title | Year in review : success stories & accomplishments |
Date | 2016 |
Description | 2016 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 804 KB; 4 p. |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_serial_yearreviewsuccess2016.pdf |
Full Text | ncforestservice.gov • www.buynctrees.com Year in Review 2016 North Carolina Forest Service, Nonpoint Source & Water Quality programs Success Stories & Accomplishments Forests & Watersheds Timber Harvesting Study in the Upper Neuse River Basin Demonstrates Water Quality and Water Quantity Effects In 2016, the N.C. Forest Service developed and published a detailed summary report and leaflet on a paired watershed timber harvesting research study in the upper Neuse River basin. There is a continued interest in how timber harvesting afects stream flow, nutrient and sediment levels, and residual streamside vegetation. The detailed summary report and leaflet illustrates data from technical peer-review journal articles in an easier to read fashion with “big-picture” forest management take-home points. So What Did We Find? Timber harvesting did increase streamflow and streamflow remained greater than pre-harvest levels three years following timber harvest. However, nutrients and sediment levels never exceeded the state’s water quality standards. Biodiversity of the streamside vegetation increased following timber harvests due to increase light reaching the ground. This study demonstrated that silviculture and forest management can be compatible with water quality standards when BMPs (Best Management Practices) are implemented. Timber Harvest Effects on Water Quantity and Quality in the North Carolina Piedmont: Paired Watershed Study Summary Water Resources Branch North Carolina Forest Service N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Raleigh, NC www.ncforestservice.gov Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center Southern Research Station USDA-Forest Service Raleigh, NC www.forestthreats.org Project Leader: Bill Swartley - Forest Hydrologist, NCFS Co-Principle Investigators: Johnny Boggs, Ge Sun, Steve McNulty, USDA-FS Tom Gerow and David Jones, NCFS Reviewers & Contributors Gail Bledsoe, Susan Gale, Alan Coats, A.J. Lang, NCFS Glen Catts, NCSU College of Nat. Res. Forest Manager Will Summer, NC Clean Water Trust Fund David Schnake, NCDA&CS Research Station Div. Forest Manager Timber Harvesting Effects on Water Quality and Quantity in the Headwaters of the Neuse River Basin A snapshot of a long-term paired watershed study results What We Did The North Carolina Forest Service completed and published a non-technical summary of a 6-year (2007-2012) paired watershed research project that evaluated the effects of timber harvesting on water quality and quantity in two headwater stream systems of the Neuse River Basin in North Carolina. Timber harvesting complied with the Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPG’s) and Neuse Buffer Rule. Additionally, the timber harvest followed appropriate voluntary forestry best management practices (BMPs) to help protect water quality. The non-technical summary distilled technical results into “take-home points” for forest management. Neuse River Basin Harvested watershed Reference watershed Reference watershed Harvested watershed Locations: North Carolina State University’s Hill Demonstration Forest (Durham Co.) and North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service’s Umstead Research Farm (Granville Co.) A watershed is an area of land where all of the water that drains off of it or is under it collects into the same place (a stream). The bottom left photo is an onsite example of a section of the Neuse Riparian Buffer Rule Zone, which functioned as a streamside management zone (SMZ). A SMZ is an area along both sides of a stream or other water body where extra precaution is used in carrying out forest practices in order to protect water quality. A SMZ is required by the N.C. FPG’s. Streamside Management Zone Check out our web page for more details! (http://www.ncforestservice.gov/water_quality/pairedWatershed.htm) Best Management Practice (BMP) Implementation Assessments on Logging Sites Left: A set of properly installed bridgemats protecting the stream channel; Below: A skid trail stabilized with brush barriers, grass seed, and straw mulch. • After 3-4 years of data collection, 204 surveys were completed across 94 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. • Final reports and products including, leaflets, presentations, and a self-guided story map are on schedule to be completed in early spring 2017. • These surveys help direct program improvement eforts by evaluating the use of Forestry BMPs (Best Management Practices) for maintaining water quality and conserving soil. • These surveys also document the success as an agency in educating forest practitioners, landowners, and the general public. • Learn more about these BMP surveys on the agency’s website. http://www.ncforestservice. gov/water_ quality/wq_bmp_studies.htm Above: Bridgemats and logging mats installed over a roadside ditch. Education, Outreach & Training Notable Outreach Events with NCFS Participation: (Estimated number of attendees shown in parentheses) • Trained 113 loggers at North Carolina ProLogger workshops. • Instructed 41 college students on harvest planning and forestry BMPs. • Reached 162 foresters, timber buyers, and other natural resource professionals at three refresher workshops in Alamance, Granville, and Iredell counties. We plan for more workshops in 2017. • Southern Farm Show (atended by thousands). • Water Resources Research Institute, Erosion and Sediment Control Refresher Workshop (60). • Mills River Day in Henderson county (1,000+). • Resource Conservation Workshop for high school students (95). Left: NCFS Water