NONTIDAL WETLANDS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR FOREST HARVEST OPERATIONS
The following is a checklist for your use in determining which best management practices may be appropriate for your project.
To meet the requirements of the Nontidal Wetlands Protection Act, please submit this checklist and the following information along with the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan:
*
a wetland delineation
* an acknowledgement/approval of landowner
* name/address/RPF# of registered professional
forester
check when appropriate:
______ Major skid trails, where ever feasible, will be located on soils that resist compaction and ruts, or other disturbances that adversely impact nontidal wetland hydrology.
______ Appropriate equipment to asked logs will be selected based on slope and the ability of the soil to resist erosion or other disturbances.
______ Truck roads, wherever feasible, will be located on uplands or on the highest available ground available as to minimize impact to nontidal wetlands.
______
Truck roads will be of minimum dimensions necessary to accomplish their purpose
and minimize impacts to nontidal wetlands.
______ Truck roads will follow the natural contour of the land, wherever
feasible, and shall be stabilized to minimize erosion.
______ Wetland hydrology will be maintained by construction diversion
ditches at the minimum depth to maintain flow of water.
______ Fill material will be used only when absolutely necessary to maintain or construct a road. If needed, fill shall be excavated from uplands and shall be free from state or federally designated toxic pollutants.
______ Intermittent and perennial streams, sloughs, or channels will not be crossed unless absolutely necessary. When necessary, crossing will at the shortest distance feasible, be of appropriate design, and allow unrestricted movement of aquatic life in the stream.
NOTE: A WATERWAY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT MAY BE REQUIRED
______ Log decks will be (a) located prior to road layout (b) located in uplands as far from streams and/or nontidal wetlands as practicable or on the highest available ground if uplands are unavailable, (c) kept to minimum size and number necessary for the operation, and (d) diversion ditches will be installed to direct water away from the dec, during use.
______ Trash, debris, and chemicals will be collected and disposed of outside wetland areas.
______ Utilization of low ground pressure equipment (i.e. high flotation tires, wide tracts, etc.) will be used when nontidal wetland soils are unable to support conventional equipment.
______ Scheduling of forest harvest operations will be during periods when wetland soils are dry or frozen and are capable of supporting conventional equipment to prevent compaction, ruts, or other significant disturbances to nontidal wetland soils or hydrology.
______
All forest harvest operations will be conducted so as to prevent impoundment
of water or increase runoff in the nontidal wetland, unless the change is
recommended in a sediment and erosion control plan.
______ Harvesting will be conducted during dry periods or at times that
enhance natural regeneration.
______ Natural regeneration will be utilized where feasible and will
be the preferred method of regeneration in wetland areas.
______
Other (Describe additional practices)
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT FOR THE STANDARD EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN FOR FOREST HARVEST OPERATIONS
I.
Site Information
A. Location______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(Include site map or sketch of harvest area)
B. Type of Operation(s)____________________________________________
(i.e. logging, chipping, firewood)
C. Total Acres Harvested______ Estimated Acres
Loblolly Pine_______
II.
Landowner and Operator Information
A. Landowner____________________________
Phone_________________
Address_____________________________________________________
B. Operator_____________________________
Phone_________________
Address____________________________________________________
Current
F.P.O. Lic. #___________ Certificate of Training #____________
(Green/Gold Card)
C. Contract Dates: Contract Start_______
Contract End___________
D. List other forest harvest operations responsible
for ensuring compliance with this
Compliance Agreement.
Name of Operation
Type of Operation
(1) ___________________________
___________________________
(2) ___________________________
___________________________
NOTE: Unless one operator assumes full responsibility for implementing this plan, all forest harvest operations working at this site must obtain a Standard Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.
III.
AGREEMENT
A. I/We agree to adhere to the
terms of the attached Standard Plan for Forest Harvest Operations and to grant
Inspectors the right of entry to the site to monitor compliance.
B. I am aware of the landowner's
responsibility of preventing accelerated erosion and sedimentation during
and subsequent to forest harvest operations as mandated by the rules and regulations
adopted by the State of Maryland and local jurisdications.
C. I agree to require that
all operators conducting forest harvest operations on my property adhere to
the requirements of the standard plan.
__________________________ __________ _____________________
________
Landowner
Date
Operator
Date
D.
Approved: ____________________________________________
_________
(State Forester)
Date
E.
Approved:_____________________________________________
_________
(Chairman Calvert Soil Conservation District)
Date