Forestry BMPs in North Carolina

Forestry BMPs in North Carolina North Carolina Forestry Association Annual Meeting October 2, 2014 To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina 1

Speaker Background Sean Brogan Decided to be a Forester at 11 Dual B.S. (Syracuse); M.S. (NC State) Thesis on SE Appalachian Trout Streams Joined NC Forest Service 1998 6 Positions, Including: District Water Quality Forester State Water Quality & Wetlands Staff Forester Director Forest Management & Development Div.

North Carolina s 2010 Forest Action Plan www.ncforestactionplan.com Notable issues: Importance of strong markets Urban fragmentation Water quality protection 3

Focus Points BMPs vs. FPGs BMPs the Early Years BMPs & Risk Management NC Forest Service BMP Program Other BMPs (?) Future Efforts Note-thanks to NCFS s Gail Bledsoe and especially Tom Gerow for presentation material.

BMPs vs. FPGs Best Management Practices BMPs Defined by NC state rule o nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution prevention Non-regulatory Water quality & soil conservation tools in the toolkit NC Forestry BMP Manual (2006) Voluntary in NC..but required for: o cost share payments o certain wetland activities (federal) o forest certification programs o some conservation easements

BMPs vs. FPGs Forest Practices Guidelines Related to Water Quality FPGs State-enacted regulations (forest industry supported) o Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 requires installation/maintenance of adequate sedimentation control measures during site-disturbing activities o 1989 amendment maintains Forestry Exemption only when FPGs are achieved Mandatory Unique to NC

BMPs vs. FPGs 02 NCAC 60C.0100 -.0209 Nine performance standards :.0201 Streamside Management Zone.0202 Debris Entering Streams.0203 Access Road & Stream Crossing.0204 Access Road Entrance.0205 Prohibition of Waste.0206 Pesticide Application.0207 Fertilizer Application.0208 Stream Temperature.0209 Rehabilitation of Project Site

BMPs vs. FPGs In North Carolina, we avoid using the phrase BMP compliance as you hear so often in most other states. Because we have statewide FPG rules, we talk about FPG compliance in NC and instead say BMP implementation or BMP monitoring. BMPs and FPGs are different but linked BMPs are the tools that can keep forestry operations (not just logging) in compliance with FPGs

FPG Inspections Over the Past 10 Years 7,000 6,000 5,000 # of FPG Inspections 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Fiscal Year Re-Inspections Sites Inspected

Statewide FPG Non-Compliances Over Five Years ( 7-1-09 to 6-30-14 ) # of FPG Non-Compliances 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 267 399 523 20 22 1 0 1 181

Comparison of FPG Non-Compliance by Performance Standard Over a 1-Year, 5-Year, and 10-Year Period # of FPG Non-Compliances 1500 1000 500 0 Performance Standards 0201 SMZ 0202 Debris 0203 Crossing 0204 Entrances 0205 Fluid Spill 0206 Pesticide 0207 Fertilizer 0208 Temp 0209 Rehab Past year 44 69 75 1 2 1 0 0 32 Past 5 years 267 399 523 20 22 1 0 1 181 Past 10 years 495 848 1241 47 50 1 0 5 391

Water Quality Complaints During the Past 10 Years 140 # of Total Complaints 120 100 80 60 40 20 %NInC Total - NInC Total -InC 0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 %NInC 44% 45% 49% 44% 36% 31% 27% 32% 18% 15% Total - NInC 51 40 39 28 33 31 26 41 18 15 Total -InC 66 48 41 35 59 68 71 87 82 86

NC Forest Service s Strategic Plan ncforestservice.gov/strategic_plan (also found on NCFS homepage) To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina 13

NC Forest Service s Strategic Plan Example Key Measure: Emphasis on inspecting harvest sites while active Prevent water quality problems Mitigate problems faster/cheaper Timely reforestation advice for landowner To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina 14