Quality Forester filming a video for ProLogger; Right: NCFS Water Quality Forester speaking at a refresher workshop Bridgemats N.C. Forest Service allows loggers to borrow agency-owned portable steel bridgemats to help protect water resources. This service is provided to loggers to demonstrate the advantages over other stream crossing methods. During 2016, NCFS bridgemats were implemented on 38 logging jobs and utilized on 45 stream and/or ditch crossings to access an estimated 1,932 acres of timber. Bridgemats were also used for an emergency response purpose this past September. NCFS delivered a set of bridgemats to an Alamance County community cut of from a storm-induced culvert failure. This temporary fix provided access to dozens of homes and was highlighted by local television media. Above: NCFS bridgemats in use on a logging job in Halifax County. Below: NCFS bridgemats installed over road washout as temporary access in Alamance County Right: View of a road washout where NCFS bridgemats were used as a temporary crossing in Alamance County Stream Restorations Post-restoration monitoring was completed on the Lake Julia Outfall Restoration Project, located in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Trout appear to seasonally access the restored stream when water temperatures drop to a trout tolerant range (fall, winter, and spring). Streamside vegetation has begun shading parts of the stream. A kiosk was installed as an educational tool and depicts the nature and purpose of this stream restoration. Lake Julia Outfall Restoration Project Left: view of the outfall restoration project in June 2016; Right: rainbow trout caught in the restored stream The Water Resources Branch was awarded grant money to restore a section of the Linville River located on Gill State Forest in Avery County. During 2016, demolition of a low-water bridge and soil stabilization following bridge removal was completed. The restoration project planning and permitting will take place in 2017, and the river restoration construction in 2018. Linville River Restoration Project The Canal Restoration Project This restoration project located at the Claridge State Forest Tree Nursery in Wayne County aimed to reconstruct about 1 mile of stream. The floodplain had been widened (increasing the floodwater storage capacity) and the stream redirected to meander within the floodplain (slowing down water flow). Prior to Hurricane Mathew, this project was about 80% complete. The extent of damage from flooding is being evaluated by NCDOT, who is overseeing this restoration. Left: Low-water bridge before removal; Right: Low-water bridge removed Right: A section of restored stream after Hurricane Mathew. Note the mudline on the vegetation in the background showing the water level at peak flood stage. Mudline The North Carolina Forest Service is an equal opportunity / afirmative action employer. Its programs, activities and employment practices are available to all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap or political afiliation. 500 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $154.52 or $0.03 each. WQ-04-16 Partners and Cooperators Inspections, Customer Service, & Technical Assistance Other BMP & Technical Assistance Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (FPG) Compliance Inspections For state fiscal year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016: Category Description In-Compliance Out-of-Compliance Totals Timber Harvest - Active 2,558 33 2,591 Timber Harvest - Completed 917 30 947 Reforestation & Site Prep 144 1 145 Other 239 1 240 Totals 3,858 65 3,923 FPG Referrals for Enforcement: 6 Citizen Complaints: 66 In-Compliance and 22 Out-of-Compliance upon initial inspection • Provided NCFS agency comments to USEPA on the potential for forest road permiting. • Provided NCFS agency comments to USF&WS on the efects of forest management to four aquatic-life species for the potential of listing them as federally Threatened or Endangered. • Compiled and contributed forestry site inspection information for NC-DWR staf to include in their update of the Watauga River Basin Water Quality Plan. • Assisted a landowner in Washington County with assessing the need for maintenance clean-out of drainage ditches in a manner that adheres to state and federal rules. • Worked with staf at the N.C. Division of Coastal Management to learn more about coastal wetland marshes, and how silvicultural operations can occur in a way that minimizes impacts. • Obtained guidance from the State Dam Safety Engineer on the removal of trees from earthen dams, in keeping with the state’s dam safety law; and shared this guidance with forest industry stakeholders and NCFS employees. • Provided information about forests, nutrients, and a summary of relevant forestry research in response to an inquiry from the NC Sea Grant Program, related to concerns about algae blooms in the Chowan River. • Conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight over portions of the Chowan, Meherrin, and Perquimans rivers to visually observe if timber harvesting appeared to be a direct contributor to algal blooms. • Provided feedback to Weyerhaeuser environmental scientists on their company owned sites that were inspected during the BMP implementation survey. • Issued wet-weather logging advisories for T.S. Hermine and Hurricane Mathew. • Ofered guidance on handling “clean-up” on logging sites following Hurricane Mathew. • Water Resources Branch staf members assisted with public information in support of Yellowstone National Park and western North Carolina fires and Hurricane Mathew relief (photo on right). • The Water Resources Branch became fully stafed in June 2016! Above: Water Resources Branch staf member presenting an update on the Party Rock fire. |
OCLC number | 85869857 |