BMPs the Early Years 1972: Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Section 208) calls for state water quality management plans; model Forest Practices Act rejected 1977: FWPCA (Section 319) funds NPS Program development & implementation; non-regulatory 1979: First forestry BMPs developed Note - provided by USFS s John Greis

BMPs the Early Years 1980: First BMP implementation monitoring completed 1999: Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) adopts monitoring framework 2002: Southern Forest Resource Assessment (SFRA) documents status of state BMP programs Note - provided by USFS s John Greis

2002 SFRA Summary Status of State BMP Programs STATE No. Surveys Latest Implementation Rate Latest Survey Formal Agreements Ownership Classes Reported ALABAMA 6 93% 1999 yes n/a n/a Comments ARKANSAS 2 80% 1999 yes F, FI, S, NIPF n/a FLORIDA 10 96% 2000 yes P, FI, NIPF Risk to water quality is evaluated GEORGIA 3 79% of BMPs, 98% of assessed acres 1998 yes FI, P, NIPF Risk to water quality is evaluated KENTUCKY 1 35% were effective 1997 yes P, FI, NIPF Regulatory BMPs LOUISIANA 3 83% qualitative, 93% quantitative 1997 no FI, CNIF, P, NIPF MISSISSIPPI 1 87% 1994 no n/a n/a NORTH CAROLINA 2 95% 1996 yes P, FI, NIPF OKLAHOMA 0 n/a n/a yes n/a SOUTH CAROLINA 5 91.5% harvestiing BMPs, 98% site prep BMPs 1997 yes P, FI, NIPF As professional assistance increased, BMP implementation increased As professional assistance increased, BMP implementation increased BMP monitoring program being developed Risk to water quality is evaluated. Courtesy exam believed effective TENNESSEE 2 63% 1996 yes n/a Risk to water quality is evaluated TEXAS 4 89% 1999 no F, FI, NIPF Risk to water quality is evaluated. VIRGINIA 10 7% full implementation, 90% partial 1999 yes n/a Risk to water quality is evaluated

BMPs the Early Years In response, Southern Group of State Foresters: Establish a Water Resources Committee Commit to improve consistency of BMP monitoring Commission a BMP program assistance and review process Outcome = improved ability to credibly document BMP performance Note - provided by USFS s John Greis

BMPs & Risk Management Evolving focus on BMPs as tools to reduce risk: Environmental (water quality) risk Operational risk Productivity risk Financial risk Reputational / Business risk

What are key attributes of effective risk management? Low risk, low cost High return on investment High probability of success Easy to understand and implement That sounds like BMPs

BMPs & Risk Management Compare this skid trail with the next: This trail has laps, slash, tops applied as a proven BMP. No rehab needed. Low WQ risk, Low cost risk, Low operational risk.

BMPs & Risk Management Skid trail fully exposed. Erosion risk is high. Gap in bridgemats at the crossing. Major rehab needed. Higher FPG risk, Higher WQ risk, More costs. Greater operational uncertainty risk, (may need to return to fix rehab problems).

BMPs & Risk Management Skid trail rutted from logging during wet weather. Could those piles of laps and slash been applied onto the skid trail to prevent this? What will the landowner think?

BMPs & Risk Management Skid trail matted. No soil exposed. No rutting. Unsightly for a few years, but material will break down.

BMPs and Risk Management Big Picture financial risk management ex. 10/2013 Danish Delegation field tour BMPs, FPGs, landowner outreach and reforestation highlighted Showed sustainability (helpful given NC s low certified acreage)

NC Forest Service BMP Program Technical Assistance & Customer Service: 9 Water Quality Foresters + County, District, Region, HQ staff Quarterly online BMP newsletter >>>>>>> BMP Manual & Field Guide Forestry Leaflets

NC Forest Service BMP Program Timely Technical Assistance: Spring & Summer 2013 + 2014 saw more rain than normal... especially in mountains. 7/2013 NCFS issues Wet Weather Logging Advisory Plan, Prepare, be Proactive may need more than normal BMP usage.

NC Forest Service BMP Program Training & Education: Assist at ProLogger Base Course Instructing next generation in college classes Bridgemats available for loggers to borrow In Woods tailgate BMP training for the whole crew BMP videos Training NCFS fire fighting equipment operators

NC Forest Service BMP Program BMP Demonstration Areas: ex. Dupont State Recreational Forest o BMP demonstration areas o 2 stream restoration projects o miles of maintained trails

BMP School for NCFS Equipment Operators NCFS Loaner Bridge Mats NCSU Students Reviewing Watershed BMP Study NCFS Staff & New BMP Products

NC Forest Service BMP Program Randomized BMP Implementation Monitoring: Which BMPs are being used Are BMPs functioning? What factors are influencing BMP use or function? Part of recurring monitoring (last one 06 08) Follows southern regional framework Assess 200+ sites statewide Completion and reporting by June 2016

NC Forest Service BMP Program South Shows Increasing BMP Implementation

NC Forest Service BMP Program BMP Effectiveness Watershed Research Study: Longterm water sampling, monitoring of streams Samples after every storm (6 years) Two pairs of watersheds (central piedmont) Clearcut 1 watershed in each pair Sediment nutrients temp oxygen insects vegetation Partners: USFS, NCSU, NCDA&CS, Weyerhaeuser Data collection done. Results being summarized.

1 watershed pair, NCDA&CS Umstead Research Farm in Butner

NC Forest Service BMP Program BMP Effectiveness Watershed Research Study: Similar to other studies across the South. Preliminary findings: increased stream flows in the harvested watersheds SMZ / riparian buffer and BMPs were effective no sediment moved from the harvest through the SMZ into the stream. But increased sediment found in the stream re mobilized old trapped sediment in channel due to higher flows slight increase in nutrients after harvest, but still well under limits insects generally in good condition after harvest

Other BMPs (?) Florida s Forest Management BMPs for Wildlife: Implemented 10/2014 Voluntary; supported by forest industry Can protect landowners from accidental taking Aims to mitigate listing and/or litigation of T&E Species Large # of T&E candidate species aquatic BMP implementation/documentation key We must improve communication with wildlife agencies Reference T. Bently Wigley s (of the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc.) presentation to Southern Group State Foresters 2013 Annual Meeting entitled Endangered Species: A New Era

Other BMPs (?) What About Biomass Harvests?: FPG standards apply BMP Manual offers many options NC studies show substantial material still retained onsite Studies have not shown imminent threat to water quality or need for exclusive biomass BMPs Will watch SC and KY biomass guidelines Concerns over certain wildlife species linger

Other BMPs (?) What about Swamplogging?: FPG standards apply BMP Manual includes wetlands chapter Shovel logging is preferred method Concerns: o turbidity o hard to identify stream channels o desirable regeneration?

Other BMPs (?) What about Swamplogging?: NCFS s Cypress and Bottomland Swamp Taskforce o Are desirable species naturally regenerating? o Hydrology; timing; competition; logging techniques o Effectiveness/financial assessment of inter-planting Review BMPs in FL, GA, and SC NC BMPs currently address water quality..not silviculture For now: o consider leaving seed trees o use appropriate equipment & tactics o pull back when flood waters rise

Duplin Co. swamplogging site, 3 years post harvest. Tour of harvested swamps sites across northeastern NC in 2013

Future Efforts Fall 2014: updating & printing mountain road construction booklet Spring 2015: FPGs will be open for public comment. NC Rules Review process mandated by General Assembly in 2013. June 2016: Forest Management Accomplishments Reporting System (FMARS). Part of a new NCFS database and reporting system. Near real time FPG compliance tracking & reporting. Complete BMP implementation monitoring site assessments.

Future Efforts Pre harvest Planning Tool (free, online) Satellite imagery tool to locate sites & serve customers o will improve FPGs and reforestation Outcomes from current BMP implementation site assessments + watershed study o identify strengths & weaknesses in current BMPs o refine tactics and outreach 2016 2017: potential BMP Manual revision

Thank you for your time. sean.brogan@ncagr.gov 919-857-4818